Last night we had a lesson about the Ordo – basically the order of worship and what worship means. I have to say that hearing someone that has theological training is refreshing to my heart. Last night, I really needed something to engage my mind and heart.

Early church worship had three parts – Word, Water, Bread/Cup. The Word is pretty obvious, it stands for preaching or reading from the Scriptures. Water, though, is not always baptism, it is also testimony. Testimony is sharing the story of our lives – it could be our conversion, it could be that critical turning point in our lives. It is whatever demonstrates to work of God in our lives. Bread/Cup is communion, of course.

Our minister suggested that we incorporate testimony into our worship so that we can hear each others’ stories. He knows some from his days in Denver, but so many have moved in from everywhere, he wants to know their story as well. When asked if we know the story of most of the members, no one felt that they did.

The main point, however, was not really liturgy. (Though the church I attend may move more towards a liturgical service.) The main point was about the sense of sacred space. For some, this sense is helped by a church building – the place to worship God doesn’t move and everytime a person comes here it is to worship God. For some, this sense if helped by a personal place with great meaning – for me it is the ballfields at night of my old church. For others, it is seeing other church members, no matter what the location and for still others, it is something completely different. The point was to claim that sacred space in our lives, individually and corporately. AFterwards, I commented that I have failed to do either as church on Sunday has become about conflict, needs, hurts, issues, and frustration. More importantly, there is no sacred space for me personally anywhere closeby. The nearest space is 1100+ miles away in Orange County, NC.

So I am in search of sacred space locally. You have any stories about sacred space?