Reading of the Day: Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
It is good for me to be a member of a community of faith. When we come together to worship, to grow in faith, and to connect with each other, God is made real for me. Through the faithfulness of the members of this congregation, we accomplish far more than I could ever manage on my own. We house people who are homeless; we support work in Guatemala; we offer meals, counseling, and supplies to people in transition or at risk; we provide activities for people to gather and share their experiences with others at all stages of life; we offer a wide variety of opportunities for people of all ages to share their perspective and grow in faith with each other; we gather in a fantastic facility for rich and deeply engaging forms of worship; we welcome hosts of outside groups to use our building at times of the week when we are not using it. We meet here at the most sacred and important moments of our lives, from baptisms, to first communions, affirmations of faith, celebrations of our unions. Weekly we are offered a foretaste of the feast we anticipate. When a loved one dies, we gather here to grieve, and to celebrate the promis 21EA e of a life with God.
And we don’t do any of these things alone, but in community with each other and with God. We confess our faith together, so that when I am too weak or afraid to trust God’s promises on my own, your faith inspires me. And on those days when I am unable to sing, you sing for me. And when even together we cannot pray, the Spirit intercedes for us, and we find ourselves embraced by God’s reassuring comfort. We are stronger together than on our own.
I give thanks to God for the gift of this community of faith, and for all the ways God supports and nourishes me through you. I am richly blessed to be a part of this community.
PRAYER: Good and Loving Savior, in your kindness, continue to warm our hearts and draw us to be your community in this place. Inspire our work and our witness, that together we may make your love known to all the world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Pastor Lois Pallmeyer