Dedication
One of the things I admire about Olympic athletes is how dedicated they are to their sport. Just think of how many hours they have spent honing their craft by the time they reach the international stage. The same can be said for musicians, artists, writers, computer hackers, gamers, etc... it takes dedication!
The dictionary definition of dedication speaks of being "exclusively allocated to or intended for a particular service or purpose". This dedication can be true of both a thing or a place, or it can also be true of a person. This Sunday we will take some time, through ceremony, to allocate our finished construction to its intended purpose; namely, the glory of God. As this project has taken shape, through its concept phase and now to its completion, it has always been about extending community and enabling mission for the glory of God. Today the atrium will host a discussion around work, vocation and calling. Very soon it will be hosting Sunday School, Bible studies, and trainings of various sorts. As a central hub for the life of the church, in it coffee will be served, good news will be celebrated, tears will be shed, and hugs shared. I hope that you will join us between services this Sunday, at 10am, for a time of prayer, singing and dedication of this space for the glory of God.
The theme of dedication doesn't stop with the church building though, especially this week. Last week we were reminded of the important connection between the tabernacle/temple of the Old Testament and the indwelling of Christ with his people of the New Testament. In a very real way WE are "exclusively allocated to or intended for a particular service or purpose". This week as we look at chapters 35-39 of Exodus, we will take an in depth look at what our dedication looks like as grace-inundated followers of Jesus!