How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place!

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling.” Psalm 27
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91

What turns a house into a home? What turns a bare, solid construction into a place to live?
The design industry would have us believe that we need to furnish our homes, not just with the practicalities of somewhere to sleep, and somewhere to eat, but with accessories – colour, fabrics, statement pieces of furniture, bold artwork, entertainment systems, not to mention indoor plumbing, and a lavish landscape to set it all in!!!
What gives a house its “heart” and turns it into a place we want to return to, is all the personal touches we apply: the happy photos, a favourite holiday memento, a treasured heirloom, or most importantly, the people who live there.
I have been lucky enough to visit many different religious buildings, from hermit caves to cathedrals; temples and monasteries and mosques; different denominations of Chrisitan churches; different Church of Scotland churches! They all have a lot in common. They are places of calm, of rest, of contemplation, and all places where you find yourself wanting to linger; they all are types of haven, as well as places of worship and praise.
They are places where you can dwell.
The word dwell has more than one meaning – it doesn’t just mean somewhere to live – it also means somewhere where you want to stay. When your thoughts dwell on something, they remain in one place, pausing, musing on one subject. The old English language root of the word ‘dwell’ interestingly comes from a word meaning to be caught up in a dream-like state, or under a spell.
My favourite places of worship have always been those that are the most sturdy and simplistic. Not too many visual distractions, no soaring spaces to make you feel diminutive – just a quiet calm place to sit and stay a while, and to be with God. To Dwell.
Kirkcolm Church is one such place. Having stood firm above the village for two hundred years, with its commanding view out across the Loch, you cannot help being impressed with the foresight of those who built it, making it strong against all weathers, and big enough to house all the occupants of Kirkcolm, a village still in its infancy, with just a few houses on Main Street at that time.
The Church has no decorative wall friezes or ornately carved roodscreens. It has no depictions of bible stories in stained glass or tapestries. It has no glittering metal candlesticks, or cymbals and temple gongs! What it does have is a warm and welcoming congregation, who would love you to come and join them, and help celebrate two hundred years of worship in this delightful building; where you can truly find a sanctuary, and feel safe and loved. It is a lovely dwelling place!

“How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart an my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may have her young – a place near the altar, O Lord Almighty, mu King and my God, blessed are those who dwell in your House – For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; O Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” From Psalm 84