Homecoming Sunday at Union Church was a wonderful celebration with friends new and old. The parable from Matthew related the story of the bridesmaids waiting for the wedding to begin, 5 of whom had prepared with extra oil, and 5 who had not. When the groom was delayed some ran out to buy more oil, but arrived back too late. In his sermon, Rev. Kent suggested that if Jesus’ goal was to illustrate something of the coming kin-dom of God, then both those who failed to prepare and those who failed to share inadvertently but disastrously divide the whole: some within, but without their friends. Some now with needed oil, but shut out. His themes also echoed the passage from Amos 5: “And justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” Here is his prayer offered beautifully by worship leader Monica Leslie, class of 2012. May both balance and peace be gifts for all this week.
Come to us, Lord, ready or not, for we are better near you and your ways. Come to us, Savior of all, in our weakness and in our triumphs, for your teaching tempers our judgments with mercy and lovingkindness. Come blessed Spirit, prepare in us a home for all things holy: an open door to knowledge and practice that heals our hurting world. Come then, Lord, and bring your peace that we may bring strength to the stream of righteous waters that roll from your word. May they pour like a mighty stream to make your people whole. Amen.
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