On Friday evening, September 4, the Ponca City Seventh-day Adventist Church gathered for a special Sanctuary Communion Service—an evening designed to help us slow down, reflect, and experience the story of the biblical sanctuary in a personal way.
Rather than simply hearing about the sanctuary, our church family was invited to move through seven interactive stations, each pointing us toward a different aspect of our relationship with God.
The sanctuary itself was transformed for the evening, with deep reds, blues, and purples hanging throughout the room to create a visual reminder of the Old Testament sanctuary. The atmosphere was quiet, meaningful, and inviting as families and church members moved from station to station.
Seven Stations, One Journey Toward Jesus
1. Thanksgiving
We began with thanksgiving, taking time to recognize the many things God has given us. Before moving forward, we paused to consider His goodness and the blessings—both big and small—that are often easy to overlook.
2. The Altar of Offerings
At the altar, everyone was invited to write down something they wanted to give to God.
It might be a burden, a habit, a fear, a desire, or simply something we had been holding onto.
Instead of just writing it down, we symbolically surrendered it. Each paper was placed into a small indoor s’mores fire pit and burned.
It was a simple but powerful reminder: God invites us to surrender what we cannot—or should not—carry ourselves.
3. The Laver: Foot Washing
The laver represented cleansing and preparation.
Our foot-washing service gave us an opportunity to follow Jesus’ example of humility and service. Washing one another’s feet is a simple act, but it carries a profound message: in God’s kingdom, greatness is found in serving others.
4. The Candles
At another station, we lit candles, reflecting on God’s light and His presence with us.
The candles also became part of the evening’s atmosphere, helping transform our ordinary church space into something that felt distinctly different—a place set apart for worship and reflection.
Five-year-old Amaya was especially excited to help. She helped pass out all of the candles for the evening, giving even one of our youngest members a meaningful role in the service.
5. Group Prayer
We then gathered for group prayer, bringing our needs, gratitude, burdens, and hopes before God.
There was something special about praying together as a church family. Instead of simply sitting beside one another in worship, we were intentionally seeking God together.
6. The Table of Showbread: God’s Promises
The table of showbread became a reminder of the Word of God.
Instead of focusing simply on bread, we focused on what God’s Word gives us: His promises.
Everyone was invited to choose and read a Bible promise that spoke personally to them.
One of the most memorable moments came when Betty found her promise and exclaimed:
“This Bible promise was just for me!!!”
It was a beautiful reminder that Scripture isn’t merely a collection of ancient words. God’s Word still speaks personally to people today.
7. Communion: The Bread and the Cup
Finally, we gathered together for the communion portion of the evening.
We shared the bread and grape juice as reminders of Jesus’ sacrifice for us—His body given and His blood poured out for our salvation.
And in keeping with the spirit of the entire evening, our youngest members were included too.
Five-year-old Amaya helped pass out the bread during communion. Earlier in the evening, she had helped distribute the candles, and now she was participating in another meaningful part of the service.
It was a beautiful picture of how worship can include every generation.
A Sanctuary Experience to Remember
The goal of the evening wasn’t simply to learn about the ancient sanctuary. It was to recognize how the sanctuary points us toward Jesus, His sacrifice, His promises, His cleansing, His light, and His invitation to surrender our lives to Him.
From the colorful sanctuary decorations to the candles, the fire, foot washing, prayer, Scripture, and communion, each station gave us another opportunity to stop and think about our relationship with God.
It was a special night for the Ponca City Seventh-day Adventist Church family—and a reminder that sometimes experiencing Scripture in a new way can help familiar truths come alive again.
We are grateful for an evening spent together in God’s presence, remembering what Jesus has done for us and looking forward to what He will do next.
Photos from the evening can be found on the Ponca City Seventh-day Adventist Church Facebook page.
