I recently received an Advent email with this monochrome photograph attached. Proving the old adage, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words,’ this photo depicts both the horrors of war and the hope of Christianity. Here is a story within a story, a parable portraying an earthly narrative with a heavenly meaning. While the camera catches the brutality of the past, it also prophetically portrays the promise of the future.
On Advent Sunday 1940 St Mary’s Church was among the thousands of buildings devastated in the so-called ‘Southampton Blitz’.
At first glance, the photograph seems dominated by an empty-shell. Lacking the beauty of its ornate roof and stain-glass windows, the viewer is overwhelmed by the ravages of war. For those who place buildings at the centre of their Christian faith, this picture is deeply disturbing. But those who understand the church to be more than a place, but a people radically changed, by the life and teachings of Jesus - this picture is a beacon of hope.
Seeing the big picture takes us beyond the ruins to reveal a congregation bowing their heads in an act of public worship. This is the true grandeur of this story. Here we see faith rising amidst the ruins - a congregation refusing to give in to the tyranny of the Nazi German Luftwaffe. In the face of all opposing factors, these Christ followers take the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their faith.
Even though their place of worship lacked basic amenities and offered a valid excuse to stay at home, given the opportunity, the faithful answered the call to public worship. Their very presence in the photograph, bears witness to the fact that these people put personal inconvenience above individual comfort.
Seventy-years on we can only imagine what was going on in the minds of these shell-shocked believers as they re-grouped in the ruins of St Mary’s Church.
Amidst the appalling aftermath of a terrible year, these Southampton saints, refused to avoid ‘worshipping together as some do,’ [1] and decided to come together in an act of Christian solidarity.
Seventy-years on, 2020 paints a similar picture. With 1.5 million global deaths and rising, the last year will not easily be forgotten. Although church buildings remained open throughout World War II, we have had to substitute meeting in person for on-line services. Separated from family and friends, the past year will be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
With the possibility of corporate worship on the horizon, we have to realize that recovery from the effects of this pandemic, will take time. Feeling anxious, some will be reticent to return to a church building. While those who have grown comfortable with their new found Sunday freedom, might require some personal persuasion to come back. Wherever you stand on this issue, we should perhaps put ourselves in the picture and consider the dedication of those in the photograph. These people refused to allow anything or anyone to stop them accepting the invitation to worship.
However we feel about returning to corporate worship put yourself in the picture and consider those who came together in the aftermath of a devastating year.
That said, let me offer a word of advice. In our rush to switch on the lights, start up the band and resume normal services as soon as possible, we should perhaps consider pressing the pause button. Maybe our first act of public worship should be a moment of prayerful reflection. Like those in the photograph, all of us will know someone who has suffered personal loss in this past year. So maybe we should initially reflect on the social, emotional, financial and spiritual loss caused by this pandemic. To prayerfully remember those keyworkers who have sacrificially served us along with those scientists who have worked tirelessly to create a vaccine.
But having spent time reflecting, we should then rejoice. We should thank God for his goodness and grace that has kept us sane and safe throughout lockdown. Show our gratitude that once again we can hug our grandchildren and meet up with family and friends. To be grateful for a life we so easily take for granted. And what better place to do all this, than to gather together in church buildings and once again collectively worship God.
So, what will we do when eventually we have the opportunity to get together? Will anxiety or apathy keep us away – or will we like the people in the picture, in the aftermath of a terrible year hear God’s call to corporate worship.
[1]Hebrews 10:25, MSG
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