Excerpt from Jeremiah 3:15-18

". . . the ark of the covenant . . . shall not come to mind, or be remembered, or missed; nor shall another one be made. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord."

Reflection by Donna Schaper

To say that most of us have an edifice complex is to overstate the obvious. Our housing defines our class status, our children's schools, whether we have a sense of space or spaciousness or not. Likewise congregations can become very attached to buildings. A dowdy church often has a dowdy spirit. An alive church often has a colorful spirit. Many say they can tell everything about a church by looking at its entryway and its Sunday School rooms. Dusty places have dusty spirits.

Too many people tell me today, "My house is a mess." I wonder what they mean. God has no House but permeates dust and leaks, clutter and color. Yes, this is a promotion of good housekeeping that both loves a place to life but doesn't overdo it.

Prayer

Covenantal God, keep us mindful that houses are not homes. Amen.