Empty Pews, Full Hearts
- Tina Punneo
- Mar 21, 2020
- 2 min read
Sunday morning rituals across America will be a little diffirent for the first time in modern history, tomorrow, March 22, 2020.
Sunday morning best will be exchanged for pajamas.
Styled hair and makeup, suit and tie not required.
Pews will be exchanged for couches.
Pulpits televised in living rooms across America.
As we sit in front of the big screen, popcorn will be exchanged for communion bread.
We will gather for communion apart. It sounds like an oxymoron. The very word communion means, “sharing in common”. It’s hard to share when we’re apart. It doesn’t seem right.
My heart is heavy. My soul is grieved to be apart from my brothers and sisters in Christ. To not be able to greet one another with a holy kiss, a handshake, a hug or a smile.
When the body is missing a part, it hurts.
Pews will be empty, hymnals untouched. Songs sung but not heard to edify. We will not be able to speak to one another with those songs, hymns and spiritual songs.
Yet, we still gather in heart. We commune in heart.
The heart is the most important organ in the body. The heart pumps life into the body to keep it flowing. The body wouldn’t function without heart.
When it comes to worship, Christ is the heart of the matter. He unites us in Spirit. Bound by peace.
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all. Ephesians 4:3-6
He (Jesus) makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16
I love the assembling of the Saints and much prefer sitting in the pew. I love hearing the voices united in praise to God. I love watching the children bow their heads to pray. I love hugging an elderly member. I love to see people face to face. I love to hear words of encouragement, a pat on the back, see a smile, laugh with a friend.
Right now circumstances are preventing this from happening. So right now we have to be joined in heart much more than ever before.
This body has to be healthy, growing, full of love and be even stronger when the pews are full again.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Comments