Dear church,
It has been a gift to gather as a community several times this past week. We gathered last Sunday morning, of course. Many of us gathered again on Monday night to pray for the election - we read scripture, lit candles, cried tears of fear and hope, and had the longest sharing of the peace ever. Then, we gathered again on Wednesday for our monthly midweek service. I didn’t dare plan that service until I woke up on Wednesday morning, since I had no idea what we would know or what we would feel. Thankfully, we knew enough to gather in celebration and relief that the values of inclusivity, democracy, diversity, and justice had won the day!
The scripture we read in Wednesday’s service was the Beatitudes, Jesus’ first sermon in the gospel of Matthew. As part of my sermon, I wrote a few more Beatitudes, words of blessing for this incredible week, and I wanted to share them with all of you.
Blessed are the election judges, the poll workers, the chaplains who stood outside in the rain for hours on Tuesday to make sure all polling sites were places of safety, welcome, and dignity.
Blessed are those who, after voting, placed their red “I voted” stickers all over the Renee Good and Alex Pretti memorials. We have not forgotten.
Blessed are those who gave rides to neighbors.
Blessed are those who showed up to vote, even when they feared for their safety.
Blessed are the children, watching as we shape the course of history.
Blessed are the firsts – the first woman serving as governor, the first indigenous woman serving as senator, the first openly gay man serving as senator, the first black woman serving as governor, the first Muslim serving as senator – all of these people who could have resigned themselves to a story that says there’s no way, but instead worked tirelessly and courageously to make sure their voices and communities could be represented in leadership. We will be better because they are in the room.
Blessed is the flame of justice that has not been extinguished by hatred, fear, or federal occupation. Instead, that flame has shown itself to be stronger than we ever knew.
Blessed is the learning that has come – all of us realizing in new and deeper ways our need for each other, our need for mutual aid, our need to know and love our neighbors.
Blessed are we who are alive today. This is a day we will remember for a long time. May we let the joy in, may we welcome the homecoming of hope; and, then, may we continue the work by making a way, side by side, with our neighbors, toward justice and belonging for all.
I’m so grateful to be in this moment with you, church! See you Sunday, as we celebrate yet one more thing - our 10th anniversary as a Reconciling in Christ congregation. Thanks be to God!
Pastor Sarah