Noah’s Ark and Our Church, Examples of Life-Giving Sanctuaries

Last week I visited our PCUSA headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky for the first time. It is a huge office building and chapel. The atrium walls are lined with a series of amazing paintings telling the story of Creation by artist Maritza Morgan. This one in particular caught my eye.

The cramped quarters of Noah’s ark are portrayed with beautiful colors and block shaped images. Viewing this perspective caused me to realize how every inch of space on the ark was important, including the lap of Noah who is holding a dove. God instructed Noah to share his ark for the life of the world and he did with warm hospitality for the large and small in creation.

Thanks to successful stewardship campaigns year after year our church ark has stayed afloat ever since 1733. We have consistently heard and answered God’s call to share our church for the life of the world. PCM has a reputation in the community for being hospitable, like Noah, and for sharing the life-giving gifts we have been blessed with. Like the ark, our church is a holy refuge for healing and hope for all who need to get away from the chaos and storms of life.

The 2012 Stewardship campaign grand finale is on Thanksgiving Festival Sunday, November 18^th when we all bring food to share with some of our mission partners who feed the hungry in town. It will be a joyful way to connect our food and financial resources with those in need.

This year’s stewardship theme: “Creating Pathways to Giving” inspired each of us to pledge for our church’s future. Our pledges have provided not only funds for our church to thrive on, but also a blessed future for our children and grandchildren and all of creation to enjoy.  God is good!