http://www.journeyoflyle.com

A few people gathered in response to their sense of call and a new tradition was born into an old. Through struggles and strife, joys and blessings today stand 200 or so traditions that claim that day as their birth. I am part of one such tradition, and today was an amazing day.

A bit past 8am I walked slowly down rows of chairs in a darkened room, a video ended with the image of a lamb, child and lion and the words “Community of Christ”. The lights came on, the screen raised, the curtains drew back and I saw the awe on the faces of twenty some people who were the first tour to experience the new theatre of the new Visitor and Spiritual Formation Centre here in Kirtland. I paused and glanced out the large window towards the Temple and then started to share the story, a story that included the words “177 years ago in upstate New York.” We walked outside in the cold, perhaps at times snow falling as it is right now, and over to the Temple. We shared the sacred story, though we come from different traditions that trace back to that day of organization. At the end we sang a verse of “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning” and I wanted to shout out “sing a tad faster” but I kept my tongue. I shared again a bit later with another group, this one even larger, again we shared in song. This time I wanted to say “Stop! your singing to slow, this song needs energy, it needs momentum!” and to the half that remained siting “How can you sit?” but again my tongue stayed silent. I shared the story once more with a small group and without song and then  I went on the tour with a large group of Community of Christ church members from Tahiti. It was interesting to hear the interpretation and translation of the story that was shared, but it was at the end when they shared by singing several songs that was amazing… Oh how amazing it was to hear their wonderful voices fill that sacred space. It was a wonderful worship experience. They sang several songs, a few I recognized even though they sang in languages I know not. (Such as when they sang the Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning). Then it was time to go back to the Centre and to share the story once more with another group of people.

It was an amazing day, and is not yet over, for this evening is a Good (why is it called that?) Friday service in the Temple….

Peace