December 18, 2021 - Advent Week 3

 

 
St. Paul's, Halifax

“How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!”

(Psalm 84:1)

 

St. Paul’s Church (formerly Cathedral) in Halifax is a remarkable place – built in 1750, it was the first Cathedral of the Church of England built outside of Great Britain.  It is the oldest building in Halifax, and the oldest Anglican place of worship still standing in Canada.  The “new wings” were built in the mid-1800s, and in the front entrance, there is embedded a piece of shrapnel from the Halifax Explosion during the Great War, left as a relic of more dangerous times.

 

St. Paul’s represents a diverse span of stories, ones that speak of the grand themes of history, but also of the quiet and deeply personal journeys of faith.  Spending time within its walls brings a humbling reminder of the history and foundation of the Church – a perfect complement, a physical companion if you will, to liturgical worship and the natural cycle of the Church calendar.

 

I was reminded of St. Paul’s as I reflected on Psalm 84 – this psalm talks about the presence of God, and of finding a home in His tabernacle, but also of journey and pilgrimage.  Places like St. Paul’s can remind us of foundation and permanence, but also of the centuries of personal journeys woven into the narrative of the Church. 

 

As I enter this Christmas season, I pray that I can take my eyes off the busyness of life, and be reminded of that most important of journeys, to the presence of Christ - Emmanuel.

 - Lee Cutforth



 

 

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