A sacred place is defined as a space distinguished from other spaces. The rituals that a people either practice at a place or direct toward it mark its sacredness and differentiate it from other defined spaces. At The Church of The Palms, we have several sacred spaces: Our beautiful Sanctuary, the Memorial Garden, our Chapel, the Labyrinth, and one may even argue King Hall. To understand the character of such places, Jonathan Z. Smith has suggested the helpful metaphor of sacred space as a “focusing lens.” A sacred space focuses attention on the forms, objects, and actions in it and reveals them as bearers of religious meaning, and in our case, manifestations of love of God and love of neighbor. Our sacred spaces reveal the fundamental beliefs and principles at the core of our being. They help us transform our mission into action.
We are inviting you to add our newly established “Donation Area” to The Church of The Palms inventory of sacred spaces. It is here, in this area, that we make non-monetary donations to our siblings addressed in our sacred writing:
- Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
- Proverbs 22:9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
- Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
- Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of these my brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.”
As you pass through the “Donations Area” please review the lists of items needed by our neighbors in need of our support. And as you make your donations, be intentional and offer a prayer of thanksgiving that you are able to give from abundance and that the items donated will be a manifestation of our church’s mission to “Share God’s unconditional love, justice and extravagant welcome.”
Thank you for “being the church”!!
