This article was written by Bethany Laurie on behalf of Contemplative Ministries.

For over a year, we have been absent from the familiar worship and study spaces at Saint Peter due to the pandemic. As adaptable and resilient people of God, we have settled into couches, carved out desk space and figured out Zoom settings in order to participate in online worship, prayer and meditation. Holy Week 2021 brings us full circle to the start of this forced absence, and so it feels appropriate to re-examine the spaces we have created in our homes. (Mine is pictured above.)

Creating a sacred space in our home may feel unfamiliar or even confusing. After all, we are trying to establish a space in our homes dedicated to activities that in the past have been conducted in a separate, special place. In fact, what made church spaces special was that they were AT CHURCH! How can we create and embrace a “church space” in our homes where dirty dishes, school projects and work files seem to intrude at every opportunity? 

Consider the Purpose of the Space

The first thing to consider is the purpose of this space. Must it serve as both office and worship space? Can it be a place for family meals and then transition to family prayer space? Can it accommodate more than one person, or is it intended for just individual contemplation? No answer is correct, just honestly and faithfully consider the purpose of the space. 

Establish Boundaries

Next, it might be helpful to establish boundaries for this new space. If it is not a room that can be closed off from daily activities, then consider using screens, curtains, a new rug or even a special pillow that is placed in the space when it is being used for worship and prayer. Additional items can also help to define your space. These items could include a Bible, cross and pictures of saints or other faithful witnesses in your life. But feel free to be creative in selecting things that enhance your sacred space. Other items might include a prayer book, journal, candles, water, plants, rocks or a chime. These items can stay in place within the space, or they can be kept in a box or basket and brought out when the space is being made ready for worship or prayer.

Create a Ceremony

Finally, consider creating a custom or brief ceremony for when you enter and leave your sacred space. Say a prayer once your space is set up as a way to bless the space and your time within it. Music is a good way to define space and time in worship and prayer. You could also ring a bell or light a candle when you are ready to start your time of contemplation. Then, when you are done, ring the bell again or extinguish the light. Find some way to mark the beginning and ending of your time in the space. 

God’s people have demonstrated incredible strength, resilience and faith in the past 12 months. We can take pride in how we have established connection and community despite the distance and isolation this pandemic has imposed. Thus, we can embrace the promise of God’s presence wherever we are and worship with confidence that God hears all our prayers. 

Suggested items and representations for your at-home church space:

• water= baptism, living water of Christ

• candle=the light of Christ, remembering the saints (those who completed their baptismal journey)

• fabric=grave cloth of Christ, altar cloths for the church season

• bell/chime=marks the time for prayer or worship

• flower/plant=creation, gift of life, growth

• fan=breath of life, creation, renewal