Dear Members, Friends, Siblings, All,

“I have no words.”

This is what Rev. Thomas announced in our worship planning meeting to explain why he had proposed that on Sunday we have a hymn sing. He was also giving me permission to say out loud, “Neither do I.” At the end of a week in which another peaceful voice for justice had been silenced forever by our own government agents, I have no words. How can I preach? How can I pray when the world in on fire?

Well, with all due respect, it’s not the first time. Violence, injustice, hatred, tyranny—that long list of the hateful stuff we do to one another, the ways we refuse to see the dignity and beauty in one another, disrespect and dehumanize one another—that is not new. All of this has been around since forever. But we are feeling it now, in our own skin, in our own broken hearts, in the anger and confusion of this very day. And some of us are dumbstruck.

So, what to do? When my faith in God and in people and in elected leaders and the people of God takes this many hits right in front of my face, how do I find stable footing? How to ready for the next steps ahead?

You know my answer already: I sing. What else can I do? “My anchor holds and grips the solid rock/That rock is Jesus.” “Give me Jesus/You may have all this world/Give me Jesus.” ”Hold to God’s unchanging hand/Build your hopes on things eternal/Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”

In worship on Sunday, we will sing. A lot. Tune up before you come.

In the meantime, there are others who DO have words. Good words, in fact, thanks be to God. Here are two that came to my attention this week:

https://youtu.be/0ElUloNFf-8

https://vimeo.com/1159835662?share=copy

After worship, I hope you are planning to join us for the long-awaited Congregational Asset Mapping Experience in the Fellowship Hall. We will have lunch for you, and we will make sure it’s good and warm inside for those of us who will take on the extreme cold outside. We’re still working on a way to include our Streamers, probably using the link you use for worship. Look for more by Sunday.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Love and hugs,

Rev. Liz