A Time of Extremes

We want to welcome our onsite and online family this morning.  As we prepare for communion, we are reminded to focus on Christ, His body that was broken for us and His blood that was shed for us.  

 We are also reminded the reason we gather is because we are part of His body.  Just as the eyes and ears serve their own function.  We, together, serve an important function.  Communion is a time to recharge through repentance and remembrance so that we can be the powerful unit together that we were called to be.  

 You see, it could be easy for our body of believers to be torn right now. 

 We are in a time of extremes where it is  very uncomfortable to be in the middle.  For instance, some think this whole Covid thing has been blown out of proportion to a great degree and  are huggers!   While others believe that we should continue to be locked in our homes and make no contact at all. Others are somewhere in the messy middle and it’s hard because you know we have to get back into living, but you aren’t so sure it has to be done right now. 

 We watch and listen to lessons being learned from the tragedy with George Floyd. Some believe we should defund the police and take over city blocks while others don’t understand why there is so much opposition and protest. Others are somewhere in the messy middle and it’s hard because you are trying to understand why not being racist isn’t enough.  

 Christ calls our church to be leaders in these times and gives us his Holy Spirit to do things that we could never imagine doing.  He gives us the power to love others no matter where we (or they) are.

 And so I want to have you all close your eyes as we prepare to meditate on Christ’s body and our role here today. For it is during this time of remembrance, where we will find power in unity through love to help our body become stronger than ever.

 Let’s pray: Father, thank you for bringing us here today. Thank you Jesus for your examples of love through miracles.  If you can turn water into wine, we know you can rejuvenate our spirits.

 

If you can feed 5000 with five loaves of bread and two fish, we know you can give us double doses of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness.  

 

If you can allow the blind man to see, we know you can open our eyes to the injustice that exists in our world and help us engage our brothers and sisters in a loving manner.  

 

Father, you wept when you saw Lazarus in his grave. But then you did the impossible and brought him back to life.  We pray for that same power to restore our spirits in our lives.  

 

In Jesus name amen.