Sacred Connections: Visible
This past week we had an outdoor gathering of folks from three Church of the Redeemer “Love Your Neighbor” neighborhood groups. We had about ten “household bubbles” in all, arriving in masks carrying chairs and beverages, then physically distanced across a driveway and lawn. It was so good to see and greet each other in person. We shared concerns and stories, frustrations and painful feelings. We joked with each other, laughed together, and were able to offer new kinds of support as we learned more of each other’s needs. We closed our brief time together with a reading from scripture, reflection, and prayer. It was such a joy and comfort to be physically present to each other. To see and be seen.
The Flower Guild has been creating a beautiful arrangement each Sunday since we began our Sunday live online worship. Those of us participating in the service have the joy of seeing it in our midst in the sanctuary; and those of us watching from home may at times have an even closer view. The flowers are a visible sign celebrating the beauty of God’s creation. This faithful ministry inspires us and is integral to our liturgy and worship experience as a community. Just as the Flower Guild led the way in bringing us the Easter pansies many months ago, they are exploring new ways we can share this visible sign of God’s love even more directly with those confined to their homes. We’ll have more to share on that very soon.
This week Missy Darling and I have been immersed in the wonderful face masks, lovingly hand-crafted for the adults in our congregation, and blessed at our first Sunday live online worship service last month. The Church of the Redeemer face masks are being picked up by neighborhood group Connectors this week and will be finding their way to our homes in the weeks to come. These face masks are a visible sign of God’s love for us and our love and care for each other. They reflect our longing and hope to return to worship together in our church building, and our deep commitment to help keep each other safe.
When I first began attending Church of the Redeemer, literally decades ago, I remember immersing in a course called “Spiritual Development” that included basic teachings of the church. Much of that content is found in our Book of Common Prayer, in the section “An Outline of the Faith” beginning on page 845. The content specific to the Sacraments starts on page 857 with these words:
Q What are the sacraments?
A The sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.
Several pages follow describing grace, the two great sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist, and then the other sacraments within the Church. The section ends with the following:
Q Is God’s activity limited to these rites?
A God does not limit himself to these rites; they are patterns of countless ways by which God uses material things to reach out to us.
Q How are the sacraments related to our Christian hope?
A Sacraments sustain our present hope and anticipate its future fulfillment.
In this time, we are not able to participate in many of the sacraments in worship in the ways that we still long to do, yet, God’s grace continues to gift us with sacraments. The visible signs for us may look different these days, sharing loving presence and prayer in a neighborhood, the beauty of creation shared in flowers brought to our homes, the making, blessing and delivery of face masks to help keep us safe. These visible signs alone are enabled by over 100 members of our community, in service to God and out of love for each other. This is just the briefest glimpse of the gifts being inspired, offered and shared.
Let us keep watch for the visible signs of God’s love all around us. Let us celebrate the sacramental nature of the life available to us in these challenging days. Let us allow these visible signs to sustain us and give us hope in the days to come.
