Psalm 84 was the theme of Sunday's service in Carringtons Restaurant, below the Atlantic Hotel on Tenby's Esplanade.
The pastor, Rev. Peter Richmond, explained the meaning of the Psalm written by someone who longed to be where he could not be - in the temple at Jerusalem. The writer thought of the priests, allowed to live in the temple, and the pilgrims who travelled through a dry 'valley of tears' to the fountain of God himself. Those who had committed manslaughter were allowed to take refuge in the temple courts and even the birds could make their nests in that holy place.
Peter concluded: "For Christians, God's presence is not linked to a particular place. It is great to worship God together with other believers in a place of worship, but God can be just as real to a person who is absent because of sickness or old age."
"Our longing should be to meet with him, not simply want to be in a special place!"
"Maybe at this particular point in time in your spiritual journey toward heaven you find yourself passing, through a valley of tears, a valley of arid dryness and famine. It's not an easy road as we're travelling to heaven, but be assured, like the psalmist, we will reach our eternal destination; Zion."
Hesed meet at 4.15 pm every Sunday in Carringtons. Bible study and prayer takes place on Tuesday evenings. Telephone 01646 681805 for details.