REFLECTIONS ON GOING TO CHURCH

I asked myself what is it about going to church that I liked. What did it GIVE me?

I like walking down the path, past the gravestones, looking at the flowers. Evidence that people continue to remember loved ones. The old gravestones give me a sense of REASSURANCE that these people laid here, believed in something that brought them eventually to rest in this place. I feel that the graves themselves are a useful "tool" for families to begin to let go of their loved ones. The act of going to a grave is a form of HEALING. Some people need something tangible to go to, to speak to. Some people need graves to relate to, to tend to, to give gifts to. To give them the sense that the person whom they so dearly loved is not totally gone from this physical earth.

On entering the church, I love the act of pushing the solid wooden door. The door being so strong gives me a sense of PROTECTION. In the act of pushing through that strong door, which takes some courage if you are a newcomer, you go into the church and feel from shutting that door that you are now safe, in God’s house. For newcomers of course it can be quite frightening. It’s something new. They don’t know the "rules and regulations" yet.

And then its nice to go to "your" chair. We all need that sense of SECURITY that having a place of our own gives. However, becoming too attached to the one chair is not an essential thing. It would be best to approach the sitting in church as an arbitrary thing. Each chair serves a purpose. From each chair you gain a new perspective of the church, of the other parishioners and the understanding that you are not dependent on that chair for safety – any chair will do. Also, it is useful to let go of the act of possession of one particular chair. No chair in the church belongs to you. Everybody and anybody has an equal right to sit on that chair. However, as is often the case now, especially with not so many people attending church, parishioners end up having a chair that they feel in some way is theirs. There’s no problem with that, but it is good to remember that if you have to relinquish "your" spot, then let it be. It should not be an issue. If you feel you "own" a particular chair or position, ask yourself why? Why do I think I deserve this chair more than any other person? In the act of going to church do you feel you earn that right? The answer is of course, No. God does not offer such rewards for so called "good behaviour". He simply wants you to be with him, wherever you are and that means even when you’re not in church.

However, the act of going to church is a good exercise in DISCIPLINE. When I sit in church, it gives me an opportunity to sit for a time, to pray and be with my thoughts. So often in our busy lives we do not have the time or can’t make the time to just be still with our thoughts. To give God the opportunity to "speak" to us. Also, going to church gives us the opportunity to concentrate on the sermon. To hear its message. Sometimes this might not be too clear, but bear with it. You will begin to hear the message in time. This takes PATIENCE.

Another wonderful thing about going to church is, it gives me the opportunity, through the Holy Communion service, to show by action, my reverence for God. Also, my understanding that it is through Jesus and his act of sacrifice and our recognition of the full extent of that sacrifice that we can now take the sacrament and remember what he did for us. We have the opportunity in ritual to take in the body and blood of Christ. At that time we can cast aside all our worldly thoughts and thank Him for what he did for us. The nice thing is, there is no special formula for doing this. Nothing you say is either right or wrong. You will find your own way of saying, thankyou.

The other aspect to the taking of Holy Communion is the feeling of SHARING. We are all joining together, with one purpose. What a wonderful feeling, to be sharing this with each other. In this act we are not separate but joined, linked in a very special way. Linked with each other and linked with Jesus and subsequently God.

And what about the hymns. Thousands of them, all composed by beautiful people who really were inspired by Christ, by their Christian belief to write a song for Him. When we sing these songs, we relish the rhythm. We feel the essence of the message in the words. Such a wonderful and uplifting experience.

And, what about the giving. I try not to forget that the church is in its own way, a business. In order to run efficiently it needs MONEY. There is a limit to how far the money that is already given to the church can go. So, when giving, I listen to my heart. I give what I feel is right for me, given my particular circumstances. All of us have different incomes, we know this. I remind myself about what I feel I get from being a member of our church. Unfortunately, we have to put value on everything in this material world of ours. But I try to let my heart tell me what seems fair. All any one of us can give, is what we have. Of course this can also mean giving your TIME. Whatever you feel you can comfortably give, give it. It will make you feel good. There are a number of sayings which go along these lines, what you give out you will get back, sometimes, threefold. Throughout my life this has become evident to me, so many times, it’s like a little miracle when it happens.

Then, when we finish the formal part of our getting together, we relax, chat to each other, and share a cup of tea. What a wonderful way to start the day. That’s when I GIVE THANKS again for all these opportunities that being a part of God’s church brings to me.

Well, that’s why I go to church. It feeds my soul and that’s really what we all need.

Marina Wilkinson April 2005