Every Moment Holy: Guest post by Alyssa Vega
I’ve been thinking a lot about Ephesians 1:23 where it says Christ fills all things everywhere with Himself. Like when I’m commuting or washing dishes or just talking to people, Christ is there.
I recently came across a book of liturgies to help us find God in our ordinary moments of life: “Every Moment Holy, Volume 3.” A liturgy is simply a prayer that is written and established, or a way to order your worship; technically, the word literally means “the work of the people.” This book, creating liturgies for common moments for non-church spaces, really drives home the idea that every moment of our lives are precious to God. The mundane, the difficult, the miraculous…It’s all part of the treasure of being alive.
So in exploration of this idea, while my husband was working a long night shift on Fourth of July, I took 24 hours to pray and create. I documented the light traveling through my home by taking a photo every 30 minutes and coupled that with a specific prayer, or praise, or moment of gratitude from the book of liturgies.
Here’s a peak into some of the liturgical prayers I offered behind the photos:
Artists at work
For a lonely holiday
Those preparing a meal
For washing dishes
For enjoying a book
Those affected by war
Those with heavy hearts
For sipping a cup of tea
For star gazing
For pleasant dreams
Those struggling with insomnia
For the first light of morning
For ordinary moments of joy
This 24-hour prayer and photo journal experience really changed me.
The prayers themselves were beautiful; in addition to praying for myself, I lifted up prayers for others who might bear burdens I don’t personally carry, such as those affected by war or insomnia. I feel as if I had a glimpse into God’s heart and my love and compassion and empathy for others has grown. My heart feels bigger because of His heart. Like there’s more room for others.
As a lighting designer, looking at how light ebbs and flows in my own space was a practical way to respond- my own kind of “liturgy,” my “ordered work” beyond the written prayers. I see the wonderful, ordinary moments of my home as Christ filling my life with Himself. I see God warming my kitchen, brightening my living room, making overlooked moments of life holy and beautiful. And I see God working in difficult places and carrying people in arms of grace.
I’m thankful for this experience, and that it even inspired ReNew York to host a co-working event framed by the one of the prayers from the same book! Together, they read at the beginning, middle, and end, the liturgy for making art. One of the perks of written prayers came alive in this time of liturgy and co-working: that you aren’t alone and your prayer is shared by and in dialogue with a community of other believers.
I am so grateful for this experience and hope it encourages you to likewise explore how Christ is filling everything everywhere with Himself and making every moment holy.
