1 O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
-Psalm 63:1-4, NRSV
“This is my favorite room in the whole church,” I often say to the wiggling, giggling preschoolers of the Wesley’s Circle of Friends preschool. Twice a month, they’ve gathered with me in the front pews of the sanctuary for our preschool chapel services. “This is my favorite room in the whole church. Can anyone raise their hand and tell me the name of this room? It begins with an ‘S’…”
It’s a big word for such little kiddos, but they’ve gotten it by now. “Sanctuary!” they shout (often, with or without raising their hands — they’re just so excited, and I’m delighted by that).
Sanctuary. It’s a holy space, a space we set apart for holy encounters with God. And it is, without a doubt, my favorite space in Wesley Church.
For the moment, the sanctuary is mostly empty. Only six of us gather there on Sunday mornings, for the purposes of bringing worship to you via livestream. The social distancing guidelines brought on by coronavirus have kept us from gathering together in the sanctuary.
Because of that, you may be craving a bit of sanctuary at the moment. You can’t be in the space where you’re accustomed to meeting with God… and so (as in the words of the psalm), you may be seeking and thirsting for sanctuary, just as you’re seeking and thirsting for God.
Of course, we know that “sanctuary” doesn’t just refer to a particular room in the church. “Sanctuary” is bigger than any room (as big and beautiful and holy as that room may be). Sanctuary is something we can find — something we must find — no matter where we are. I wonder… where are you finding sanctuary at the moment? Where are you meeting God right now?
Those are some of the questions our District Superintendent, Rev. Steve Morton, has raised in this video message that I now share with you. As you watch, as you take it in… consider the ways that you can find sanctuary in your own home, your own head, your own heart.
Find sanctuary wherever you can… and before you know it, friends, we’ll be back in our beautiful sanctuary together.
This will come to end… because after all:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Blessings,
Pastor Candy
Want to know more?
- Learn about our church and its ministries: https://wesleychurch.com/
- Make a gift to support our mission: https://wesleychurch.com/giving-2/
- View our recent messages: https://wesleychurch.com/sermon-message-on-video/
- View previous devotionals: https://wesleychurch.com/pastor-candys-devotionals-2/
