Today was a Sabbath day unlike any other day I have had in my life.

I have always been a faithful member of the Church. I honestly believe that I can count on two hands and two feet the number of times I have not attended church services – and I’m not exactly young any more. Today, however, was different. Not only would I not attend church, but I was asked not to attend church. Church, that institution that has made such a defining difference in my life, was closed.

As authorized by my bishop, a small meeting was held in my home. I placed the sacramental emblems on the organ bench, which was the most convenient place to put them, and it hit me: the organ, which I have always considered sacred, had now become a sacrament table. The sacred nature of what was about to take place was amplified by the location I had chosen for it. The Spirit bore witness to me of both the sacrament and the sacred nature of the trust that has been placed in me by the Lord: to lead people to him through music.

The sacrament hymn reinforced the message:

In humility, our Savior,
Grant thy Spirit here, we pray,
As we bless the bread and water
In thy name this holy day.
Let me not forget, O Savior,
Thou didst bleed and die for me
When thy heart was stilled and broken
On the cross at Calvary. 

Fill our hearts with sweet forgiving;
Teach us tolerance and love.
Let our prayers find access to thee
In thy holy courts above.
Then, when we have proven worthy
Of thy sacrifice divine,
Lord, let us regain thy presence;
Let thy glory round us shine.

As I broke the bread, I remembered that the body of my Lord was broken so that I could be redeemed, and not just for me, but for everyone that has ever lived or who would ever live. I knelt and said the prayer, asking our Heavenly Father to bless and sanctify the bread and, among other things, to bless those present with the continuing presence of his Spirit. As I blessed the water, I remembered that his blood had indeed been shed for us all. I am grateful that my organ bench could be a small part of something infinitely greater.

Let us not forget that in times of uncertainty, one thing is certain: God loves us. The current situation will pass, but that love will not.