Weekly Words for the Journey

Prayer for an Annual Meeting
(Ruth C. Duck and Maren C. Tirabassi, adapted)

Creator God, another year has passed
in the life and ministry of our covenanted community of faith.
We have sought to be a faithful and loving people.
We have attempted to live out a Gospel of reconciliation and peace.
By your Spirit among us, we have been baptized into one body and one Spirit;
keep us faithful to you and guide us as we discern the way ahead.
Order our life together, that we may be ever more effective
in showing love to you and all people.
Bless our annual meeting,
that we may continue to discern your way at work within us.
Peaceful Creator, guide all we say and do,
and shape our words and our values today and always.
Amen.

In a perfect world we would be gathering this Sunday to enjoy a potluck luncheon and hold our Annual Meeting. But ours is a far-from-perfect world. Instead, our Council will meet next week (winter storm Cooper forced us to postpone) and we will act on behalf of the congregation, voting on a budget and electing officers. But folks have still been hard at work…writing reports, preparing reports, gathering reports, printing reports, sharing reports, and emailing reports.

I have been taking time away to restore and renew; to replenish my spirit and refresh my soul. I am grateful to all those who have been leading our worship and carrying out our ministry in my absence. Due to illness we were unable to record a service on one of those Sundays, and we apologize for technical difficulties that prevented you from hearing this week’s service.

My family is abundantly grateful for the prayers that have been lifting us each day and holding us up to God’s grace and care. My niece’s boyfriend is recovering from four surgeries needed to repair extensive injuries following a motorcycle accident; Jeff is making slow but steady progress and we lean on each other as they face the long road ahead with gratitude and hope. My father is still in the hospital, undergoing dialysis to keep his kidneys functioning; we lean on your thoughts and prayers, missing the personal visits and looking forward to having him home.

While I was away from you, I never stopped praying for you…healing and recovery for those in the hospital, safety and strength for those with Covid, celebration and welcome for the birth of Korban En-Thawn Tuang into our hearts and into the lives of Mei Ling, Go, Winnie and family. In the words of this prayer, may we continue to be a faithful and loving people, and may God guide us in the way ahead. With you, for you, beside you, today and always…Pastor Claudine

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