Winston Church once said, “First, we shape our buildings. Then they shape us.” Such is the history of architecture, and in a way, the history of the established church. Of course, one stream of the church’s longer life has suggested that buildings and locations do not matter so much. As Jesus told the woman of Samaria in the fourth chapter of John, true worshippers would not debate about the place of worship, for they worshipped in Spirit and truth.
Another stream of tradition, however, emphasizes that space can be holy and that it can be hallowed by the things said and done there. Most of us sense deep connection with particular places of worship. We have experienced the presence of the divine there, and ache for them when we are away. They may vary greatly from one another, and that is part of their power. Roy Morgan, who was once a member of the staff of St. Mark’s, put together a small booklet describing the architecture of our sanctuary. The vaulted ceilings, he said, tell us of the vastness of God. The moveable seating helps us realize the varied ways the will of God may take shape. Most notable, he would say, is the offset brick wall behind the chance, with its alternating colors and jutting arrangement of bricks. These declare the brokenness and the variety of life and community. Indeed, our buildings are shaped by us and shape us.
In the sixteenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus told his disciples that God would build the church on the foundation of the faith proclaimed by Peter, who said, “You are the Christ.” Every building of the church, regardless of variety, proclaims that. What does that mean as St. Mark’s observes its seventieth year? We’ll talk about that in worship on Sunday, as the sermon is titled, “Building the House of Belonging.” The sermon arises from I Corinthians 3: 9-15, to be read by Karen Korn, and Matthew 16: 13-20, to be read by Keith Korn. During the service, we’ll have a time of sending blessing for the Korns, who are moving from our community. Brenda Bailey Hughes will present a stewardship moment, and we’ll have a moment for children.
We hope to see you at 10:30 Sunday morning in our sanctuary, whether you are a first time visitor or a long time member of our community. To join online, visit www.smumc.church and click on the Live Stream Banner.