Welcome to a new week
Hi, friend. You look fabulous today!
Mondays are (supposed to be) my day off, but I confess that I often greet the day with a list of things that I meant to share with you on Sunday – like a copy of a poem that was read during worship, or a reminder about something happening this week, or just a thought I’ve been carrying around with me for a while.
So here’s a little experiment I’m going to try out: I’ll load up those treats in a message every Sunday evening, and then let our magical email system send it out to you on Mondays. Hopefully this will bring a little boost to the beginning of your week, while the preacher’s week wraps up with some rest (and then an extra, leisurely cup of coffee!).
If it seems like folks are reading this note, and enjoying it, then it’ll become a regular practice. But if not, well, then I’ll just let it fade away. No pressure, really.
Also, thanks as always to the inimitable Mark Birge-Anderson for sharing his artistic talents with our community! Those little swimmers up above, gliding so peacefully into the new week? Those are a gift from one of his early morning walks by the lake.
I’m glad to be on this journey with you!
peace,
Ann-Louise
We are now in the second week of Advent – the week of Peace.
(Image by Mark Birge-Anderson)
Pray for Peace is a poem by Ellen Bass that I shared with folks on the retreat in September. I find it to be a beautiful reminder about how our every day actions can become supplications for peace.
You can read it here.
Then click here to play the recording; enter the access passcode when prompted.
There was a piece that didn’t make it into the Call to Confession or the Sermon on Sunday – and in retrospect, I think it’s one worth sharing with you.
It can be hard to hold on to hope – or to peace – when we’re surrounded by so much bad news. But I think it’s important to remember that bad news sells; as a result, it takes up more than its fair share of our headlines. It was horrific – and important – to read about last week’s school shooting, but what about all the averted disasters that we never hear about? What about that young person who stayed up all night, texting a friend who was in crisis, threatening harm to themselves or others? What about all the parents out there who witness their teen’s turmoil, and, rather than shrugging it off, or taking them to a shooting range to work out their anger, provide their child with appropriate support and resources to resolve things non-violently?
What about the kind word, or the generous gesture, that derailed someone’s destruction, and helped them move in a different direction?
Bad news may sell, but (the) good news gives life – and we, my friends, belong to that Word. So take heart, keep your eyes peeled for places of peace in this world, and remember to rejoice and share them with others as you find them!
(Photo by Trent Erwin on Unsplash)
Dave Ullrich joined worship this week while on the road – and sent me this photo of the car in front of him. (You can also see that he waited for a red light to safely snap the shot.) Do you think they were listening in on our service, too?
