Sunday, July 5, 2009

My dearest God,

This morning I traded tears of sorrow for tears of joy. I was so happy to be in church, to be with the church, to be the church. The 15 minute hymn sing before worship was so uplifting, so meaningful, so joyous. Tears flowed not because my heart was breaking but because it was filling up with gratitude.

All around me I felt the church closing in with loving presence and power. I felt the strength of the church leaning toward heaven, singing out its faith. Surely we are the divine mystery of Christ; we are his body and glad to be it.

Although I was asked in front of the church to do the benediction, I did not want to do it on this first Sunday retired but I said yes anyway. When it came time at the end, I was happy to give back: "Beloved of God, take hold of the peace of Christ which is spiritual freedom and out of that freedom go into the world to love." The pastor had spoken on the two kinds of freedom: personal freedom that can enslave and spiritual freedom that sets free.

I drank in the loving power of the church this morning.

Thanks be
to God,
almighty,
all powerful,
all loving.
I stood
with your church
this morning
and sang out
my heart's faith.
I felt
the peace
of Christ,
its strength
and hope
and joy.
God,
it was good!

Love, Andrea