Aug 29, 2025

Dear church,

Thanks for all the love you’ve extended to me and to each other this past week. It’s the biggest gift and power we have – to love and be loved.
For my note to you today, I wanted to share a blessing by Kate Bowler, as well as concrete ways to support the larger community in the wake of Wednesday’s tragedy.
Mostly, please give yourself the freedom to go gently in these hard days. And keep on being love in the world.

Big hugs,

Pastor Sarah

A blessing for when thoughts and prayers are not enough

by Kate Bowler

This world.

Impossible.

Unthinkable.

We are brought to our knees.

God, today, there is

no true north.

And when I last checked,

the sun did not rise at all.

Today, the innocent still suffer,

first responders still risk their lives,

families still grieve.

A world has ended

without any reasonable fanfare.

And we are sold the fantasy

that nothing can be done.

Help us to know what to feel -

rage, grief, sorrow.

And what to do -

advocate, protest, lament.

Blessed are we who let reality in,

though our bodies shudder.

Blessed are we who ask

and wait, and ask again.

For the courage to change

in order to protect people.

God give us hope

that seems hard to find.

---

Every Friday, we send an email to the congregation and any others who would like to learn more about the Grace community. The last four Friday emails are posted below.