So what is in a sign? Signs have power to communicate important messages to others. In one of the Eucharistic prayers the Church is described as a "sign and instrument of unity." This week, after six months, our sign in front of the Church finally was changed to reflect that we have a new pastor (now not so new). Not only that, the sign has been given new glass, new script, and is nice and lighted. Though it may be easy to miss, partly due to familiarity, this sign is another expression of our unity in mission! We are to be like a bright, clear, and current sign of the presence of Jesus in our community! This invites us to make the best of Ordinary Time that begins this Sunday evening. Ordinary Time is a call to conversion and appreciation of the mysteries of our faith, "Ordinary Time is not ordinary at all. Ordinary Time, the celebration of Sunday is the identifying mark of the Christian Community which comes together, remembering that on the first day of the week the Lord of Life was raised up and creation came at last to completion. Sunday as a day of play and worship is a sacrament of redeemed time. How we live Sunday proclaims to the world what we believe about redeemed time now and for ever." These words from the Order of Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and the Celebration of the Eucharist remind us that Sunday itself is a sign! Our cars in the parking lot, our singing, and our gathering as we enter the Church and after Eucharist are signs. The way we spend our time on Sundays is a sign to each other and to the community. What do these signs currently say? How can we better live the gift of our faith together?
So what is in a space? When the Church was remodeled two doors were removed near the entrance of the Church. This week the framing for the doors was removed with an amazing consequence! The space that many see and experience when they enter the Church is now open and inviting! This is the first encounter with liturgical space. That is, the first concrete movement into the space where we as a parish family will offer worship to the Lord! The experience of a welcoming gathering area as we transition from the world into liturgical time and space, the "real world", is so important for orienting us to the work of worship! Every time WE, living stones, gather as God's people, as a parish family, we are drawn together "assembled" as a sign to each other and to the world that "God shows not partiality, everyone is welcome." We come together for mass, or at times for baptisms or funerals, for CCD or CCW or KOC, Bible Study, English as a Second Language courses, for Eucharistic Adoration or to pray the Rosary, for DTS and pass into this sacred space through the gathering area. Now we'll be able to experience an openness not formerly possible.
"From worship into service." As we leave mass we descend stairs either to go to the parish hall or out to our vehicles through the gathering area. The message we get is that we leave as one people united more
perfectly by God's grace for service to the world. We don't, and can't, serve the world as disciples individually. Jesus sent the disciples two by two and thus indicated how necessary it is that each of us be good stewards of the time, talent, and treasure we have and together continue the hard work of justice and charity here in Worland. This space will be updated to better communicate the message of "welcome" and "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." New flooring, painting, and lighting will tie the gathering space to the Church in a fuller way. This will be a space where parish news can be shared such as our financial statements, parish council minutes, special scheduling, and brochures concerning aspects of our discipleship will be available. This space will be occupied at times by funeral processions, wedding processions, processions to CCD classes, a fuller experience of greeters-perhaps by families, and visitors will get an impression of who we are as God's family.
So what do signs and space say through us to the world? The icon of St. Mary Magdalen our patroness is a wonderful call to holiness. St. Mary Magdalen was the first person to witness the empty tomb and to encounter the resurrected Jesus! She was sent to the Apostles with the message to meet him in Galilee. As she went she declared, "I have seen the Lord!" Let that be the fruit of the sign and space that greets us every time we "come to church." Let it be the message we radiate to our world!
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