EPC Resources
Lenten Practices
EPC Family, Let us join together, though we may still be apart, for a Lenten Practice to mark these last two weeks heading toward Holy Week and Easter Sunday.
Let us walk in the way of Christ with prayer and contemplation.
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The stations grew out of imitations of Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem which is believed to be the actual path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary. The objective of the stations is to help the Christian faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ.
If you enjoy drawing, doodling, or any form of creative expression, you might want to take time with each of the following Bible passages, each one associated with a step on Jesus’ path to the cross.
For each passage, try to write your own prayer, make a journal entry, or create your own drawing or photograph.
Or if you prefer, simply read through these passages and use the suggested prayers.
Using the Stations of the Cross is a good Lenten practice reminding us of the costly gift of the cross.
First Station: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.”
When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.”
Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However, not what I want but what you want.”
He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping.
He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me? Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.”
~ Matthew 26:36-41
Reflect on this passage. Close your eyes and visualize the scene. Imagine yourself there.
Where is your garden of prayer when suffering comes to your life? How do you pray when even those dearest to you cannot stay awake and be present to your suffering?
Lord, help us find our place of comfort where we meet you face to face and surrender to your grace. Amen.
Second Station: Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
Suddenly, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came with a mob carrying swords and clubs. They had been sent by the chief priests, legal experts, and elders.
His betrayer had given them a sign: “Arrest the man I kiss and take him away under guard.”
As soon as he got there Judas said to Jesus, “Rabbi!” Then he kissed him. Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
~ Mark 14:43-46
Lord,
grant us the courage of our convictions
that our lives may faithfully reflect the good news you bring. Heal the wounds of betrayal upon any and all hearts.
Third Station: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
“When the day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us," but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth."
(Luke 22: 66-71)
Lord, grant us your sense of righteousness
that we may never cease to work
to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised. Save us from being a stumbling block to any soul.
Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied by Peter
“Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about!" As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away." At that he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly.
(Matthew 26: 69-75)
Lord,
grant us the gift of honesty
that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult.
Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate
“The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified.
(Mark 15: 1-5, 15)
Lord,
grant us discernment
that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.
Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said,"Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly.
(John 19: 1-3)
Lord,
grant us patience in times of suffering
that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise.
Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross
“When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus] they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him." ... They cried out, "Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.
(John 19: 6, 15-17)
Lord,
grant us strength of purpose
that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day.
Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross
“They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
(Mark 15: 21)
Lord,
grant us willing spirits
that we may be your instruments on earth.
Ninth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
“A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At that time, people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"
(Luke 23: 27-31)
Lord,
grant us gentle spirits
that we may comfort those who mourn.
Tenth Station: Jesus is Crucified
“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."]
(Luke 23: 33-34)
Lord,
grant us merciful hearts
that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.
Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief
“Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
(Luke 23: 39-43)
Lord,
grant us perseverance
that we may never stop seeking you.
Twelfth Station: Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciple
“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
John 19: 25-27
Lord,
grant us constancy
that we may be willing to stand by those in need.
Thirteenth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
“It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last.
(Luke 23: 44-46)
Lord,
grant us trust in you
that when our time on earth in ended
our spirits may come to you without delay.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
“When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it [in] clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed.
(Matthew 27: 57-60)
Lord,
grant us your compassion
that we may always provide for those in need.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ,
your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven
and reconciles all people to you.
May we who have faithfully reflected on these mysteries
follow in your steps and so come to share your glory in heaven
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Up Front
Follow this link to read all the selections from the lectionary for Sunday:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=75
During our service, you will hear the passage from Jeremiah 31:31-34 concerning God’s news to Israel that a new covenant shall be written upon the hearts of all God’s people, and that they will know God directly. It is a beautiful and comforting passage.
What we know from the events that occur after Jeremiah, all the way through the New Testament, and up to today is that life can still be difficult. Even as God’s beloved creation, we may have hard times. The passage from the gospel of John 12:20-33 gives us information and imagery to help us understand the crucifixion Jesus experienced, and to help encourage us at those times in our lives that we too may the feel pain of the crosses we bear.
See you Sunday –
______________
Rev. Jane Herring
Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
https://epcnashville.com/
*One Day I Wrote Back *- Upper Room Books
https://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/K1376/one-day-i-wrote-back.aspx JaneHerring.com https://janeherring.com/
Look Up
Follow this link to see all the passages for this Sunday’s lectionary readings: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=74
In our Sunday service, we will read Numbers 21: 4-9 and John 3:14-21. The passage from John contains one of the most quoted verses of the New Testament, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
This statement is made by Jesus in the midst of his conversation with Nicodemus during his late-night visit to question Jesus about who he is and what it means to be made new, to be born again.
We will examine the link between the Numbers passage and the passage from John and think about what it means to “look up” when God bids us, and what it means to be drawn to the light of Christ.
Zoom Worship Gathering
You can follow this link to read all the passages for this Sunday’s lectionary readings.
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=73
In the giving of the ten commandments and in the coming of Christ Jesus, we see God reaching out to us to renew again and again the covenant relationship to humanity, a relationship that is just that – a relationship rather than a transaction.
What do we do when our own best efforts let us down?
What do we do when the short-sightedness or meanness of others cause pain and suffering in our lives, or the lives of those we love?
What do we do when unexplained difficulty or tragedy strikes?
The answer to these questions makes us who we are. When the answer to these questions includes a first step of asking God for guidance, we are in relationship to the eternal, to God.
These themes of promise and relationship will be lifted up this coming Sunday, the third Sunday of Lent. This week is also Communion Sunday, and we will convene LIVE by Zoom.
It will be wonderful to be together again, to remember the promises and partake at the table of our relationship to God.
See you Sunday!
Jane
__________________________________________________________
Rev. Jane Herring
Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
https://epcnashville.com/
*One Day I Wrote Back *- Upper Room Books
https://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/K1376/one-day-i-wrote-back.aspx JaneHerring.com https://janeherring.com/
Lent Can Be Awkward
Sermon Notes:
Keep your eyes open for a special “liturgist-in-training” in the service today, 💓a little sweetness and light-heartedness for a Lenten season that may already seem heavier than most, given all we have experienced in the past year.
Lent is a typically an awkward season because it is almost exclusively somber. Even the lectionary reading of God’s promise to Abram and Sarai is cut short, just before Abram (soon to be Abraham) laughs heartily at God’s great promise of a baby to the 90 year old Sarai( soon to be Sarah).
The gospel reading from Mark, the sermon passage, is certainly somber and awkward. How hard must it have been for Jesus to try to explain the upcoming crucifixion to his disciples? Just think of how hard it is to tell a friend, child, or loved one that sad, hard times are at hand.
The Lenten walk of acknowledging our shortcomings and sorrow is rich and worthwhile. It is helpful to remember that we “do Lent” for the sake of our wholeness, and it is fitting to remember that our hearts long for happiness too, that happiness is also part of the journey.
A friend of mine sent the “prayer” below in response to the lectionary leaving out Abram’s and Sarai’s laughter from the Genesis reading. I hope you enjoy it.
“I have had enough
Of sad Saints
And sour religion.
I have had enough
Of sin spotting
And Grace doubting.
I need some laughter, Lord,
The kind of laughter you planted in Sarah.
But, Please, May I not have to wait
Until I am ninety
And pregnant. Amen.”
*Here is the link to our service of worship today. *
https://youtu.be/v3LJMqYNWCQ
Happy Sabbath to you.
And remember – *next week we have LIVE Zoom Worship at 10am.*
Love in Christ,
Jane
Entering Lent
Sermon Notes:
We begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday, dust, human failing; but the Lenten road we travel leads to resurrection. Let us not forget, these fragile jars of clay are home to children of God with hearts and souls made in the image of God, the God of Light, the God of Love.
For the first Sunday of Lent, we read the story of Jesus’ baptism, temptation, and the beginning of his ministry, marked by the arrest of John the Baptist. Isn’t it interesting that right after Jesus is Baptized and declared “the beloved,” he is driven into the wilderness to face hunger and temptation? Perhaps the question is not “why Jesus would be declared beloved and then sent to face temptation,” but “how in the world COULD he have faced such temptations without first being told he was “beloved.”
Is it not true for us, as well? Is it not true that only by knowing ourselves as God’s beloved sons and daughters are we strengthened to resist the temptations of this life that lead to hardened hearts and deadened spirits?
__________________________________________________________
Rev. Jane Herring
Pastor * Writer * Teacher
Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
https://epcnashville.com/
*One Day I Wrote Back *- Upper Room Books
https://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/K1376/one-day-i-wrote-back.aspx JaneHerring.com https://janeherring.com/
Transfiguration Sunday
Sermon Notes:
This week, we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday, reading from Mark 9: 2-9. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to go up a high mountain. When they arrive, the disciples see Jesus in a dazzling light. There, with his whole person illumined, Jesus talks with Elijah and Moses. The disciples are terrified at first, and then Peter suggests they stay there. Jesus does not let them stay, but leads them back down the mountain back to the work at hand.
Jesus was transformed. The disciples were transformed. We too are called to transformation.
“Mountain top” moments like the ones the disciples experienced have the power to transform. Peak experiences in life – like reaching a big goal or having a happy life event – lift us up into a new way of being. Still, that new way of being is not always easy: sometimes it requires hard work or a period of adjustment. Sometimes returning to everyday life is a disappointment. And sometimes, we find that even in the everyday grind we are being transformed. One thing we know for sure is that whether we on a peak or in a valley, Jesus is with us.
This week, we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday, reading from Mark 9: 2-9. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to go up a high mountain. When they arrive, the disciples see Jesus in a dazzling light. There, with his whole person illumined, Jesus talks with Elijah and Moses. The disciples are terrified at first, and then Peter suggests they stay there. Jesus does not let them stay, but leads them back down the mountain back to the work at hand.
Jesus was transformed. The disciples were transformed. We too are called to transformation.
“Mountain top” moments like the ones the disciples experienced have the power to transform. Peak experiences in life – like reaching a big goal or having a happy life event – lift us up into a new way of being. Still, that new way of being is not always easy: sometimes it requires hard work or a period of adjustment. Sometimes returning to everyday life is a disappointment. And sometimes, we find that even in the everyday grind we are being transformed. One thing we know for sure is that whether we on a peak or in a valley, Jesus is with us.
__________________________________________________________
Rev. Jane Herring
Pastor * Writer * Teacher
Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
https://epcnashville.com/
*One Day I Wrote Back *- Upper Room Books
https://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/K1376/one-day-i-wrote-back.aspx JaneHerring.com https://janeherring.com/
How Do We Respond?
Sermon Notes:
This week’s sermon comes from the lectionary gospel selection of Mark 1: 21-28. The authority of Jesus is the theme of this text. Jesus goes into the synagogue and teaches with authority, and then Jesus shows he has authority over unclean spirits. Right alongside this theme of authority is the theme of recognition. Those who hear Jesus recognize that Jesus is teaching with some new authenticity that the current teachers of the Law have been missing, and they respond with amazement. The unclean spirit also recognizes in Jesus his authority, and that spirit responds as well. We know the spirit is obedient and leaves the man when Jesus commands it. Does the congregation of the synagogue respond as obediently? And more importantly, do we respond with obedience when we experience the fresh, life-giving authority of Jesus in our lives?
God’s Surprising Call
Sermon Notes:
In this week’s lectionary scriptures, we have more “call stories.” Jonah is called by God to pastor the Ninevites, those awful people from that terrible land of Ninevah. In Mark’s gospel, Simon, Andrew, James, and John are called by Jesus to take part in what God is doing, entering human history yet again, drawing us back into relationship…yet again.
The newly called disciples follow Jesus immediately. Just imagine what the presence of Jesus ignited in their hearts, how lifegiving it must have been to simply be with him. There was no concern for wealth or status. Relationship and faith became security and life to them, all other earthly elements were seen for what they are, temporary.
Jonah, on the other hand, is furious over his call. Not only does he not want to answer the call to pastor the Ninevites, but he actually runs away. He literally tries to escape God.
There is a similarity between these two very different call stories, though, that is the very surprising way God enters into human lives. God, so wonderful to study and worship, can never be hemmed in. Thank goodness. Maybe, in all we think we know about God, we would simply follow when we are called, the way the disciples did. But maybe we are more like Jonah, we might run or be mad. On Sunday we will explore these stories for ways to listen to our own lives for God’s surprising call.
Called to & Called Through
Sermon Notes:
In this week’s service, we will read the stories of Samuel and Nathanael. Both of these stories come under the theme of “call stories.”
In one, Samuel thinks he is being called by Eli. Though he is obedient and responsive, he goes to the wrong person when called. It takes a few times, and a little help from Eli, to get clear about who is calling him. Eli’s advice is good and true and gives Samuel the shift he needed to get still and listen, rather than running off naively in the wrong direction.
In Nathanael’s call story, God uses someone else to invite Nathanael to “come and see.” He doesn’t really seem to know where he is headed or who he is about to see, but when Nathanael experiences Jesus for himself, he realizes there is a call on his life.
In the sermon, we will explore how we are called and how we call: how we fail to hear God sometimes, what helps us listen, who the people are who invited us to Jesus, who we have invited, and to whom we might extend an invitation now.
You may relate to all of these questions, or none of them. These are not questions to get right or wrong. With our whole lives, we respond, sometimes running in the wrong direction first, sometimes having no clue we are actually headed in a good direction. In the meantime, we can seek peace in the truth that it is God who calls – to us and through us.
Nashville nativity scene brings community together, while staying apart
By Levi Ismail
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The congregation of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church is drawing on experience to create a nativity scene they hope brings people together, while remaining apart.
Pastor Jane Herring and her daughter Annie came up with the idea when brainstorming how to help parishioners feel like Christmas wasn’t forgotten. Using the materials at hand, they transformed a nearby patio into a nativity scene complete with lights.
Wednesday night, strong winds blew many of the pieces to the ground. The very next day is when we found Gus Laux helping to clean up. Anyone watching his efforts may have thought Laux created the works of art himself. As it turns out, he is just a neighbor who appreciates art when he sees it. Sure he makes it to the occasional church get-together, but he knows those may not happen again anytime soon.
“The church is taking this very seriously for the health and benefit of everybody,” Laux said.
People are instead encouraged to drive through, take in the scene and who knows, you may even catch a glimpse of someone they haven’t seen in months.
The idea was never to make this perfect, but to show parishioners this church still cares even from afar.
“This was a way to help not only the members of the congregation but everyone in the community to come by and see something,” Laux said.
The nativity scene will remain up through January 6 and will be illuminated at night for anyone planning a visit.
11/29/20
Sermon Notes:
The new joy that Advent promises is not afraid of our worst nightmares. Perhaps this is another reason the first Sunday of Advent always begins with an apocalyptic text. This year, our passage is from the “little apocalypse” in Mark 13:30-37.
The season of Advent is about waiting for the Christ child. Something is coming into our lives, something good, something saving, someone whose birth and life and death are all for the love of us.
The wisdom of the liturgical calendar takes us through this waiting every single year. Four weeks of anticipation, beginning with our fears and nightmares, beginning with the farthest point away from joy.
I do not know how the promise of Advent is growing in each of you at this time. I do not know if that growth will exactly follow the calendar timeline of being revealed to you over the course of Advent and born into life on Christmas day. I do not even know these things for myself.
What I do know is this: As Christ followers we are people of the promise of new life.
Contrary to the biological model of life that depicts birth, growth, maturity, decline and death, the Christian model of new life tells us the spiritual beings in these bodies of clay is made new over and over again in our lifetimes by the Master’s hand.
Even into the moment of death, God is bringing forth new growth in us. I confess I would feel foolish writing these words if I had not witnessed it time and time again in my work as a chaplain. God is full of surprises and overflows through us as we cultivate open, willing hearts throughout the trials of this life.
What new life is God bringing forth in you…
Despite the illness you are facing.
Despite the sadness you carry.
Despite the fact that you feel superior to others and are cut off from feeling the need for newness.
Despite the resentment you feel against the people who harmed you.
Despite the overwhelming goodness in your life of which you already feel unworthy.
Despite the tragedy or trauma that haunts you still.
Despite the struggles you face. Despite the fatigue.
Despite the forgiveness you have not yet been able to accept or offer.
What new life is God bringing forth in you? What is being born anew in you?
We do not have to know the answer, but it helps to find ways to soften our hearts and open our hearts to beauty and goodness, to the touch of God’s hand on our lives that is bringing forth newness and goodness even now.
The Advent season gives us words and models and ways of calling forth an open heart, open to the new life poured out by God’s grace and the coming of Christ into our lives.
11/22/20
Sermon Notes:
What Jesus says in Matthew 25:31-46 was countercultural when he said it, and it is countercultural as we read it today. Jesus is repeating the same message all of the prophets brought: take care of the weak and vulnerable, hungry and lost.
Jesus uses shocking language of either “inheriting the kingdom” or being cast into “eternal punishment” based on whether or not people took care of the “least of these.” Both the people who inherit and the people who go to punishment are surprised when Jesus says he himself WAS the least of these for whom care was given or denied.
What saves the people who inherit the kingdom?
They are saved by love. They are saved by acts of compassion.
Who are we and what is really motivating us when we serve? Only God can know the answer. We cannot judge ourselves, nor can we judge one another.
When we help people in need, we are not saving them, they are saving us.
No doubt this passage is disturbing. Here is a question that helps me investigate that disturbance:
Am I disturbed by the threat of eternal fire or am I disturbed by the idea that there may be people in my life and in my world that I do not see as Jesus? Are there saving acts of love and compassion that I miss out on because I judge some people as worth more than other people?
11/15/20
Sermon Notes:
We will not read 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-10 in the service this week, though it is a lectionary offering for Sunday. It’s a beautiful and encouraging passage; I hope you will take a look at it. “…put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There is so much uncertain, ambiguous, fearful and conflicting in our lives today, in our world, our nation, and even in our hearts. My prayer is that we take these words from 1 Thessalonians to heart and cover ourselves in faith and love and hope, that we encourage one another, and open our hearts to receive encouragement. This can be easier said than done in times like these.
I pray we all practice approaching problems with a light touch, practice speaking to God about what bothers us and practice looking for ways that we can actually experience the relief of giving our problems to God to work on, as we clothe ourselves in love and wait in strength for direction, and for the signs of healing and restoration.
Hopefully these times of trouble will soon pass, and peace and health will soon prevail. More than this though, may we take deep into our hearts the truth that we will always have times of trouble in this life and, more importantly, we will always have God with us, helping us handle what we encounter. May we take refuge in the light of Christ and the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit in all these things.
See you Sunday –
Jane