Page 35 - Presbyterian Connection

Connection
REFLECTIONS
Honouring Sacred Spaces
presbyterian.ca
SUMMER 2024
PRESBYTERIAN
35
The Rev. Dr. Nick Athanasiadis is a Transition Ministry Specialist currently serving with Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Ont.
Perhaps you, like me, have grown up in church spaces. When I was a babe in arms I was taken to church. I was part of worship before I was conscious of worship, the prayers, the hymns, the organ sound, the human voices, the classic sounds so familiar to my ears, but also the smell of the wood pews, the paneling, the velvet covered ma- hogany chairs. But most of all as a child, I hesitate to admit, this was also my playground, where I and my friends tore around to the con- sternation of many an adult. Now an adult myself, conscious of safety, I caution running in church halls and church grounds with a slight grin.
Now, these spaces so familiar to many of us, the very architec- ture of buildings, and sanctuaries and furnishings, pulpit and font andtable,aredisappearingacross Nor th America, and they are being replaced by other living spaces: condos, or lofts, or offices, or even other worship spaces. We are right now amid the greatest shift in church buildings since, well, these buildings were first erected almost 200 years ago in Nor th America, and though Cathedrals of the Mid- dle Ages are maintained and re-
stored in parts of Europe, not all are. Some have disappeared, “and its place knows [them] no more.”
Are we just watching this hap- pen? Well to a greater extent than we like to admit yes, we are just watching this transition happen— church buildings and spaces are disappearing. But—there is also a growing response, an attempt to manage, even steward, this tran- sition rather than letting the chips fall where they may, rather than letting church buildings simply become real estate and letting the market dictate their fate.
Some are consciously being reoriented as places of refuge in their communities. Church build- ings have traditionally located in the heart of the community, on “Church Street” in many a small town and village. Even in cities the local church, not to mention the Cathedral, is located in the most prominent areas. So now in the heart of town and city, the doors have been opened to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, even to become safe-injection sites, places for 12-step programs to gather, gathering places to hold vigil following a tragedy, places to reflect, to listen to haunting music as in the cathedrals and churches of New York City following 9-11.
We who are fortunate enough to still have ownership and there- fore the privilege of stewarding these sacred spaces, also do not
have the luxury of receiving this heritage without deliberate plan- ning for the future of what we hold dear, where the sacred still happens, where in good times and in bad we go steadily about the business of enfolding infants, nurturing the young, sustaining the mature, comforting the af- flicted, proclaiming salvation,
celebrating the risen Lord, bury- ing the dead, serving the least of these, who are Christ’s siblings in our neighbourhood and from places of conflict in other parts.
Change is a constant—we all know this. Nothing in the material world lasts forever, we know this too. All the more reason why we are being called to respond to the
change in ways which honour the eternal love.
“As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 103:15–17a).
Season of
New Beginnings
By Susan Currie, Parish Social Worker for Place of Hope Indigenous Church in Winnipeg, Man.
I’ve always loved spring! Tulips and daffodils peeking through the earth. Robins, baby birds and frisky rabbits all speak to me of a new season. Leaves are budding and the grass is teasing shades of green as it waits for spring rains to wash off winter’s dirt and snow’s mold.
Spring also means Easter—res- urrection and new beginnings!
New beginnings make me think
of new babies and the joy they bring. I am often asked what the purpose of Place of Hope Indig- enous Church is. Besides healing and reconciliation, we encourage alltogetaneducationanddevelop a relationship with Creator God, but I think our purpose begins with our babies. We love and teach and are consistent with everyone, but it all starts with the little ones. If a baby feels safe and loved, they can learn and grow and try new things. Babies grow into toddlers, pre- schoolers, school-aged children, youth and young adults. If we want
our youth and young adults to live positive lives, stay connected to the church and have a relationship with Christ, we need to love them unconditionally and celebrate their strengths.Ittakesavillagetoraise a child and our church family is that village.
Spring, with all its signs of new- ness, shows us that the seasons continue. Easter gives us hope that new beginnings are possible. Ba- bies, like spring, show us that life goes on.
Be blessed with the season of new beginnings and love.