Space provides the framework for life. Space set aside for certain functions takes on special meaning by its association with those functions. While God reigns over all of space, our encounter with God in certain places makes them holy. They are holy, not because of what they are in themselves, but because of their association with our encounter with God. Therefore we treat those spaces with respect, we expect others to do the same, and we are offended when they do not.

The nave is a kind of "living room" for the church. There people are born (baptism), they eat their most important meal each week (communion), they are confirmed, they marry, and they are given their final farewell (funeral) at the end of their life on earth.

The nave (from the same Latin word as "navy") means boat. The nave is the entire worship building.

The chancel is the rectangular portion in the center, around which the congregation gathers.

The sanctuary is the altar area within the chancel.

In the chancel there are three main areas which relate to the Holy Trinity.

God the Father

is symbolized in the area which includes the pulpit and the rock.

The pulpit.  Here the Word is read from the Bible by pastors and trained lay persons, and it is proclaimed in sermons by persons the church has called to do so. What is spoken from the pulpit is what the people speaking it believe God wants the congregation to hear, not what they feel like saying on any particular occasion.

The rock.  This half ton piece of granite is a non-representational symbol for God, drawn from the many references to God as "rock" in the Bible. It depicts Ultimate Reality — the sheer givenness of life itself, the solidity and finality of God as the One who stands in our midst and at the same time over against us. In the rock is a candle which symbolizes the burning bush through which God spoke to Moses telling him to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian captivity, just as preaching delivers people from captivity to sin and guilt today.

God the Son

is symbolized in the area which includes the sanctuary with the altar and its platform.

The altar  is not a tomb as in some configurations where the sides and ends are enclosed, but a table for eating a meal. On it are a large cross showing Jesus' death and resurrection for our sake, a missal stand (book holder) for the missal (altar book of worship), and usually a large cloth parament showing the liturgical color for the day. On the parament are symbols which readily relate to the season or the day when the parament is used.

The altar rails  help people kneel for communion, but it is also appropriate to stand, if anyone wishes.

God the Holy Spirit

is symbolized in the area which includes the font, the paschal candle, and the carpet.

The font  contains water for baptism. It is also used by the pastor when beginning a service with the sign of the cross, much as "holy water" is available for worshipers in Roman Catholic churches near each door. It helps us remember our baptism. The font has four sides, symbolizing the four corners of the wold from which the Holy Spirit calls the church together and into which it sends people to bear witness to God and serve him.

The paschal candle  is near the font as a symbol of how the Holy Spirit causes Jesus to be present in our lives through baptism. A new candle is lighted each year at the vigil on Easter Eve. Throughout the Easter season the candle burns near the altar, but on Pentecost it is moved to the font. It is then lighted for baptisms and funerals, showing that through the Holy Spirit we are bound to Jesus Christ when we enter the church on earth and when we enter the church in heaven. On the candle are various symbols, such as the date (1996), the cross, and the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet (alpha and omega).

The carpet  symbolizes how our encounter with the Holy Spirit puts us on a new footing, so to speak.

The Confession and Absolution at the font occur at the beginning of worship as the Holy Spirit calls us into being as he church, reminds us of our baptism, holds us accountable, and grants us forgiveness.

The Office of the Word at the pulpit declares to us what God wants us to hear at this particular time in our lives.

The Office of the Eucharistic Meal at the altar provides us with food and drink which communicate what we know already, that Jesus Christ comes to us to share our burdens and raise our hopes.

Special Rites such as Confirmation and the consecration of worship enablers occur at the font, because all the promises we make in the church are based on God's promise to us in Baptism.

Copyright 1996 Edwin D. Peterman. All Rights Reserved.