Outside and inside a church building!

Anna and I were at an ancient Church building for an occasion!

This is a Church building of longstanding history and traditions! The faithful view this church building with high regard. I spent my infancy and toddler period in the next village, which too has a similar church building of considerable importance in church history in Kerala. I was visiting this church building after sixty years. The interior was similar in many ways except for the changes in some decorative additions to the interior. 

What touched me most was the way the presbyters waited at the altar looking towards the arriving worshippers with a message of warmth and welcome !

What is that which prepares the worshippers to be present once they are in the sanctuary! It is the spirit and attitude with which the worshippers are enabled to 'come to God'!

All of us are on a life journey towards God, in response to the invitation of Jesus of Nazareth, who said, "Come to me..'! All of su are at risk of losing our way! The coming together of the faithful in congregational worship is to hear this call again and be made ready to continue this journey! The presbyters who are the 'shepherd of the sheep' are the pointers to this journey and destiny!

I felt touched by the way these presbyters waited at the altar with an expectant and joyful invitation to 'Come'! 

The worshippers need a direction towards God, form the time they arrive in the sanctuary. The decorative interior in the sanctuary itself can be a distraction unless the worshippers are enabled to 'worship in truth and spirit'!

Thanks to these two Presbyters, who made a difference in inviting the congregation to an inner orientation towards God!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

A Good Friday ritual!

A ritual the faith community practices on Good Friday in the state of Kerala is portray a live scened of the crucifixion scene which the believers visit after the three hour mid day church service! They are presented in the street adjacent to the church for the benefit of the road users as well!

As Anna and I watched some of these solemn processions, we sensed the devout sense of adoration for the vicarious suffering of Jesus!

The resurrection is also remembered with equal adoration on the Easter Sunday!

Faith is the substance of existence... and we are moved to pursue that mission in life even more as we watch such worshipful scenes!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

'Look to the Hills..'

The hospital and college campuses of the Christian Medical College, Vellore  have hills in their background. 

It is to the 'Hills from where our help come', we are reminded to look to by the Psalm writer!

It is a symbolic invitation to build a faith community, whose inward direction is towards God, and whose mission is to bring abundance of life to all!

I paused at this sight almost everyday during my years at CMC Vellore. I had this view from the landing space of the first flight of stairs, while climbing to go the department where I worked!

Each day the sight was different because, mist, humidity, cloud, fog, etc changed the details!

As I look back, I remember this Biblical verse coming back to me with a refreshing appeal every day!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

    

Living Lovingly

Anna and I have actively kept in touch with worship congregations during our stay at Pune, Sevagram, Nagpur, Chennai, Vellore and now in Kerala. We have often found such occasions spiritually refreshing and biblically instructional in our formative journey.

Now that we live in  a new cultural milieu in Kerala of strong heritage of Christian spirituality, we are beginning to understand how church life is strongly linked to denominational fidelity. In the village where we live, there are fifteen worshipping congregations, all belonging to different denominations. There is a strong boundary which each denomination prescribes for its members that interdenominational co-operation or collaboration is nominal and minimal. Sometimes there is intolerance and intimidation, which makes interdenominational relationship difficult and stressful.

A minister of one congregation mentioned to me that three denominations used to use the same church building for their sunday worship services and weekly meetings in one city where he was a vicar of one congregation. The church building was also used for day care of children and senior citizens, drawn form all denominations and other faiths, during the week day.  

On the same day, another minister dropped in to greet me. He drew my attention to six church buildings closed to worshippers due to conflicts between groups within the congregations. Sometimes worship services are held under police protection. He knew of my interest in dispute resolution and reconciliation and invited my attention to this opportunity.   

I have recently got in touch with Bishops of three denominations. I realized how each denomination speaks of its 'faithful flock'. I wonder whether the 'faith community' is missiologically getting preoccupied with being 'faithful flock' of denominations!

A senior minister, whom we know for fifteen years, who is likely to be nominated to the panel for selection of a Bishop, mentioned to us this morning how he feels for the diocese which is full of internal conflicts. 

We returned from the Sunday worship today, with this longing in our hearts, 'how are we live to lovingly' amidst so many pressures and divisive practices! This is the missionary call we feel in our hearts, ever since we have come to live in Kerala. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)