THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

We are now in the season of Lent and for the next five weeks I would like to explore with you a theme that could be widely be described as “sacred spaces”. What on earth could I be talking about?

Well, these special spaces have been described as places where the gap between heaven and earth is thin!

These are places where something is different!

If you like there is “a specialness” about them. I would guess we all have places like this - maybe a mountain top where you can see the country set out before you or perhaps a place where something special happened.

I remember visiting the graveyards on the Somme and walking the D-Day beaches.

They were special to me. Perhaps visiting a church or cathedral or maybe just a special walk in the country.

I am sure we all have these special places but over the next few weeks I would like to introduce you to special places in the Christian faith.

This week’s two places special to me are the churches of St Matthew’s and St John the Divine in Rastrick.

To many people who pass by big buildings but nothing special but special to the congregations who meet there.

For me these are two places where the gap between heaven and earth is thin.

Places where I was ordained as priest – where I baptised my grandson and where we met a whole multitude of angels who have welcomed us and supported us over the years.

Are these churches different to any others? No, I think not. In all our churches you will find love and friendship.

These days our churches may be online but that makes no difference, you will still find that place where the gap between heaven and earth is thin – a sacred space!