Bring your left hand next to your right hand with knuckles touching (interlocking fingers dangling downward). Next, raise your index fingers and put them together, then your pinky fingers raise and touch together and lastly, bring your thumbs together.  If you did this, you might remember as a child, “Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors (your thumbs) and see all the people.”  As children, we did this little foldable with our hands and thought ourselves to be quite clever.

During the pandemic of 2020, when church attendance in the actual sanctuary is/was nil or limited, I gave lots of thought to CHURCH. Thanking God that I am able to view services online and be fed with God’s word, I am blessed.  Yes, I sing along alone in our office watching the computer screen as the service continues. BUT, what about church? The question plagued me as I ponder the ifs and whens. That’s when a Holy Spirit moment occurred. I remembered the folded fingers forming the little church in finger-play and realized with such clarity that I am the church.  God lives in me.  The Holy Spirit stirs within.  Jesus loves me, unconditionally.  Right there at that moment, I knew the building, the beautiful sanctuary are just that, a building and a sanctuary.  A place for fellow Christians and myself, who share similar beliefs to worship our Lord.  What I am learning is my bedroom, my golf cart, my car, my desk are also places of worship. My foldable finger-play church reignited the “church within.”  All the necessary components are part of me. When circumstances improve and the community of believers can resume worship together, it will be a grand celebration of togetherness in the Lord. In the meantime, I am delighted to fill my heart with knowing, as close as my fingertips, I am worshiping God and able to share Him with others.  Emails, texts, twinkling eyes behind masks, snail mail cards and letters, phone calls, so many ways to bring the love of God to others and share Him. May you open doors and see all the people. Allow your folded hands, in a finger-play church or folded hands in prayer, to remind you of Him and His blessings. Share His Good News!

Jill