This is the day the Lord has made - Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Then I opened the morning PD - and read of St Cecelia's closing - - my heart wept. I wept when St. Peter's closed. I wept when First United Methodist Church closed. I wept when the three west side United Methodist churches closed. Our city is being deliberately deserted by organized religion.

These 'organized' religious groups who are deserting the city are leaving a tremendous 'hole' of leadership in faith - in worship of God.. And where a vacuum is present, something else will enter - -perhaps with a more sinister motive.

We Christians of this century seem to have our devotion and religious yearnings so connected with a building that we are not sure what to do when the building is closed, but to get angry and leave. When this structure which surrounds our worship no longer is viable, and the 'ones in power' move away we are left with the feeling that 'our Christ' has left us powerless -or useless- or all alone.

Somehow I am reminded that Christ's ministry was never centered in a building. History of the first century also seemed to say - - 'follow what the religious leaders - those related to the building - - or else we will kill you' my interpretation. ( I do not want to be killed!)

I have been wondering again about that early church - how it started - with a leader, a person, telling 'the Story' - - talking to people anyplace it seemed to be needed - - and then to gather into small groups to study, to pray and to be inspired by the Holy Spirit' to go and do God's will in this world.

I going to start rereading the book of Acts - - the story of the beginnings of Christ-centered groups of people. They did not start by building a structure of bricks and stone and marble. They started by small groups meeting together in people's homes. They were initially inspired and led by a person who knew they were called by Christ to go and tell 'the Story' of one who loved so deeply - and pointed toward the undefinable 'Holy Spirit'.

Are we being called once more to the central part of our devotion - the Christ - - not the building? Are we being dramatically shown that our mission is to spread the word of Christ - not to maintain a structure - of cement - or of people?

Perhaps this is God's way of leading each one of us - - to relearn how to invite people into our homes - our lives - to study and to pray - and to find in a new way the Christ of this twenty-first century.

Frankly, I've never done it. I'm not sure even how to begin. I'm praying that someone - out there - perhaps even the Lord (!) - will guide me - and perhaps you, too - in the first small steps we might take.

Will it be by inviting into our physical home - or apartment - or room - - or wherever we might be - -or - by use of this wonderful tool - the internet. Is this our 'new home' in this century. If it is, we could have it with us, wherever we my roam - and still find our Christ-centered friends there, waiting for us to come in.

Now I need to find my Bible - the book of Acts - and begin my own learning process. Will you join me?