God's Temple

This is the church I attended as I was growing up. It is "the first church" of Monticello, and this July, it will be 200 years old.

I remember when this stained glass piece was put in. It lights from behind, and it's beautiful.

This is my sister with my children and our nephews, sitting at the foot of the alter where I was married...

And from where I received communion. And in front of which I celebrated Christmas and Easter and Christ's life. And this July, this church will be closing it's doors. It's congregation has dwindled; it's tithing not enough to support it's existence.

While this is sad, tragically sad, it's important to remember where Christ's work really takes place. The literal church is a building, created by man -in which wonderful things happen-but still, created by man. A place to celebrate, to remember, to meditate, to share fellowship; to repent, to forgive, to receive, to promise, to praise, to grow, to share. All these things are nurtured here. They are expected to be nurtured here. But they can (and should) also be nurtured in our homes. And in our yards, and in our cars, and in our schools, and in our families, and in our friendships. And within ourselves.

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16

(I blog-lifted this song from Kimba... thanks for sharing, girl.)