My first impression of Linwood House, just over 6 years ago, was of the sacredness and beauty I was enveloped in. It has always been a place where my senses are invited to experience the awesomeness of God in more profound ways.
While I began “working” putting my administrative skills, my cooking skills and my love of hospitality to work, things have shifted with time. Linwood House Ministries has been, and is, the place where I can participate in creating and offering the Sacred Table as a part of this sacred space that offers grace and love to those who come to visit. As a team we work behind the scenes to create and sustain the wonderful things others come to enjoy. People often ask me if I am not overwhelmed by the beauty of working with this team, in this environment, but alas we don’t always have the time to linger and relax in it as our guests do. I have often wondered what it would be like to be on the other side of the picture where all this beauty has been laid out for me to enjoy.
Now I know! On September 8th when David and I married, I wanted to have an “un-wedding” wedding: not a formal occasion where some felt left out but a time when everyone could mingle and participate and know they were an important, visible part of this celebration time. Gwen, Sue and Jen know my heart and character well! And they went to work to create what I thought of as a simple Italian picnic that would reflect great food, colour, nature, flowers, music and friends mingling – letting the senses experience this outdoor celebration of our wedding. Knowing they would do an amazing job I asked them to just do what they do so well… and for the first time I felt the overwhelming sacred beauty of having something so precious created for our celebration day! There are tears as I write because nothing could have prepared me for the beauty, the wonder, and the love that was poured into this celebration. Friends and family, both old and new, were in awe of what they experienced. As one friend said, “I have been to church weddings that were beautiful and sacred but never before have I so powerfully felt being surrounded by the Sacred”.
While each of us at Linwood House Ministries feels a powerful calling to live out the words of Jesus in the Beatitudes, our wedding was a time when I glimpsed what it means to be a recipient of that servanthood. It was difficult to be the recipient when I knew my community was so busy working. Receiving, accepting, and savouring this love is a different side of the beauty of sacred space. Beauty from a different perspective gives more fullness this picture of Sacred Space that heals and invites us to celebrate. David and I feel incredibly blessed, and we loved every minute of our day.
~ Stephanie Moul
