Emmanuel Mennonite

Timeless Worship?

I've sometimes wondered why there's never been a clock in the sanctuary--no clock on the back or side wall as I've seen in some churches, not even a clock on the pulpit (except for a very small timer that's never worked as long as I've been at the church).

Has it simply been an oversight all these years?  Is it because most people have their own way of keeping time with a wristwatch--or now by cell phone?  Or is it as I prefer to think of it, that not having a clock in the sanctuary says something about worship--unhurried, unregulated by the clock, timeless, totally immersed in and led by the Spirit.

Some might say we could have used a clock last Sunday since our worship went on longer than usual(!), but at the same time I'm glad that we took the time for all the sharing, prayer, and the Lord's Supper.  One email response received this week:  "I thought this past Sunday was one of the most meaningful to me since coming to Emmanuel definitely in the top 5 ! ....  I wish that prayer wall would stay a part of our service for a while. I think it has drawn me to focus more on the prayer concerns of my brothers and sisters at Emmanuel."