A View from the Window….
It was a beautiful morning with blue skies, bright sunshine and a slightly cool breeze. Since things seemed to be all in place before the 10:00am service, I slipped around to the front steps to greet people as they walked into church. That is absolutely one of my favorite things to do on a Sunday morning.
What a sight! It seemed as if people were coming to Emmanuel from all di-rections: walking north on Kensington, south on Kensington and from the east and west on Elm. What a marvelous sight!
A few dark ashes still marked the spot on the front walk where the “new fire”
had been lit the previous evening. There was still a lingering scent of in-cense and shortly we would “recharge” the atmosphere with some more.
Just for the moment, it was pure joy to savor – to be able to stand there and see people streaming in on Easter morning from all over. Husbands and wives, singles, young ones, older ones, moms and dads, teens, grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles… you all came! And I was privileged to shake your hand and say “Welcome! It’s good to see you!”
I slipped back around to the hallway to offer a short prayer before we began our grand procession into the church. Com-ing up that long center aisle, it felt like I was in a grand cathedral and, once again, I knew just how blessed I am to be here as your priest and rector. There is not a single clergy person in the whole world – in any denomination – who has it any better!
After I “censed” the altar and the Pas-chal candle and arrived at my seat, I had a chance to really look out and see that the whole church was full! So I ex-claimed at the announcements, “This iswhat Emmanuel was made for!”
And it’s true. Way back when, our founders decided that a grand Episcopal Church would be at the very heart and center of the new village of LaGrange. They worked hard, served long and sac-rificed much to make this place a holy space where everyone could come to know God at work in our midst and find sure footing on his or her way along the journey.
Let’s keep “building the dream” they dreamed for us and generations to come. Let’s not be just C&E folks (Christmas and Easter), but parishioners who come week in and week out – who stream in from all directions to be part of a community that worships and praises the Risen Lord, finding joy in just being together in this grand space.
O come, O come, let us adore Him! Christ the Lord is risen indeed! Alle-luia! Alleluia!
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Terri +
