Up until recently, St. George's had a movable lectern. I'm not even sure if "lectern" is the right word for it. It was really a glorified music stand. We would set it up right behind the altar rail at the beginning of the service, and at some point before communion the MC would unceremoniously move it out of the way. I kept quiet about it for a long time, but I always hated it. It's not just because moving furniture during worship makes it feel like we are worshiping in a makeshift space. There is a deeper theological reason behind it.
When I was in seminary, I spent my last year working in a parish that was selected for me by the seminary. They liked to put conservative students in liberal parishes so that we might be "theologically challenged." I don't ever remember them trying to "theologically challenge" the liberal students by putting them in conservative parishes, but that is besides the point. So I found myself working in a parish that I would not ordinarily choose to attend on my own. I will admit, I learned a lot, mostly about how not to do things.
When I was in seminary, I spent my last year working in a parish that was selected for me by the seminary. They liked to put conservative students in liberal parishes so that we might be "theologically challenged." I don't ever remember them trying to "theologically challenge" the liberal students by putting them in conservative parishes, but that is besides the point. So I found myself working in a parish that I would not ordinarily choose to attend on my own. I will admit, I learned a lot, mostly about how not to do things.
The worship space in this church was unlike any I had ever seen before. For starters, it was octagonal. But that wasn't the weirdest part. Inside the octagon, every piece of furniture, and I mean every piece, was movable. Each season they would change to a new configuration. Now if I were of the mind to do this sort of thing (which I am not!), I would have diagrams on graph paper, showing where every individual piece went for each season. But the rector of this parish was a bit more of an "abstract thinker." He would stand in the middle of the room and say in his thick, Texas accent, "Hmm...let's move that piece over here." Mind you, this was not cheap, easy to move furniture. Most of it was solid wood and very heavy. So we'd have four or five men pick something up and move it. The rector would then look at it and say, "No, I don't like it there. Let's move it over here." But the worst part was the confusion it caused in the congregation. I remember one Sunday processing in after we had rearranged the furniture. The crucifer and two torch bearers all went in different directions. I had no idea who to follow!
Now I actually do understand what he was trying to do. He was attempting to show the people that the way we set up our worship space says different things about God. But therein lies the problem. When we are continually changing our worship environment, it tells people that God is malleable. It tells people that he can be manipulated back and forth. It tells people that we are in charge of God.
At St. George's, our furniture is bolted down. I have replaced our "music stand" lectern with a more substantial one. I haven't screwed it into the floor yet, but if anyone tries to move it I will. What does this tell us about God? It tells us that he is immovable, unchanging, and consistent. In the midst of a world where everything is constantly changing, it is nice to know that we can rely on God to be that sure foundation that never moves.
A couple of years ago I went back and visited the small town where I grew up. I hadn't been there in over 20 years and a lot had changed. They had built new buildings and torn down old ones. I went and checked in on the church where I first felt the call to the priesthood. They had built a beautiful new fellowship hall, the kitchen was in a different place, and I couldn't quite find the front door. But the worship space was exactly how I remembered it. Some things never change. Thanks be to God!
Now I actually do understand what he was trying to do. He was attempting to show the people that the way we set up our worship space says different things about God. But therein lies the problem. When we are continually changing our worship environment, it tells people that God is malleable. It tells people that he can be manipulated back and forth. It tells people that we are in charge of God.
At St. George's, our furniture is bolted down. I have replaced our "music stand" lectern with a more substantial one. I haven't screwed it into the floor yet, but if anyone tries to move it I will. What does this tell us about God? It tells us that he is immovable, unchanging, and consistent. In the midst of a world where everything is constantly changing, it is nice to know that we can rely on God to be that sure foundation that never moves.
A couple of years ago I went back and visited the small town where I grew up. I hadn't been there in over 20 years and a lot had changed. They had built new buildings and torn down old ones. I went and checked in on the church where I first felt the call to the priesthood. They had built a beautiful new fellowship hall, the kitchen was in a different place, and I couldn't quite find the front door. But the worship space was exactly how I remembered it. Some things never change. Thanks be to God!
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