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)