Pastor’s Corner – April 14, 2022
Dear Beloved,
You are a blessing and you are blessed by the Maker of the heavens and earth whose compassion knows no bounds. May you feel God’s grace holding you and encouraging you.
This year, Holy Week leaves me without words… I want to paint you pictures instead, but I am not an artist. I want to sing you songs instead, but I am not a musician. I am grateful for all the artists and musicians who offer God’s gifts of creativity to us!
When asking God again and again what to write to you, God whispered - Don’t try to write this Holy Week, just pray, so here is a prayer that I offer this week with gratitude and deep care.
Holy and Healing God, whose mercies are new every morning, we praise and adore You. We desire to join you with the crowds on Palm Sunday, “Lifting our voices and bowing before you with songs of Hosanna in the highest, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” We pray that we will stay alert and awake with you. We pray that we will claim you as our Leader. Please forgive us when we are overcome by temptations, distractions, and fears. Please forgive us when we deny and betray you. Thank you for this Holy week that invites us to remember your servant leadership and your commandment to love one another. Thank you for this Holy week that beckons us to be still, to be silent, to be mindful, and watchful – remembering all who suffer due to violence, remembering our own brokenness, and trusting in your power to save, redeem, restore, renew, reconcile, liberate, and transform… Please guide us with your Spirit, that we may keep vigil with you until Easter. Please strengthen us with your wisdom and your word that we may move outward with the kindness, shalom, hope, and faith of Jesus, so all may know his love. Amen.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:1
