“Didn’t there used to be candles on the Joys and Sorrows table?”
This was a question posed to me by a congregant last week. Didn’t there used to be candles that people could light for the joys and sorrows that they were holding in their heart, even if they don’t want it to be read publicly?
It was a reminder that so much changed during the pandemic. Yes, there used to be those candles, and when we got back together last year, we started outside and wanted to avoid places of congestion. However, we’re past that now but forgot that we never brought the candles back. So we’ll be adding that back into the list of things we do to prepare for worship each week.
It is a reminder to me of how much we lost during that time. It is also a reminder of simple acts that can make a real difference for people. Finally, it is a reminder that so many people carry so much on their hearts each and every time they step into our sanctuary, much of it we may not know about. I know of some very tender hearts that came in last week and I know there were far more that I didn’t know about.
I give thanks for kind reminders, small touches that have great meaning and the hurt and celebrations that each one of us brings each week when we gather together.