As We Gather

A tribute to my parents Susikaran Thangasami and Renuka who made Sunday Worship a priority and many parents like them who gather each week to worship God as a family.

“Let us spur each other on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together.”

-Hebrews 10:24

The empty pews are filling up, we can hear the shuffling of feet. The stained glass windows cast beautiful patterns as they always do when sunlight passes through, they stand tall bearing images of saints, apostles and Jesus. The organist arrives early, props his notes and begins to play. The church bells chime calling one and all, reminding them it is Sunday, a day to gather.

We love Thy house O Lord

Wherein Thy children meet

For Thou O Lord art here

Thy little flock to greet.

Growing up in Madras in South India, my parents, my brother Sudhan and I were regular at church. We usually wore formal clothes. My mother made sure clothes were chosen and kept ready on Saturday night. As a teen I used to do my nails the day before and lay out the accessories as well. Though Dad was a busy doctor, work never came in the way of attending church as a family. We had our hymn books (Tamil churches used those then) , our Bibles and Mum had her small notebook and pen to take sermon notes. Both Appa and Amma loved their hymns and sang loudly and confidently. As the years passed most hymns became very familiar to Sudhan and me as well because of our daily prayer time at home and church attendance.

We love to sing below

Of mercies freely given

But O we long to know

The triumph song of heaven

As an adult I realised that church for  an hour or two in the week was a time when  I could tune out from the regular rhythms of life and bask in the presence of God and his people. The liturgy, the hymns, the intercessions , every part became so special. Ranjit and I worshipped at St Pauls church in Chennai (Madras was now called Chennai) for years. It was where our children were baptised, where they attended Sunday School week after week. As months turned to years we were grateful for this tradition of Sunday worship which made us lighter and stronger.

We love the hour of prayer

No hour on earth so sweet

For then we cast our care

At our Redeemers feet.

After moving to Auckland New Zealand, we looked for a church near home. As the 4 of us trooped inside and sat in the last row ( looking quite lost in this foreign land) little did we know that after 16 years we would still be worshipping at St Lukes Anglican church. Each week as we gather at church, the organ and piano, the stained glass and the bell, the liturgy and the candles, these remind us to turn our eyes to Jesus.

There are newly weds and Mums who attend even if their husbands work or decide on a sleep in. There are well worn hands, tired souls who work their weary feet up the hill to take part in the Eucharist. Then there are couples and families all brimming with joy and energy. Babies, toddlers, children, young adults, and people of every tribe and language rise to their feet as the hymn is announced. And we sing:

As we gather at your table

As we listen to your word

Help us know O God your presence

Let our hearts and minds be stirred.

Gathering each week will give us ‘soft hearts and strong feet to do the work of God’  as Jackie Pullinger, (who worked among drug addicts in Hong Kong for 50 years) says.

*What is something you love about gathering together at church on a Sunday? 

* If you don't attend church would you consider giving it a go? I pray you will feel God's presence there in special ways.

The hymns mentioned in the article- 

We love Thy house O Lord by W Bullock and

As we gather by  Carl P Daw Jr