Church Environment

Today, I had the opportunity to attend an outdoor service at Half Moon Bay, N.Y. This is a gorgeous natural cathedral where the congregants join together in a bay, and gather around a rock outcrop which provides a small stage area, and a rock pulpit. The services here are in the summer and were started back in 1877. There are so many great things to contemplate: the high cathedral ceilings, the rock face behind, the act of binding the boats together, the readings and the preaching literally coming from the rock, the echo of the hymns as the choir and congregants sign in the bay surrounded by rock… The inter-denominational service today was led by a member of the Anglican Church of Canada from Trinity College, Toronto. It was a beautiful service for many reasons, however the one that left the largest impression on me was the space, the environment. As churches, I think we tend to focus on worshiping in the same place, the same building, in the same pews. I value tradition, particularly because it is something that always seemed endangered in our secular world. However, I think we tend to do the same things, expecting the same result, and sometimes I think that we need to change the space, move the pews, orient the church different, and if necessary to find a completely different environment. The church, while carrying traditions, should find ways of being refreshing, invigorating and resilient, without becoming sleepy, dull, and rutted. And I think for me, and for many others we take the church location for granted, which is our own misfortune. So, today I will breath in the air of the “tallest cathedral ceiling” and dream of loftier things.