The Structure is Gone, But Christ is Alive

Thursday, April 18th, 2019     by Debra DuPree Williams     Start the Conversation

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

My heart plummeted to the pit of my stomach. Breath caught in my throat, unsure of my intent—breathe in or breathe out? Tears pooled in my eyes. Like the rest of the world, my first reaction to the fire which consumed Notre Dame de Paris was shock . . . then utter and complete heartbreak.

This magnificent structure, built to the glory of God, almost one-thousand years old.

Gone.

Once in a Lifetime
Like many of the citizens of the world, I have visited this beautiful cathedral. But unlike most, I have had the honor and experience of being a member of a Sunday morning worship service choir. It was an experience of a lifetime.

Our choir, Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama,  wore bright red cassocks topped with white cottas. The women wore red beanies. We were a high Presbyterian church in which ritual was paramount to each service. The music was glorious. Thus, we were invited to sing Sunday mass in Notre Dame.

As I watched the flames leap to the sky, the smoke rise like a million incense pots gone awry, my mind took me back to that year, that day, when forty-five choir members gathered in the choirstall of this world-famous cathedral. It was so many years ago, yet I will never forget it.

My husband in the dark jacket. Friend, Jodi Pankey facing camera.

Between the services, we were taken by church staff to an area the average tourist will never see—levels beneath the sanctuary, where only staff are allowed. They fed us an assortment of breads and other things and they had Coca-Cola in bottles.

Cardinale

The priests walked up to many of the female members as we made our way from the sanctuary to this underground room, and pointed to our beanies proclaiming, Cardinale. Such a fun, amazing, spirit-filled day. 
When we finished the major work we had prepared, Cochereau, the organist at the time, who was on the antiphonal organ in the upper rear balcony, came over the speaker at the front organ where our choirmaster was seated and said, Bon! Bon! Bon! High praise, no doubt.

The structure may not be standing after almost a thousand years, but the memories will live with us forever. The church building can be rebuilt, but the church is the people—the body of believers who gather to worship God week after week, millennial after millennial.

The Lord is Risen!
Here is the truth. A fire may destroy a building, even one as old and as honored as Notre Dame. But nothing, nothing on earth or even from the fires of Hell can destroy the Hope that is ours in Christ. (Read Romans 8:38-39). He is alive now and He will reign forever. (Read Exodus 15:17-18). Death couldn’t destroy Him. (Read I Corinthians 15:20-26). As Easter Sunday approaches, let us rejoice and sing praises to the Living God. The tomb is empty! The Lord is Risen. Hallelujah!
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