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A letter from Thomas Goetz serving in Japan

September 2014 - Reflections on a Chapel Design

In Celebration of the Hokusei Gakuen University Chapel

Scripture Reading:

“Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, ‘What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!’ And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.   Luke 4:31-37

The Hokusei Gakuen University Chapel, Sapporo, Japan

 

A gift from Webster Groves Presbyterian Church

 

Surrounded by water

 

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror”

 

The pyramids were made with slave labor

 

A triangle of light appears on the blue bricked wall

The Hokusei Gakuen University Chapel is 50 years old. Its contemporary design makes use of water, light, and familiar designs in ways that draw us into theological reflection.  Some have criticized that it has a "fortress feel" to it; part of that may be due to the fact that it is a poured cement building with reinforced steel.  It is not going anywhere anytime soon. The building itself was a gift from Webster Groves Presbyterian Church.  The whole time since dedication this "Chapel-Library" has been used as a chapel.

Last week, on Tuesday, we heard the first chapel message for the fall semester delivered by our chaplain, Hidaka sensei.  He talked about the design of our chapel building and the kind of message it has to communicate, not through words, but through its design: (1) This chapel is surrounded by water. (2) We can see that water reflected on the inside. (3) The four-sided pyramidal ceiling window lets light in that reflects in a triangular manner.

(1) That we are surrounded by water can mean many things.  It is an idea that reminds us of Noah’s Ark and that we are all in this together.  Noah and his family were blessed to have survived the flood, and we are directly connected to that event as well.  May we always remember that.  Another insight—Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea, away from Pharaoh’s army, to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Water can also remind us of baptism. John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the River Jordan as a way of showing Jesus' connection to God and the purity of that connection. Jesus, the Messiah (Savior), invites us to live a more pure and complete life, one that is connected with God.  

(2) That we can see the light reflected from the exterior pond on the inside reminds us of Paul’s teachings to the Christians in Corinth.  In 1 Corinthians 13:12 he writes, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror” (New International Version).

This comment comes after his explanation of what love is. Love, according to Paul, is not just a physical or emotional or a philosophical love, but a caring, self-giving love. To whom did Paul write? He did not write it to a group of professors last week, he wrote to a group of people who called themselves Christian about 2,000 years ago and who had completely turned away from God and against each other.  The Corinthians at that time did not know what God’s love was anymore, or what was expected of them, and, sadly, one can wonder if they were much interested.

(3) The inclusion of a glass pyramid as a skylight is rich with meaning.  In any culture of the world, when people think of pyramids, ancient Egypt comes to mind.  People who are not Jewish, Christian or Muslim tend to look at the pyramids with awe and inspiration.  Those of us who are Jewish, Christian or Muslim remember the pyramids as we define for ourselves what it means to live in a covenantal relationship with God.  

In Egypt most slaves were Egyptians, but others were from the different regions or zones nearby.  The Hebrew people were forcibly enlisted to help build the pyramids.  They did not worship the Pharaoh as a god, but rather worshiped the one and only creator God. Pharaoh did not like that kind of thinking at all, and therefore tried to make the Hebrews work extra hard. Of course the story continues with the escape of the Hebrews from Egypt into what is now the Sinai Desert by way of the Red Sea.  From there they could enter the land of Israel, a land promised them by God.

So the pyramid represents God’s promise. The light that shines through it is a reminder that God is Light. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (1 John 1:5). This pyramid has four sides that form its base.  The Christian faith has four gospel narratives that form the foundation of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  And after the light passes through, a triangle of light appears on the blue bricked wall in the Hokusei Gakuen University Chapel.

Is this an accident of design? Did the architectural team see this in advance? Or is this the Spirit of God at work telling us that the way to heaven is like following a road, but a road like no other (the road behind me is vertical), a road that you would never know about unless you came with an open mind to listen?

I selected a scriptural reading about darkness. And if this was a worship service, I would have selected the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy," by Reginald Herber, 1783–1826. He tells us that the darkness hides God’s greatness. And the eye made blind by sin does not see the Lord’s glory.

A man possessed by a demon yelled, asking if Jesus had come to destroy them.  What was there to destroy? Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath (day of rest) in the synagogue (temple, church, shrine, basically a holy place).  That is all we get; it is our hint.  Now we have to connect the dots.  That which could be destroyed was not the building itself, but rather the rules associated with the building. Those rules represented back then the interests of those in power.  Even though Jesus was inside a holy place, the rulers had rearranged the reasons of why the place was special and sacred to reflect not God’s greatness but their greatness.  And then Jesus comes, teaching on the Sabbath, turning the power structure on its head, and if that were not enough, casting out a demon from a staunch supporter, leaving the man unharmed.  And everyone was amazed.   The greatness had been returned to God.

It is a daily inspiration to worship in this chapel, hearing God's Word proclaimed and praying for a future when "all of creation praise God, in earth and sky and sea."

Come and see the Hokusei Gakuen University Chapel.  Services are held Monday through Friday from 12:10 to 12:30 p.m.  Occasionally Chapel Concerts are held, free and open to the public. Concerts start at 12:10 and end at 1:00 p.m. in time for Period 3 classes.  Here is a link to view a recent Chapel Concert that featured local musicians performing "Leçons de ténèbres" or "Lessons of Darkness" by the French Baroque composer François Couperin.

My request is that we pray for Japan, all of her Christians though we differ in polity.  May all of creation praise God, in earth and sky and sea. Thank you and God bless.

Tom

The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 234
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