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Dear Friends,
When we went into lock down 15 months ago, we started to pray together on Wednesday Prayers on Facebook Live at 5. We greeted each other with delight and joy in being able to connect and find community, even imperfect community online. We reflected on scriptures, sang some songs and chants, learned and practiced some spiritual exercises, and spent time in contemplative prayer and prayers of intercession. In all of this, the Holy Spirit was present and doing something deep within each of us who participated.
I have discerned that it is time for a break from this aspect of online community. I will be focusing more of my attention, discernment and energy on offering in person time of prayer and community in our sanctuary on Sunday mornings at 10am, as well as continuing to offer some weekly reflections and worship opportunities for our online congregation. If there is a clear need or desire to continue these times of online prayer in the Fall, then please let me know.
Know that as I am looking back on these past 15 months, I am so grateful for the prayerful community and spiritual formation we have experienced together on Wednesday Prayers on Facebook Live at 5. Through these shared experiences, the Holy Spirit continued to knit us together, and encouraged us to grow deeper in our journey of faith. I thank God for you, your part in the ministry of prayer, your calls and emails to share with me how you were experiencing God in your lives, and your reminding me of our shared Oneness in Christ.
As you can see in the scriptures below are appropriate for marking an end of something, and getting ready for something new. The Hebrew Scriptures remind us that there is a season for everything. The prayer reminds us to give thanks for what has been, and to look forward with hope and holy expectancy to what will be. The music video is inspired by holy scripture, written by Pete Seeger, and sung with some straight up rock and roll by Bruce Springsteen and Roger McGuinn. I hope you enjoy these resources as much as I have this week.
Scripture:
Ecclesiastes 3
New Revised Standard Version
1For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
Prayer:
For all that has been, thanks.
For all that will be, yes!
(A Prayer from Dag Hammarskjold,
Second Secretary General of the United Nations
10 April 1953 – 18 September 1961)
Music video:
Turn, Turn, Turn
Written by Pete Seeger and the holy scriptures
Sung by Bruce Springsteen and Roger McGuinn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZx-QYNBTug
I write with love, with prayer, and with trust,
Jeff
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