Ordo Sanctus Chiros (the OSC) is named for sanctus - "holy" in Latin and usually rendered as Saint or St, and chiros - "hands" in Greek.  As we sought to understand our vocation, it quickly resolved into identifying the fingers that give the hand the ability to serve effectively.  Here are some explanations, beginning with the relevant couplet of the hymn.  The official descriptions are found on the Rule page.  Yes, we've had fun with hand gestures and ASL with these... we don't deny we thought carefully about *which* finger is what!

Sanctuary to all in need, food and shelter, and rest
In life’s chaos a place of peace, laughter–filled and blest

Sanctuary is about the creation of safe space, space set aside for the presence of God and the highest – and most vulnerable – parts of ourselves.  Most of us try to make our homes sanctuary for ourselves, and have one place in particular where we go to seek comfort. 

Some – and we recommend this – set aside a space in our homes as holy.  Home altars provide a visual and emotional focus for that message that we are trying to make our selves and homes safe and holy – set aside for God.  There are many ways to do this, some of which look nothing like altars!  My first experience of a God space in a home was the home of a pastor I loved and revered.  I stayed there once, and found that he had a habit of spending some time every evening in one particular chair, reading the Bible and praying.  He told me he never used that chair for anything else – the little table next to it held his Bible, his glasses, and a glass of water.  He was a man of many books, and many interests, and there in the midst of these was one place set aside.  I’ve seen a corner shelf in a bedroom serve as this focus, I’ve seen the top of a dresser, a bookcase used too.  A home altar seems to require a place to put something that will call your mind to God, and a place to put you while you do so.

It’s hard to keep that safe and holy space when living with others, or depression, or the life disruptions that make us feel unsafe.  The first step in sharing sanctuary is to learn to internalize it, to become a safe space for yourself and others.  You can share sanctuary at your work desk, a store, giving a vulnerable stranger a ride, even taking someone into your home for a bit in time of crisis.  These acts will change you, and start to make you more the person you’d like to be.  Listen for God to ask you, and don’t be afraid to answer.


We will build Thee an altar, Lord, where we make our camp
And as Abraham long before, serve Thee in this land

Worship is not only our sacred privilege, its fundamentally good for our wellbeing.  Taking lots of little times to praise God, and helping others to see those moments, is hugely rewarding.  Each time we take a moment and say “Thanks!” we are giving God a little piece of what He’s due – and simultaneously we make our own hearts lighter.  There is another privilege in worship: to lead and teach others in their walk toward God.  It’s a good feeling to read the Bible to another, to lead a prayer, to walk up and lay a hand on a brother or sister and lift him/her up in prayer.  Greater comfort with prayer (Practice!  He loves hearing from us!) makes us more ready to step forward when others feel a need and don’t know how or where to begin. 

We are called to help others worship.  This is as simple as the little teachings I mention above, and as full as becoming a worship leader in your church.  You can practice speaking, you can find resources and share them, you can become comfortable in your life of prayer so that you may share that gift with others.  You can lead hikes and nature walks – or art walks – and share the gift of reverence and joy.


In conventions, and in our homes, we will serve as we may
Each according to skill and need, walk the Servant’s way

Service is key to successful human interaction.  We literally can’t function without it.  The funny thing is that most of us don’t mind doing little or big things for others.  We don’t get hung up on doing it, we get hung up on being recognized for it.  Turn that around for a minute – what makes you need that recognition?  Try the opposite tack, and do sneaky service instead.  Do service anonymously.  Do it for God, not for people.  Go to your church – or a park – and pick up litter, go set up bags at the food bank, go teach classes for your community – what appeals?  Go try it!

At conventions, they need security, registration, art show staff, hospitality staff.  It doesn’t matter what you do – or even if it’s a set job.  Go clean up the flyer table, for instance.  Pick up discarded cups in a seating area. 

Get your gratification from the change, things looking better because you came by.  Get gratification that the day will be brighter or easier for someone because you came by.  God knows who did it, and that’s what counts.


Use us, Lord, as Thy healing hands in this hurting place
Help us bring comfort in Thy name, fill us with Thy grace

Healing is a lot of different things, and most of them come back to feeling safe and comfortable.  Healing is, sadly, not always the same thing as curing.  We know this intimately; we’ve lost four members of our little family (see Memorials page).  What healing is far more about is healing the broken, fearful spirit, the dis-ease in a disease.  I won’t say we’ve never been granted a miraculous cure – just that such cures are God’s to give in God’s time and plan. 

We find that healing starts frequently with a hot meal and a comfy place to talk and be heard.  We can do that.  We can assure someone hurting that s/he is not alone, that there is comfort, there is caring, there is indeed a balm in Gilead.  We can keep doing that, listening, praying, crying and laughing our way through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. 

We can make sure we’ve got a few bandaids for the physical booboos, we can pray over disease and injury and heartbreak.  Mostly, we can be Christ in the Crisis, bring a box of Kleenex and a prayerbook and a simple, faithful love.


As we gather to work and play, let us never forget,
We’re all one family in thy name, con and Christ well met

Fellowship is the key to success of all our work, the knowledge that we’re not alone.  This need is what first drew the OSC together, in a community that feared, scorned and rejected Christians.  The other fingers are how we’ve raised awareness of “good” Christians, and showed we’re valid and valuable members of the community, but fellowship is how we renew ourselves to continue our work.

This is why the Bible tells us not to forsake getting together.  It’s not just that we need to worship together sometimes; we know it’s sometimes hugely important to worship alone.  The fellowship reassures us of common ground, that we are a community within a larger community, that We Do Not Walk Alone.  Period.  That means what we do in community is sometimes not nearly as important as the fact that we do it together. 

A devoted life has many, many rewards.  Those of you who've met us know that sober respectability is not a requirement!  The work we end up doing is usually a combination of the Fingers, which does make sense if you think about it...

Ordo Sanctus Chiros - The Order of St. Chiros - OSC