I did a thing today. It’s certainly not the first time I’ve done ‘this thing,’ but it’s the first time with this specific intentionality. (Was that convoluted enough?) I walked through the Sanctuary today. That’s it. I walked through the Sanctuary—up and down every aisle and across the breadth of the balcony. I’ve walked these paths between the pews before but never with this particular intent.
I walked through the Sanctuary today and prayed for you. I had planned to stand near the platform—at the Lord’s Supper table—and lift a silent prayer for the corporate congregation, but as I looked across the pews, the prayers became more specific. I know where you sit. I could almost see you in your place. I walked pew to pew—floor to balcony to choir loft—and prayed for: Sidney, Anne, Anne, Don, Susan, Ed, Jonathan, Beth, Fritz, Debbie, Charlie, Min-Ken, Richard, Sallie, Joe, Julie, James, Elizabeth, Pam, Marietta, John, Patsy, Linda, Ken, Barbara, Beth, Greg, Nancy, Dan, Sarah, Roy, Elle, Charlie, Beth, Nancy, Betty, Judy, Amy, Wesley, Oz, Bill, Brad, Lisa, Lora, Bert and so many more of you. You get the picture. (You might even be able to envision the route.) I had planned a quiet five minutes at the Lord’s Supper table. I ended up spending a little over an hour putting pews with faces and faces with prayers. I realized as I exited the accordion doors into the Narthex, many of our members reside in other towns or find themselves homebound; I paused and remembered as many of those names as I could. As I made my way back to the office, my eyes were a tad teary.
I certainly miss the church as a community. However, I want you to know that I miss you as an individual. I miss seeing you each week and receiving your hug, pat on the shoulder, quirky smile, critique, compliment, suggestion, bit of news, prayer concern, handshake, sermon feedback and attentive (semi-attentive? day dreaming? sleeping?) face in your pew.
I’m looking forward to the day we can regather. Until then, I’m keeping you in my prayers, and I’m keeping your pew warm…
—Jim