The Parish Church

The ground you stand on is holy ground.

In the springtime of their lives our children will say:

“In this place my birth was celebrated,
and at this font I was baptized.
Here I rejoiced with the youth of my generation.
In this place I met Jesus my Savior.
and here I was confirmed.
Before this altar I stood on the day that I was married.
Here I worshiped with my family and friends.
Here, in the summer of my life
my own children were baptized.
Here in these very classrooms they went to Sunday School
and at this altar they were confirmed.
Here they were married,
and here they too baptized their children.
In this place I have celebrated my successes
and here I have been comforted in my failures.
In this place I said good-bye to my father
at the end of the twilight of his years.
And here with mingled sorrow and rejoicing
I said good-bye to my mother
knowing she is safe in the arms of her Lord
Who always meets us in this place.
Here in this place
at all the turnings of my life
I have met Christ Jesus my Lord.
Here, in this place,
now, in the autumn of my years,
I make my faith deep and pure
knowing that in this place,
I too one day will take leave of all who love me.”

~ The Rev’d. Canon Dr. Robin P. Smith⁺  Obl. OSB

O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
Psalm 26:8

Copyright 2011 Robin P. Smith