|
Over the seven hundred years of its existence, the English word “sanctuary” has taken on a variety of meanings. Deriving from the Latin "sanctarium," which means a holy space, the word originally referred to the most sacred places in a church where holy relics were stored. During the Renaissance, the concept broadened to include non-religious places of refuge, asylum, or protection. And, in more modern times, it has become a label for tracts of land set aside for the preservation of endangered plant and animal species.
At Larchmont Avenue Church, presence in our sanctuary at the corner of Larchmont and Forest Park Avenues taps into all three of these meanings. First and foremost, it is a place where we experience the holy presence of God on a regular basis. And, when our lives feel crowded, loud, or overwhelming, the sanctuary is a place where we find much-needed rest and refuge from the clamor of the world. Last but not least, our sanctuary is a place of hope where the very best of who we are -- including the flicker of faith that lives in all of us -- can be preserved and protected.
| 
