Ash Wednesday
I came home from worship.
She said, “Hey, what have you been doing, your forehead is dirty?”
I said, “I was reminded how vulnerable and fragile life is and how deeply I am loved…”
“Oh,” she said, “…here’s a napkin to wipe that off.”
I thought to myself, “not yet…not yet…”
(Reflection by Rev. Carol DiGiusto)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Lent Devotional: Mar 10
Smeared with ashes of palm fronds,
"You are dust and to dust you shall return" still ringing in our ears,
we dashed through the rain to our cars, our homes, our families,
our chores, our tv shows, our jobs, our lives,
almost forgetting that mark of death we bore into the world,
until we absentmindedly rubbed our forehead or walked past a mirror,
noting with surprise that even television and soap cannot separate us
from our own mortality.
--Reflection from Rev. Katie Day
"You are dust and to dust you shall return" still ringing in our ears,
we dashed through the rain to our cars, our homes, our families,
our chores, our tv shows, our jobs, our lives,
almost forgetting that mark of death we bore into the world,
until we absentmindedly rubbed our forehead or walked past a mirror,
noting with surprise that even television and soap cannot separate us
from our own mortality.
--Reflection from Rev. Katie Day
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Lent Devotional: Ash Wednesday, March 9
We arrive today at another season of Lent and the Palms Journey to Discipleship. This year our theme is "Living in Christ-like Love". We will journey together through a sermon series on love using I John 4:7-21, through Sunday school classes themed on discipleship and love, and through a lenten daily devotional. This year our devotional will look a little different.
The Palms staff has become intrigued at the power of short story and few words to evoke deep thought. So this year our devotional will not be lengthy reflections but provocative thoughts for you to wrestle with... we will provide you a spark in hopes that you will write your own devotional.
Each Monday will begin with a short thought and question from the sermon the day before, and then each day a different pastor will add another short provocative thought into the mix. We invite you to play with these and think on them through your day. You can even make it a conversation by making a comment or responding to comments on our blog, you will find the link to it below.
Today marks the beginning of Lent, a day we call Ash Wednesday. Many of us associate Ash Wednesday as something Catholics do, and aren't sure what the service is about - except maybe we know that you get ashes put on your forehead.
Ash Wednesday is really about beginning a journey with Christ to the cross. The ashes remind us that "from ashes we came and to ashes we will return". Ashes then become symbolic for death and life in the same way that Christ will forever link his risen life with death upon the cross. The Resurrected life in Christ only comes to us in a journey through death and brokenness. The ashes then are our own confessional awareness, our own experience of death and brokenness that leads us to life in Christ.
This year the scripture that captured our attention for Ash Wednesday comes from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.
But we have this treasure in clay jars,
so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power
belongs to God and does not come from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.
For while we live,
we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake,
so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.
(2Co 4:7-11)
I hope that you take some time today to reflect on this passage, and join us this evening for the Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm in the Sanctuary. It is the begining of our community journey this lent in discipleship, a journey following Christ to the cross and to resurrected life.
The Palms staff has become intrigued at the power of short story and few words to evoke deep thought. So this year our devotional will not be lengthy reflections but provocative thoughts for you to wrestle with... we will provide you a spark in hopes that you will write your own devotional.
Each Monday will begin with a short thought and question from the sermon the day before, and then each day a different pastor will add another short provocative thought into the mix. We invite you to play with these and think on them through your day. You can even make it a conversation by making a comment or responding to comments on our blog, you will find the link to it below.
Today marks the beginning of Lent, a day we call Ash Wednesday. Many of us associate Ash Wednesday as something Catholics do, and aren't sure what the service is about - except maybe we know that you get ashes put on your forehead.
Ash Wednesday is really about beginning a journey with Christ to the cross. The ashes remind us that "from ashes we came and to ashes we will return". Ashes then become symbolic for death and life in the same way that Christ will forever link his risen life with death upon the cross. The Resurrected life in Christ only comes to us in a journey through death and brokenness. The ashes then are our own confessional awareness, our own experience of death and brokenness that leads us to life in Christ.
This year the scripture that captured our attention for Ash Wednesday comes from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.
But we have this treasure in clay jars,
so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power
belongs to God and does not come from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.
For while we live,
we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake,
so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.
(2Co 4:7-11)
I hope that you take some time today to reflect on this passage, and join us this evening for the Ash Wednesday service at 7 pm in the Sanctuary. It is the begining of our community journey this lent in discipleship, a journey following Christ to the cross and to resurrected life.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Feb 10: The Power of Twelve
“…altogether there were about twelve of them.” (Acts 19:7)
Let me say it again… I love little, almost throw away, comments that hold potentially rich and deep material. There is absolutely no reason to need to add this little detail about there being twelve of them. Paul has met a group of disciples who were missing an important part of faith (in this case a small little thing called the Holy Spirit). He teaches them about Jesus, baptizes them, and they begin to feel the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (they break out speaking in tongues and stuff… you know the ordinary run of the mill Christian happenings). It doesn’t really matter how many of them there are… and yet the author decides as a parting thought to throw in this comment. “…altogether there were about twelve of them.”
Now immediately we hear the number twelve and we ought to have little antennae go up at this (if you were born without them, substitute a light bulb on your head… or a little vocal, “Aha!” will do.) Twelve? I’ve come across that number before… and certainly twelve disciples. Apparently there is something to this whole twelve disciples thing.
Throughout Paul’s teaching and preaching he is constantly coming across these little packs of people, starting community churches, and engaging people on the road. They are all people that are “following the way of Jesus”. Some of them know that they are – and Paul affirms them. Some don’t realize they are doing so – and Paul gives them a name for themselves and points them towards Jesus. But what stays consistent is that there are groups of people dotted all over the first century landscape that are traveling together in faith.
Today it seems we are headed in two different directions from that beginning. We head towards personal spirituality where there is no “church” or community to tell us what to believe. Or we head towards mega-churches where there lots of people are doing lots of good things together. What we don’t find much of (though they do exist) is little groups of “followers” dotting the twenty-first century landscape journeying together in faith.
Is this a problem?
I’m not sure. I do not know that it HAS to be a problem. But I also wonder if it isn’t symptomatic of a problem… and I’m not alone. There are a growing number of people who are asking that same questions in many different and exciting ways. But let me imagine just one possibility for today.
In a world where the way of Jesus is often unpopular and challenging, moving smaller (to the individual alone) or the larger (to the mega-church) are both ways of hiding. We are trying to hide our lives away from Jesus and from truly following in the “Jesus way”. Alone in our spirituality there is no-one to tell us that our life is not lining up consistently with our faith. And lost in the crowds of mega-church we can blend in anonymously. On the other hand, with just twelve people? That is the kind of class where you actually have to do your reading, you have to come prepared to participate, you have to go out on a limb and show yourselves. Just 12? That requires active and participatory discipleship.
Have you found yourself trying to hide? To blend into the crowd?
What do you find most challenging about really living in the way of Jesus?
Do you have your group of twelve who are helping you, as you help them, on the journey?
Let me say it again… I love little, almost throw away, comments that hold potentially rich and deep material. There is absolutely no reason to need to add this little detail about there being twelve of them. Paul has met a group of disciples who were missing an important part of faith (in this case a small little thing called the Holy Spirit). He teaches them about Jesus, baptizes them, and they begin to feel the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (they break out speaking in tongues and stuff… you know the ordinary run of the mill Christian happenings). It doesn’t really matter how many of them there are… and yet the author decides as a parting thought to throw in this comment. “…altogether there were about twelve of them.”
Now immediately we hear the number twelve and we ought to have little antennae go up at this (if you were born without them, substitute a light bulb on your head… or a little vocal, “Aha!” will do.) Twelve? I’ve come across that number before… and certainly twelve disciples. Apparently there is something to this whole twelve disciples thing.
Throughout Paul’s teaching and preaching he is constantly coming across these little packs of people, starting community churches, and engaging people on the road. They are all people that are “following the way of Jesus”. Some of them know that they are – and Paul affirms them. Some don’t realize they are doing so – and Paul gives them a name for themselves and points them towards Jesus. But what stays consistent is that there are groups of people dotted all over the first century landscape that are traveling together in faith.
Today it seems we are headed in two different directions from that beginning. We head towards personal spirituality where there is no “church” or community to tell us what to believe. Or we head towards mega-churches where there lots of people are doing lots of good things together. What we don’t find much of (though they do exist) is little groups of “followers” dotting the twenty-first century landscape journeying together in faith.
Is this a problem?
I’m not sure. I do not know that it HAS to be a problem. But I also wonder if it isn’t symptomatic of a problem… and I’m not alone. There are a growing number of people who are asking that same questions in many different and exciting ways. But let me imagine just one possibility for today.
In a world where the way of Jesus is often unpopular and challenging, moving smaller (to the individual alone) or the larger (to the mega-church) are both ways of hiding. We are trying to hide our lives away from Jesus and from truly following in the “Jesus way”. Alone in our spirituality there is no-one to tell us that our life is not lining up consistently with our faith. And lost in the crowds of mega-church we can blend in anonymously. On the other hand, with just twelve people? That is the kind of class where you actually have to do your reading, you have to come prepared to participate, you have to go out on a limb and show yourselves. Just 12? That requires active and participatory discipleship.
Have you found yourself trying to hide? To blend into the crowd?
What do you find most challenging about really living in the way of Jesus?
Do you have your group of twelve who are helping you, as you help them, on the journey?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Jan 24: Building up the Body of Christ
“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.” (Acts 18:1-2)
“After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.” (Acts 18:18)
“Apollos began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.” (Acts 18:26)
I think it’s easy to decide that Acts is about Paul. (He does tend to dominate the landscape a bit!) However it’s a disservice to discipleship and the scriptural witness to miss other very important people in the story. The Bible is absolutely full of “extras”. People whose names are sometimes known (like Priscilla and Aquila) and often not (like the Syrophoenician woman). Who do memorable acts (like a thief defending Jesus on the cross) and some that we hardly even notice (like a women bathing Jesus feet long before he will turn around and do the same for his disciples).
My point is this: it’s easy to think that disciples are the people with their names in neon lights. The larger than life personalities… the great missionaries… the spiritual gurus… the natural healers… the keen intellects… the extroverts… the people brimming with charisma and quick tongues… the people whose actions directly cause cataclysmic change in the world… the archetypes of faithfulness (never mind that such as these don’t have a list of failings as well).
We all know Abraham, Moses and David. We know Peter, Paul and the many Johns. But this is not the beginning and end to an understanding of discipleship. Where are any of these people without the Priscillas and Aquilas of the world? Paul plants churches… but who nurtures and cares for them?
You do.
We do.
Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned in total six times. Three times in Acts. Three times in the collective letters of Paul (the end chapters of Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Timothy). They could look like minor characters – they never speak in the text and their actions are most behind the scenes. And yet we know from these other references that they are known to Christians in far spread places, they “risked their necks for my (Paul’s) life,” and they lead a church out of their own home. We known that when other (more charismatic) figures fall a bit astray from following in the way of Jesus that they are there to pull aside and explain the Way of God more accurately.
They are essential for the health and depth and vitality of the church. They are essential to fostering discipleship.
How are you helping by being a foundation of discipleship?
In what ways are you (named and unnamed) building up the Body of Christ?
Does overall picture of your life help others understand the way of Jesus Christ?
“After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.” (Acts 18:18)
“Apollos began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.” (Acts 18:26)
I think it’s easy to decide that Acts is about Paul. (He does tend to dominate the landscape a bit!) However it’s a disservice to discipleship and the scriptural witness to miss other very important people in the story. The Bible is absolutely full of “extras”. People whose names are sometimes known (like Priscilla and Aquila) and often not (like the Syrophoenician woman). Who do memorable acts (like a thief defending Jesus on the cross) and some that we hardly even notice (like a women bathing Jesus feet long before he will turn around and do the same for his disciples).
My point is this: it’s easy to think that disciples are the people with their names in neon lights. The larger than life personalities… the great missionaries… the spiritual gurus… the natural healers… the keen intellects… the extroverts… the people brimming with charisma and quick tongues… the people whose actions directly cause cataclysmic change in the world… the archetypes of faithfulness (never mind that such as these don’t have a list of failings as well).
We all know Abraham, Moses and David. We know Peter, Paul and the many Johns. But this is not the beginning and end to an understanding of discipleship. Where are any of these people without the Priscillas and Aquilas of the world? Paul plants churches… but who nurtures and cares for them?
You do.
We do.
Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned in total six times. Three times in Acts. Three times in the collective letters of Paul (the end chapters of Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Timothy). They could look like minor characters – they never speak in the text and their actions are most behind the scenes. And yet we know from these other references that they are known to Christians in far spread places, they “risked their necks for my (Paul’s) life,” and they lead a church out of their own home. We known that when other (more charismatic) figures fall a bit astray from following in the way of Jesus that they are there to pull aside and explain the Way of God more accurately.
They are essential for the health and depth and vitality of the church. They are essential to fostering discipleship.
How are you helping by being a foundation of discipleship?
In what ways are you (named and unnamed) building up the Body of Christ?
Does overall picture of your life help others understand the way of Jesus Christ?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
November 9: Upside Down
And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you." Acts 17:2-3
Throughout the remainder of this chapter there is a sense of newness. That Paul and the apostles are talking about something new… and it both intrigues and irritates Jews and Gentiles alike. When the newness seems to get out of hand the followers of the way of Jesus Christ are spoken about as, “These people who have been turning the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6)
Of course they haven’t done this at all – all they have done is pointed out what Jesus did. The crowds are right about what has happened, it’s just that they are blaming the wrong people – they should be blaming Jesus. I think this is why it is interesting that what Paul is talking about is why the Messiah needed to suffer and die and rise from the dead.
Sadly the text only tells us that this is what he is teaching, it doesn’t actually tell us his answer. Conjecturing on why Jesus had to die, and how that death offered salvation to the world is a favorite past time of theologians – but none of us really has an answer, and I’m prone to think that there isn’t any one answer but lots of reasons. However today let me play with one reason that interests me and seems to relate to all this newness and world-turned-upside-downness that is happening in this chapter of Acts.
We all have an idea of who God is. We all have some particular desires about how God will act in our life, and how God will be in relationship to us. That is to say, each of us knows how we wish to be saved. And I think in many ways that we limit who God really is by only conceiving of God as we wish to – only hearing God say what we want to hear – only being willing to see God at work in ways that we like.
Jesus knew this… and thus Jesus knew that he was never going to be able to save us from ourselves… until our God died (or our limited, and limiting, notion of who God is and what God does is taken away from us). It is only when our conception of salvation dies, that we can become open to true salvation. It is only when we give up putting God in the box we would like God to be in that we can be open to a relationship with God as God really is. That’s wordy I know, but I hope you are following me because I think it’s of vital importance.
So Jesus had to die… that God might come to life. We become saved when the small notions of God that we cling to are replaced with the awesome mystery of the God who really is. And when that God lives – and lives in our lives… our worlds are turned upside down.
What ways are you putting God in a box and limiting your openness to the activity of God in your life?
How are you practicing listening to the God who really is, rather than just telling God who you want God to be?
What does it mean for you as an individual and the church as a whole to be open to having our world turned upside down?
God of mystery,
You are always doing a new thing in our midst. Help us to keep open to your Spirit that is always urging us in new directions. Give us the strength to boldly move into your upside down future. Amen.
Throughout the remainder of this chapter there is a sense of newness. That Paul and the apostles are talking about something new… and it both intrigues and irritates Jews and Gentiles alike. When the newness seems to get out of hand the followers of the way of Jesus Christ are spoken about as, “These people who have been turning the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6)
Of course they haven’t done this at all – all they have done is pointed out what Jesus did. The crowds are right about what has happened, it’s just that they are blaming the wrong people – they should be blaming Jesus. I think this is why it is interesting that what Paul is talking about is why the Messiah needed to suffer and die and rise from the dead.
Sadly the text only tells us that this is what he is teaching, it doesn’t actually tell us his answer. Conjecturing on why Jesus had to die, and how that death offered salvation to the world is a favorite past time of theologians – but none of us really has an answer, and I’m prone to think that there isn’t any one answer but lots of reasons. However today let me play with one reason that interests me and seems to relate to all this newness and world-turned-upside-downness that is happening in this chapter of Acts.
We all have an idea of who God is. We all have some particular desires about how God will act in our life, and how God will be in relationship to us. That is to say, each of us knows how we wish to be saved. And I think in many ways that we limit who God really is by only conceiving of God as we wish to – only hearing God say what we want to hear – only being willing to see God at work in ways that we like.
Jesus knew this… and thus Jesus knew that he was never going to be able to save us from ourselves… until our God died (or our limited, and limiting, notion of who God is and what God does is taken away from us). It is only when our conception of salvation dies, that we can become open to true salvation. It is only when we give up putting God in the box we would like God to be in that we can be open to a relationship with God as God really is. That’s wordy I know, but I hope you are following me because I think it’s of vital importance.
So Jesus had to die… that God might come to life. We become saved when the small notions of God that we cling to are replaced with the awesome mystery of the God who really is. And when that God lives – and lives in our lives… our worlds are turned upside down.
What ways are you putting God in a box and limiting your openness to the activity of God in your life?
How are you practicing listening to the God who really is, rather than just telling God who you want God to be?
What does it mean for you as an individual and the church as a whole to be open to having our world turned upside down?
God of mystery,
You are always doing a new thing in our midst. Help us to keep open to your Spirit that is always urging us in new directions. Give us the strength to boldly move into your upside down future. Amen.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
November 4: Cornerstone
After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:23-25)
How often have you seen a movie or television show have a character end up in prison only to sit there dejected and hopeless, singing in almost monotone voice, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows my sorrow?”
It is one of those songs that I associate with despair. Despair is more than sorrow or trouble… despair is a complete lack of hope, it is the loss of life. Soren Kierkegaard calls despair the sickness unto death, and considers it actually worse than death itself.
So why do I reflect on this now? Because this is not the song Paul and Silas are singing – they are singing hymns to God… and whatever they are singing everyone WANTS to listen to (even in the middle of the night).
I imagine we all have visuals of characters and people in jail that go a different route – that are filled with anger and rage and ready to strike out at anyone who comes near them. Anger and rage may just be very similar to despair – because they aren’t a way towards life and hope and they are as destructive to the person who is consumed by them as they are to the object of their hate.
Paul and Silas do not hate, in fact a few verses later they will stop the guard from killing himself.
And of course we all have seen lots of shows and movies about prison breaks, there was even a television show called Prison Break. Here there are daring and intricate plots to escape the cell that holds the person. Paul and Silas do not break out of prison. In fact when the jail cells are rocked open in the earthquake a point is made (in saving the guard from killing himself) that they are all still there. Not only has Paul and Silas not left, everyone is sitting in their cells – not running!
Despair… Fight… Flight… these are response we know and expect in moments of great adversity. We lose hope. We strike out. We run from reality.
Paul and Silas go a different route. They sing hymn and say prayers to God. They witness hope to the other prisoners and captivate them with their faith. They show love and grace to the guard and not only save his life but offer a new way of life to that guard’s entire family. And finally they push a confrontation with the very people who put them in jail in order to unmask that what was done was wrong, they don’t flee but their confrontation is not one of malice and hate.
Their actions are counter to all our instincts. Their actions are based in a very deep trust in God – more than I can imagine. Their actions are rooted in a hope that survives beatings, shackling, mocking… they have an abundant life that cannot be contained.
How do we get that life? Haven’t you ever met someone who so exuded grace and quiet peace and said to yourself – I want that! Here is the thing… you don’t just get “that”… you live it. You practice it – you let grace shape you so you can shape your life and the lives around you with grace.
You learn to allow sorrow – without falling into despair.
You learn to confront injustice – without resorting to anger and hate.
You learn trust God – without needing to flee adversity.
And you learn it all one small step at time… and until then – you sing.
What is causing you sorrow… anger… fear?
Have you spoken your grief, angst and anxiety to God… to a companion?
Do you trust that God is strong enough for you… with you in your pain… enabling you to have life?
God our Cornerstone,
It truly is you that holds our worlds together. So often we find ourselves too weak and helpless, and we move to despair. Remind us that you are not too weak to hold us up. Strengthen us to respond in trust and love to a world that too often stays in anger, hate and fear. Amen.
How often have you seen a movie or television show have a character end up in prison only to sit there dejected and hopeless, singing in almost monotone voice, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows my sorrow?”
It is one of those songs that I associate with despair. Despair is more than sorrow or trouble… despair is a complete lack of hope, it is the loss of life. Soren Kierkegaard calls despair the sickness unto death, and considers it actually worse than death itself.
So why do I reflect on this now? Because this is not the song Paul and Silas are singing – they are singing hymns to God… and whatever they are singing everyone WANTS to listen to (even in the middle of the night).
I imagine we all have visuals of characters and people in jail that go a different route – that are filled with anger and rage and ready to strike out at anyone who comes near them. Anger and rage may just be very similar to despair – because they aren’t a way towards life and hope and they are as destructive to the person who is consumed by them as they are to the object of their hate.
Paul and Silas do not hate, in fact a few verses later they will stop the guard from killing himself.
And of course we all have seen lots of shows and movies about prison breaks, there was even a television show called Prison Break. Here there are daring and intricate plots to escape the cell that holds the person. Paul and Silas do not break out of prison. In fact when the jail cells are rocked open in the earthquake a point is made (in saving the guard from killing himself) that they are all still there. Not only has Paul and Silas not left, everyone is sitting in their cells – not running!
Despair… Fight… Flight… these are response we know and expect in moments of great adversity. We lose hope. We strike out. We run from reality.
Paul and Silas go a different route. They sing hymn and say prayers to God. They witness hope to the other prisoners and captivate them with their faith. They show love and grace to the guard and not only save his life but offer a new way of life to that guard’s entire family. And finally they push a confrontation with the very people who put them in jail in order to unmask that what was done was wrong, they don’t flee but their confrontation is not one of malice and hate.
Their actions are counter to all our instincts. Their actions are based in a very deep trust in God – more than I can imagine. Their actions are rooted in a hope that survives beatings, shackling, mocking… they have an abundant life that cannot be contained.
How do we get that life? Haven’t you ever met someone who so exuded grace and quiet peace and said to yourself – I want that! Here is the thing… you don’t just get “that”… you live it. You practice it – you let grace shape you so you can shape your life and the lives around you with grace.
You learn to allow sorrow – without falling into despair.
You learn to confront injustice – without resorting to anger and hate.
You learn trust God – without needing to flee adversity.
And you learn it all one small step at time… and until then – you sing.
What is causing you sorrow… anger… fear?
Have you spoken your grief, angst and anxiety to God… to a companion?
Do you trust that God is strong enough for you… with you in your pain… enabling you to have life?
God our Cornerstone,
It truly is you that holds our worlds together. So often we find ourselves too weak and helpless, and we move to despair. Remind us that you are not too weak to hold us up. Strengthen us to respond in trust and love to a world that too often stays in anger, hate and fear. Amen.
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