Reflection from your Co-Pastors
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
The Hand of God
What If we found ourselves sitting on the wings of Sophia as she gently glides across our lives and the choices we’ve made. From this vantage point, would we see the Hand of God in our lives moving us gently? Might She be whispering to us that all in our life works to our good if we open ourselves to the Good. It all leads to relationship with life around us, to Love, to Wholeness.
We are connected to all as if we were birthed as twins with all. “The cosmos is a sacred image of God and it contains the Spirit of God in its very being. Humanity’s primary task is to experience the world, to contemplate and understand it, and thereby to proceed to knowledge of God, and, ultimately, to union and consummation with God.” (1)
As we increase our experience of the world, we make decisions as to what to listen to, what draws our attention, which way to go. Sometimes difficulty and struggle results. We know that growth can come from struggle and that struggle acts to ‘push’ us out of our comfort or mediocrity or denial. During our difficulties, God can seem distant, but the mystics have shown us that God’s hand is most present when we feel it the least. We may say the prayer of Thomas Merton to help keep our faith focused and our hope up. All the while, the gentle Hand of God guides, opens the way and protects us. We may know this
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only in hindsight and often many years later.
Years later it becomes very clear how God brought us growth from that experience. In retrospect we may see growth of compassion, understanding, depth, joy, patience, connection, wisdom. How do we continue to seek and know God more deeply in our hearts, seeing ourselves in relationship more broadly? How do we satisfy our longing for Love? It might be by living in and experiencing the world and bringing our service to it. Then by connecting those experiences daily with Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17), by talking to God (prayer), by opening our hearts in silence to hear Her, through surrender as Jesus did (Philippians 2: 6-8) and then finding Wisdom .
Oh, yes, that pesky thing “Surrender.” Surrendering is trusting in Her unconditional Love. Hindsight into the Hand of God can increase our trust. So enjoy the sights from the wings of Sophia. Recall the Annunciation and Mary’s “Yes!” God wants us to find wholeness; to know the Love that is complete, satisfying every hunger. We are drawn to Love: Let’s go together lead by the Hand of God.
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(1) Quote from William and Thierry in Ilia Delio, The Unbearable Wholeness of Being sourced from Peter Ellard, The Sacred Cosmos: Theological, Philosophical, and Scientific Conversations in the Twelfth Century School of Chartres.
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Prayer Requests and Service Recordings |
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Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times
+Bill Kneeland - member
+Sue Harari - friend of Cathy Engel
+Mary Detweiller - member
+Rob Frank - friend of Kerrie Anderson - member
+Jerry Padilla, father and Ryan Cordova nephew of Lisa Jones - member
+Aidan - grandson of Mother Kae.
+Lauren Roob - friend of Rosanna Bateman
+Liz and Ken Zornes and family, whose daughter is struggling with addiction - friends of Sandra and Dick Life
+Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe
+Dona Bosse - member
+Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother
+Dani - niece of the Cloyds - members
In gratitude for all who pray for and with our community.
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+Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll
+Joanne Gallagher - member, and for her sister, Dr. Barbara Immroth
+Jim and Lucille Bowen friends of Suzanne King, member
+Leo Six – father of Michael Six
+Mike Gudim
+Suzanne King - member
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For the peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the families.
Mary Crosby - member
Clint Wisdom - brother-in-law of Joan Chapman-Smith
Leon - father of Mother Cynthia
Kristin - daughter of ECC priest Scott Jenkins.
Joan Kneeland - sister-in-law of Bill Kneeland
Rita Ortiz, friend of Deacon Rosean
Margie Weitz - member
Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones
Bob, husband of Joyce Dehaven -
friend of Cathy Engel
David Heyman -member
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Service Recordings
Here is the recording celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi Sunday on June 6. The presider and homilist was Father Teri Harron her homily is available here. The service is also available in a printed version to assist with prayer.
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For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during, visit our webpage. Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com
Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal
What are our partners in ministry up to? Go here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin
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