Affirmations from Alan

Dear Friends:

In my personal travels with Mary Lou and as a music tour director, I have been fortunate to worship in churches both magnificent and humble all over the country. That is probably true for many of you as well.

I have spent time in St. Patrick’s Cathedral (New York), The Basilica of The Sacred Heart (University of Notre Dame), New Covenant United Methodist (Villages, Florida), Cathedral of Nature (Zion National Park), Cathedral of St. John The Devine (New York), Alice Miller Chapel (Northwestern University), First Baptist Church (Gulf Shores, Alabama), Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Chapel of The Holy Cross (Sedona, Arizona), The National Cathedral (Washington), St. Pauls United Church of Christ (Chicago), Benton Chapel (Vanderbilt University), Mary Queen of The Universe (Orlando), Rocky River United Methodist, Chapel of The Transfiguration (Grand Tetons), The Riverside Church (New York), Orange Beach United Methodist (Alabama), Washington Avenue Christian Church, and others. I mention these buildings because at this moment I can’t stop thinking of them. Every house of worship was designed and constructed to gather people together for hope, faith, mercy, love, assurance, healing, mourning, and understanding. Because of necessary social distancing, these sacred spaces are mostly unoccupied. The loss of gathering in sanctuaries has hit home for all of us.

And yet, the spirit of God remains present and shines forth. Light at every viewing location of our online, virtual worship services beams from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth. The work and ministry of the church continues, even now, led by a Spirit who cannot be contained in or confined to a building of brick and mortar.

But, I do look forward to when the Spirit returns us to 301 Washington Avenue. We will gather together again. The calendar date is undetermined, but it will be an Easter and a Pentecost rolled into one. The day is surely coming.

Peace,

Alan