By Ben Disney
The dedication of the Elizabeth Cramer Chapel this Sunday represents another significant step forward for our congregation. It’s a remarkable gift to the congregation and community given by Jud Cramer and family.
As part of the dedication ceremony, the chapel will be consecrated and set apart for worship, service, and ministry. In short, we’re creating yet another holy space and creating a place where people experience God’s love and grace in critical moments of their lives. Imagine the couple who will stand before God and family at the altar of the chapel promising their love for one another in the covenant of marriage. Consider a family grieving the loss of their loved one, finding peace and comfort in the shelter of God’s love, in the midst of God’s house.
Among the weddings and events scheduled for the chapel, we’ve added two special services for the youth of Arborlawn. The Elizabeth Cramer Chapel will serve as the site for our Confirmation service and Senior Graduation recognition on Sunday evening, May 19 at 6:30 p.m.
So take it one step further. The work of the church is centered upon carving out and creating holy spaces and sacred places where God’s love abounds. Sometimes that means constructing a sanctuary or building a chapel; a physical space carved out for a holy purpose. But it also means carving out a sacred space in the lives of children, youth, and graduating seniors. One involves laying a concrete foundation. The other is about building a lifelong foundation.
We know something about constructing buildings around here, having gone through multiple phases and additions to the campus over the last few years. Lest we ever forget, the purpose of all that construction was to give us the tools to carve out holy places in the lives of those we serve. In those sacred spaces deep in the hearts and souls of people, we believe God is at work.
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