Transfigured
God we approach you this morning, in the midst of a season
of cold, dark aloneness. We have
journeyed from our homes, where many of us have spent the last few weeks inside
and away from others. We’ve kept to
ourselves due to the cold, the amount of snow, the flus and colds everyone
seems to be sharing, and the lack of sunlight to brighten our path. In all of this we KNOW that you are with us
and we eagerly await the transfiguration of the season, the weather and our
sense of aloneness.
We hear about the desperate state of your people around the
world and we long for situations to be transformed. The country names and atrocities are repeated
so many times, we become desensitized to the damage that has been done to people and communities. Fighting in Ukraine, Strikes on Gaza, Isis
seizing towns, hostages executed … all of these words are mentioned so often
they lose their meanings and we give up looking for solutions. Loving God, we know that in the midst of crisis,
signs of your love are all around. We
trust in your power to comfort those in need and we ask you to not only change
current dire situations, we look to you to transform the world to be brighter,
more luminous and more in line with the Kingdom you intend. Make the way clear for us to know how to walk
with you in these efforts, as we seek to be Christ's disciples to a hurting
world.
In our own country, we spent yesterday celebrating love and
relationships. But this followed a
week that was marred by tragedies of young lives lost. We hold close in our prayers the family of
Kayla Mueller, the young aid worker held by Isis militants. The confirmation of Kayla's death has brought
deep sorrow the nation. We are
shocked at yet another shooting that devastates a family, and are heartsick
when we see the pictures from Chapel Hill of Yusar, her husband Deah and sister
Razan. We struggle with the
senselessness of their deaths ... radiant, young lives that were ended because
of anger. Our ever-present God, we
know that you mourn with us. We ask you
to not only comfort these families and us, but we need your sense of peace to
be infused within each of us, especially when we feel anger rising within. Transform our strong feelings into clear
paths for change. Help us to be
peacemakers, to work to rid our lives and communities of anger that damages
others and ourselves. Guide us and show
us paths where we can spread the love you have shared with us to others.
As a community of faith, we too are challenged with loss
that seems impossible to manage.
Together, we surround the Harris family as they face the future without
the earthly presence of John, their loving husband and father … a man who
compassionately served you, our community and our PADS guests. We also life up the Carlson family as
yesterday they gathered to celebrate the life of Diane. Our prayers are with the Emola family on the
loss of Dominic's brother. The darkness
of winter make these losses all the more difficult. In the midst of the darkness, Lord, we see
your light shining through. We celebrate
the birth of Elizabeth Margaret Dewitt and look with promise at the life she
will lead. We witness the snow melting,
the sun shining brightly on a crisp day and know that Spring and the season of
resurrection is coming. We enter Lent
this week, the season of repentance and humility. We recognize our holy longing for you, O God
and we look for the power of your love to transfigure us. Give us imaginations and strength to
continue moving forward, to step out of the aloneness of winter and reach out
to one another and to you.
Even in the midst of her imprisonment, when she faced the
darkest days of her life, Kayla understood your strong presence, God, and was comforted. We are inspired by the words she
shared, “I have come to a place in
experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our
creator because literally there was no else.
And by God and by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall.
I have been shown in darkness, light and have learned that even in prison, one
can be free. I am grateful. I have come
to see that there is good in every situation, sometimes we just have to look
for it. I pray each day that if nothing else, you have felt a certain closeness
and surrender to God as well, and have formed a bond of love and support
amongst one another.” We praise you God
for the life of Kayla.
God, you love each of us extravagantly and without
limit. Teach us to surrender to you, and
move us to seek communities where we gather around your love to support one
another. Let us tenderly cradle one
another in freefall and celebrate together the light that is to come in your
Kingdom. Be with us now and always as
we pray together …
