July 5, 2024
Dear church,
Yesterday, our country celebrated Independence Day. I love the day for its summery traditions and for the chance that it gives us to honor the people who have been involved in the quest for freedom and flourishing in our country. But if I’m honest, celebrating is not what I’m feeling when it comes to the state of our country and the impending presidential election. We are living through a difficult time; a perilous time, really. I know many of us already feel in our bodies the anxiety and the fear around this election because we know so much is at stake.
As a church, I hope we can find ways to center and ground ourselves in God as we go through the next four months and whatever comes afterwards. I hope we can come together and literally breathe together – breathe in the breath and assurance of God and breathe out anxiety and its hold on us. I hope we can find strength from our worship as we sing, pray, and feast at a table where we see God’s vision for the world so clearly. I hope we will, together, commit to our Christian responsibility to live and to vote in such a way that prioritizes love of God and love of neighbor, especially the poor, the hungry, the unhoused, the immigrant, the marginalized. And I hope we can help each other notice goodness, however it appears, because it is all too easy to only see what’s wrong with the world.
Here is a prayer to share as we all strive to live faithfully, to love boldly, and, really, to remain sane through this turbulent time:
Sovereign God, your Son Jesus lived within the structures of society even as he spoke truth to those in power and challenged systems of oppression. Empower us to be courageous disciples and responsible citizens. Grant that our life in the public realm be grounded in love for our neighbors, care for the most vulnerable in our midst, and respect for the common life we share, following the example of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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.