Be honest. Do you walk away from live-streamed worship to get a second cup of coffee or to let the dog out? I invite you instead to treat home worship more like you would in a sanctuary. Your living room is not a church, but you can sanctify a space in your home for worship and meditation. Christians have performed “domestic worship” from the beginning, and many observant Christians today have a “home altar,” as a matter of course. In the reformed traditions, we might call this sanctified space “God’s table” or simply our home’s “sacred space.”

Music credit: Cyrus Chestnut, piano

What makes a space sacred? There is no one definition, but there are attributes we can identify:

1. It’s a place that is, in some way, physically separate from the larger space. For instance:

A Screened-off part of a room, used for worship only

A converted walk-in closet, used for worship only

A table or other furniture (chest/dresser/coffee table) that is for sacred objects/use only

A portable tray that is for sacred objects/use only

An important thing to remember is there must be a set of rules that everyone in the home agrees to follow related to the purpose and physical treatment of the room, table, or tray being sanctified. For instance, you could adopt any of the following:

No shoes

No food or drink

No personal belongings are stored there

It is kept clean

There is always a candle lit in the room or on the table

The family Bible is always placed there

It is covered with a cloth when not in use

2. It’s a place that is helpful for supporting worship activities.

Is it large enough for the family to gather around?

Can it support all of the implements you may need for worship?

Cross

Plate

Pitcher and cup

Bible

Candle

3. It’s a place where time is transformed.

When entering or gathering around the sacred space, there should be a sense that the

time you spend there is also “set apart.” You are invited to:

Cover or turn around any clocks within your field of vision.

Pull shades or curtains.

This is not so much about keeping daylight out. Instead, it’s about preventing

outside activity from reminding you of worldly obligations. You see the postal

carrier, and you think of bills that need to be paid. You see snow piling up on

the sidewalk, and you dread the inevitable task of shoveling. But, by all means,

let the sunlight in, if outside activity won't interrupt worship.

Turn off all electronic devices.

Turn off or cover anything that blinks, buzzes, or emits any kind of “notification”

light or sound.

You are creating space and time apart from the everyday, to the glory of God.

Whether you livestream worship or watch the recording at a later time, I encourage you to do so in your sacred space. Engage physically by lighting a candle, using your bible, singing from a hymnal or printed music, and serving the elements of Communion.