Reflection from Your Co-Pastors
Tuesday, July 29
Exodus 40: 16-21, 34-38
Our first reading from Exodus finds Moses erecting a tabernacle just as God has instructed and commanded of him. He set up the tabernacle and placed a curtain in front of it for screening. He lit a lamp at the side of the tabernacle. He blessed and anointed the tabernacle. When he was done, "the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
Our tabernacle at Mary of Magdala, has been erected directly from the reference to the Old Testament tabernacle which was the locus of God's Presence among the Jewish people. it was made for us by member John Nystrom, to the glory of God and in memory of his wife, Karen. He crafted it out of fine wood and lined it with a velvet interior.
The clergy from all three churches decided on its location in the sanctuary--behind the altar and near the eternal flame which indicates and honors the Presence of Christ. Before securing our tabernacle in it's place of dignity, we performed a blessing and anointing ritual at one of our joint services, so that as many as possible would become aware of Christ's Presence in the tabernacle.
Until the 20th century, it was required to cover the tabernacle with a tent-like veil or curtain as Moses did, but
