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Feast of the dedication of the temple
I have a picture taken of me at the base of the walls of the Temple of Jerusalem. Not the temple we read of in the scriptures today, Solomon’s temple; rather it was the second temple, Herod’s temple…the one contemporary with Jesus. Now in this picture I am standing at the base of the wall and reaching as high as I can…and I just barely can touch to top of a single stone in the wall of the temple.
Whether it was Solomon’s temple, Herod’s temple…or even the Dome of the Rock which now stands in the place of the Holy Temple…the people of God over the millennia have built incredible edifices to God. From the post resurrection churches of Israel, full of mosaics and carvings, to the soaring gothic sanctuaries with their columns and high towers, to the stained glass and paintings of the famous Cathedrals people of faith have sought to build places that echo in architecture their understanding of God.
Architecture meets theology. Even our parish here of St. Andrew’s our architecture tells those who enter about who God is and what our relationship with God is. From the pews all in a row, facing forward and our tradition of turning East for Creed and Consecration…the focus of the people is directed, like using spots of light in a painting. Our eye is drawn…not to the people, or the priest (whose back is turned) but to the altar…and beyond that…up to the cross, and then the windows and beyond...focusing on God who is above and beyond.
The temple in Jerusalem both Solomon’s and Herod’s were designed to teach about God’s relationship with us as well. We read that the Ark (which housed the presence of God) was placed in the inner sanctuary…in the most holy place. A place so holy that only a priest, dedicated, cleansed, consecrated and only from the family of Aaron could only enter once a year to offer sacrifice. Teaching that only certain people were allow close to God.
Even now we have traditions and customs around the holy of holies. Some churches have Rood Screens separating the nave, where the people gather …from the sanctuary, where the Altar is, and where the priest offers Eucharistic thanks for Christ’s sacrifice. Our church is less imposing, we have an altar rail.. but it still has a gate which is closed when the people come up for communion….who is and who isn’t allowed in? interesting.
As a young girl I was an acolyte (candle bearer) at the Cathedral here in Winnipeg and at that time the Cathedral exclusively used the ‘high altar’. To get to the high altar, for those who’ve not been there, you need to go through the Nave which is the area for the congregation. Mount the chancel stairs and pass the chancel railing which denotes the area for worship leaders, especially choir. Then up another stair and pass the altar rail which closes denoting the area exclusively for those who serve at the altar.
I recall clearly the day when we were short handed and the Dean of the Cathedral told me to go set the altar. Perhaps not a big deal, but I knew that the role was traditionally should be done by deacon or priest and I was young. I was intimidated and nervous, I remember walking up the steps that elevated the altar and standing behind it facing the people…as an ordained person would do. I recall clearly the sense of sacred space which that position held, and how truly intimate it felt.
To stand there seeing the congregation sing the offertory hymn…to receive the bread and wine, the financial offering and set the altar for the priest. The weight and the privilege of that physical spot…and the relief I felt stepping back down the altar steps. Churches, temples and altars are set apart as sacred space and whatever the architecture and theology, the sanctity of the space is what really makes them holy.
Our reading in First Kings says that “a cloud filled the house of the Lord…for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.” And Hebrews speaks of the attitude in which we enter that space. ”with true hearts in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
The buildings, however impressive or for that matter, however humble are meant to teach us about God and to serve as a place to gather in the presence of God, but it is that sacred space that makes them holy. That cloud, that parting of the curtain, that feeling of intimacy and sacredness that makes the common stone holy.
On a tour I took once, we got to enter the caves of St. Jerome…a group of rooms underneath the grounds of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. It is the place where Jerome spend 30 some odd years translating the Hebrew and Greek scriptures into Latin…for the very first translation. It was not a church, it was not architecturally beautiful…but the work that took place there had consecrated it and made it holy.
You could feel it, and just in case I thought it was just me. As we stood in the caves as sound began to echo…a tune…a familiar tune, with unfamiliar words. My group stood and listened for a while and slowly we recognised what we were hearing. In another part of the caves, or perhaps in the church above we heard a carol sung in French. Our group began to sing along in English, then we heard others join…and others. It wasn’t the building, nor the caves…not the architecture or lack thereof. It was thousands of years of ministry, study, service, and prayer that brought that holy moment to life.
We added to the one moment of millions that took place there and made it holy. It reminds me of another time walking the streets of Naha, Okinawa when a familiar tune in foreign tongue stopped me in my steps. Following the music I found myself in front of a Christian Church, Sunday Morning…remembering that Christianity forms less then 1% of the faith groups in Japan. Or how in the small town of Tsuchiura there was not only a Christian church, but an Anglican church…a BCP Anglican Church, and how I could follow the service easily in English as they spoke in Japanese.
Ten ni… O ra-re-ru watashi-tachi no Chichi yo, Minna-ga sei tosa-remasu yoni. Our Father…who are in heaven hallowed be thy name.
The glory of God reaching beyond country, beyond language, beyond architecture. We, as people have spent thousands of years building our churches and perfecting the art, the carvings and the stained glass. When what really makes the church special is the years of prayer, of service, of worship…the presence of God in action. The people gathered to sing, to pray, to celebrate together.
The sacred space found wherever God is…and that is everywhere. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…God is in the midst of the city..the Lord of hosts is with us…the Lord of host is with us”
We celebrate today the Feast of the Dedication, a remembrance of the day St. Andrew’s was consecrated. We remember all of those who not only built this church, but who prayed, who worshiped, who sang and served…whose words and actions acknowledged God’s presence here and made this place sacred. Here at St. Andrew’s where we have gathered for over a hundred years as Hebrew told us ”with true hearts in full assurance of faith,”.
Over a hundred years of joyous celebration and worship. Over a hundred years of faithful people and faithful ministry…and I am so excited to be a part of the ongoing prayer and ministry that will be St. Andrew’s future. A continued future of sacred space and holy presence here together in community, in song and in prayer. God willing for another 100 years. amen