Sanctuary

Sanctuary

It seems very timely that the October worship theme is Sanctuary! For here we are holding a capital campaign for building a new sanctuary. This theme, however, really doesn’t have anything to do with building a building… Or does it? A sanctuary is a place of refuge and safety. I believe whole heartedly that this is what we are building. We are building a place where you are free to hold the hand of the one you love, a place where you can be all of whom you are, a place where you can believe as you believe, a place that doesn’t check your immigration status. This is no small thing. It’s HUGE! As someone who is cis-gender, heterosexual, white, middle class and a citizen, I don’t have to deal with many of the issues others do. It doesn’t affect me if I hold the hand of my loved one; my gender identity aligns with my physical appearance, and everything about me screams “accepted.” For so many that is not true. From those who are seeking asylum from violence in other countries, to those seeking a safe place to be an atheist or pagan, we are building a place, in body and in spirit, where everyone is held in loving, safe arms.

This sanctuary we want to build is about creating more of that, about opening our arms even wider. We are blessed by all those who have stepped up and pledged to the campaign already. You’ll be
hearing more about it in the months to come. I invite everyone to consider how you might be able to contribute to building a sanctuary, in body and spirit.

See you in church,
Rev. Sian