Brown paper wrapper

We are in the process of creating a new website for our organization in North America, and if you google The Christian Community, websites for other congregations around the world will come up. Some of these have wonderful pictures, both inside and out of our churches.
The newer ones, which were built specifically for The Christian Community are very distinct in colour, form and orientation. From orthodox standards, they are, to put it mildly, very plain from the outside, like a brown paper wrapper. Now, I have been a member of our congregation for decades, but only recently have I learned to ask the all-important question, WHY? In terms of understanding what our church is all about, I am barely starting to get a glimmer here and there. So I asked myself, why are our churches built like this?
For one thing, the form is intended to be organic, to be a reflection of its natural surroundings, to be in harmony, so to speak, with its environment.
As to the colour, this, I think, is done for a very specific reason, and underlines one of the basic philosophies of our church. There is a saying, "Never judge a book by its cover." The exterior is in fact a specific challenge to all who look at it - Seek and you will Find. Come in and discover for yourself what lies within. Like a parcel wrapped in plain brown paper, you know something wonderful is waiting to be opened. It may be surprising, unexpected, maybe a little bit mysterious or unfathomable, layers upon layers of "tissue paper" waiting to be peeled back, or bubble wrap, or little styrofoam balls. In other words, it is a Gift. A gift from our community, through the working of the Holy Spirit, to YOU!

Happy birthday, Rev. Susan Locey.
Sparky