Free & Fit - Secular & Sacred Places by Tim Cheux 2022

Whilst in the midst of the pandemic I felt an urgency to want to go to Church. We were all denied access to going to a physical religious building and the time away helped me to recognize what it is specifically I like about “going” to Church.

When you enter a nice restaurant you appreciate the ambience, the environment, decor and appearance of the venue. When you enter an Episcopal Church or any denominational traditional Church building specifically their is something which challenges me to think differently.

Whether it is the Alter, the stained glass, the rows of pews, the raised ceilings, elevated Pulpit or the simplicity of the Cross a Church building calls me to repentance, to enter dialogue with God and to ultimately get on my knees and pray. The difference between a sacred space, like a fancy restaurant, and a Church can both be extremely appealing, but the difference is the feeling I have when I leave.

Leaving a good restaurant I always feel full, happy and perhaps a little bit like I ate too much or I spent too much money! When leaving Church I always feel leaving full, happy and perhaps like I had not given enough money! The experience of going to Church fills me in a different way like Jesus described as Spiritual food in John 4:27.

Jesus said “Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him John 4:27.)

As the Church begins to re-open across New York and we return to more regular in person Chapel services at GTS the ability to Worship inside a Church building has been more and more restorative for my soul. As this is my last semester I have intentionally sought to attend Morning Prayer, Eucharist and Evening Prayer where possible more regularly as a commuter from New Jersey.

The ability to be in Church, in Community and in person has helped my private prayer life, theological application of theoretical practices and to learn, study, sing, say prayers and build deeper relationships in community with fellow seminarians.

In conclusion, I will continue to enjoy going to sacred places like restaurants, galleries and coffee shops. However, my heart, my head and my health are better inside of the Church.

Thank God for the Sacred building of our Churches in Jesus name. Amen

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