This week some members of the congregation and I attended synod assembly the annual gathering of the ELCA in upstate New York. We got together to address church matters, to conduct business and to learn and to worship as a church body. The theme for the week was vocation. Vocation is a bit of catch word in the church right now that refers to our calling in the world and our mission from God. The place where our passions and gifts meet to guide us in the ministry of the everyday. The idea behind Christian Vocation is that we are all given certain talents and abilities and we are all called to work in God's kingdom and that work will be best done and we will be happiest and most successful if we figure out a way to match up work in the kingdom with our own talents and gifts.
At Synod Assembly there were speeches, videos and workshops that tried to answer the question: Why are Lutherans excited about vocation? How do we as Lutherans manage to consider the work that we do in our employment, in our churches, in our homes, in our friendships and today being father's day we should mention even, as parents and children, how do we consider all that more than work but vocation?
The best answer that I heard this question was: That we do it because our baptisms mean something! They are an assurance from God that we will be cared for, a promise from God that we will be equipped to do good work and a call from God to care for his people.
We are excited about vocation because our baptisms mean something.
With that in mind I'm going to re-read a little portion of today's gospel lesson:
When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness...[skipping ahead] and these twelve Jesus sent out.
There is something great and a little trickey going on here. Jesus saw that the sheep needed a shepherd. His people needed things and he had great compassion and he asked the disciples to pray that God would send some people out. Then in just about the same breath Jesus himself called and sent the very disciples that he had just asked to pray, out to do what they were asking God for. Now maybe this all happened so quickly because Jesus had a extra-fast line to God and knew right away the answer to the disciples' prayers or maybe this happened in the way that, sometimes, when we are interested in seeing something happen, we ask for volunteers, no one steps up and we realize that if it is going to happen we are going to have to at least start the work ourselves.
This is part of how vocation works. How do you find your calling? Well, what do you find yourself praying for most often? If you are praying for the sick is your calling to visit the sick? If you are praying for the children in the community is your calling to be a teacher or mentor. If you are praying for a relationship that you have are you being called to work on that relationship? Again vocation is tied to passion so we get clues from what we care most about.
Let me tell you a story about a group of people who found their vocation in a pretty everyday way.
There was a wheat farmer. In a town called Othello near where I lived two harvest seasons ago. This farmer died very suddenly just after he planted the wheat fields in the spring. He was gone but the wheat kept growing. And as summer ended just like every year the wheat was ready for harvest. Now perhaps some of you farm here or have lived on a farm at some point and so you know what it is like for a farm family come harvest time. It takes up a lot of time and energy, it is the central event for the family. I know some families where a daughter or son is known to come home more reliably during harvest time than even for the holidays. It is hard work but there is also some excitement in the air, something strong and familiar, it is full not only of urgency but also memory and thoughts about the future. And harvest time is also the livelihood of the family. No harvest, no income and you lose whatever you put down on the fields to begin with. So, as harvest grew nearer it must have been very hard to be a widow with the wheat ready to harvest but no farmer around to do so.
The community must have thought so too because they went to church Sunday after Sunday for weeks and prayed and asked the people to pray for her and her farm. The prayer must have sounded similar to what Jesus told his disciples to pray, the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, Lord send people to work those fields and care for that family.
Well God listened in that same funny way that he listened to the prayers of the disciples and when it came around to harvest time there, those same people who had prayed, were, getting their instructions and heading out into the widow's fields. One morning after a simple prayer an army of combines from the whole community set out to harvest the wheat of the deceased farmer while an army of loving friends set out to create new harvest memories with a the farmer’s wife. The men driving the combines were not preaching about God’s love, they did not sit down and gather anyone around to hear about what it means to reach out to a neighbor in the name of God. Instead quietly and efficiently they did so. The served this widow when she was most vulnerable and they filled an entire community with the love of God. It only took one morning and a bit of gasoline.
They didn’t do it because they thought that they would get a better place in heaven if they did the other thing our baptisms tell us is that we are saved not by work but by God's grace. They did it out of love for a friend and fellow farmer now gone and out of love and compassion for his wife. This is what it means to have vocation, it isn't foreign or uncomfortable. The best ministry is reflexive. It is doing what you are moved to do and what you are confident about.
In the case of this community the most everyday service was an extraordinary ministry. They figured out the call of their baptisms, to care for people in the ways that they understood, with a vocation they already knew together and with the help of God.
Jesus asked his disciples to pray for those upon whom he took compassion and then Jesus raised up people to care for them. Jesus asks us to pray for his people, and then he sends us out to care for them. This is what we are promised at our baptisms, that we will be given unique gifts, a unique call, the Holy Spirit among us and an entire community of people of God to work beside us.
The really good news here about baptism and vocation is not that we are sent but that God sends. Sometimes we are the shepherds, sometimes we are the lost sheep. Sometimes we help and sometimes we need help and God sends workers to bring in the harvest when we can't. Helpers to carry us through when we are weak and sheep for us to lead when we are strong.
God sends, because our baptisms mean something. Amen
Monday, June 16, 2008
Pentecost 4 A Matthew 9:9-13; 18-26
As many of you know for years I worked as a barista (that's someone who makes fancy coffee drinks) and then a supervisor for a Starbucks Coffee Shop. And while I know I am here in the land of Dunkin Doughnuts you’ll forgive my story about Starbucks as the king of coffee for a little while.
Starbucks as a corporation has been immensely successful. It grows faster than almost any other restaurant or coffee chain. The Starbucks Latte has replaced the McDonald's Big Mac in the economic world as an indicator of global pricing standards. Groups from churches to major banking and electronic firms have studied the Starbucks model to try to improve their own operation and appeal.
And how did they do it? What built this Starbucks craze? In very large part it was atmosphere. The atmosphere that they strive for inside stores is something that business advisers and training manuals call the third place. The entire job of a Starbucks employee is to create a unique welcoming atmosphere a place where the world stops. In the midst of the noise and commotion of daily life, in spite of all of the pulls and worries of the world around. Where you are looked at face to face, where your name is known and your needs are addressed where there is peace and quiet, relationships and joy. A place entirely different from the hustle and worry of work or home. A third place.
And this third place model works. People notice it without ever naming it. They feel safe, loved, understood and comfortable in the cafes. At least they did. As soon as the company started moving away from the “third place” model customers stopped coming back.
A third place. I think this is an amazing model for a church. To be a third place for people. A place of peace and comfort, hospitality, relationships and joy. But I don’t think that because I used to work for Starbucks. I don’t think that because I think churches should follow business models. I don’t think that because I’m afraid the customers will stop coming back. I think it because I think that whether we know it or not, whether we name it or not our Lord spent his ministry creating a third place.
A unique place, a place where every person in his midst even the least among them was looked at face to face, called by name and made whole. We call that third place the kingdom of God and this is what it looks like:
Then suddenly a leader of the synagogue runs in and says that his daughter has died and he needs Jesus to help him. All this commotion, imagine the scene everyone talking, eating, people yelling, pulling Jesus every which way and then suddenly they are off walking quickly through a busy marketplace with vendors and animals and lots of people buying and selling. And then, all of a sudden, everything stops.
Suddenly the focus shifts to a quiet woman who saw Jesus go by and thought to herself, "If I only but touch the hem of Jesus' garment I will be made well." What we didn't notice in all the busy commotion, what none of Jesus' disciples noticed in all the busy commotion was that, quietly without even a word this woman crept up and touched Jesus as he was walking by. And she was healed.
Jesus' companions didn't notice and we the reader didn't notice, but, Jesus turns around in the middle of all the commotion in the midst of some very important people and en route to a very important task. And asks who touched my cloak? Who was in need of healing. Who silently walked up to me believing that just my presence could do them well?
He apparently didn’t need to be told that she needed healing or why she needed it. He knew when he looked at her what was wrong and that she had already been healed. What he needed was to look at her. To see her face to face.
In the middle of all his concerns and all of the concerns of those who were with him, in the center of his “real” work. He stopped to see the face of someone who really needed to be healed. Someone quiet and afraid, someone otherwise completely unnoticed. And he called to her, welcomed her to him and made her whole.
This is the Kingdom of God this is our third place.
The presence of Christ among us creates a third place where all are welcome, rich or poor, happy or sad, well dressed or in rags, clean or dirty, healthy or sick, saint or sinner and we are all made clean in the same water and feed with the same rich food and held in the same loving embrace. Like the woman in the crowd, our needs are known and we are looked at face to face.
Unlike Starbucks or any business, our third place is not limited to these walls. The kingdom of God is with us always breaking into the world around us even as we welcome strangers and care for the least among us. We take it with us, into our homes, into our work places and just as Jesus followed the leader of the synagogue whose daughter had died out of love and mercy for this man, so the kingdom follows us.
This is good news. Thanks be to God. Amen
Holy Trinity A
The gospel for today is another one of those texts with a great deal of movement in it. It starts out with off stage movement. You might recall from Easter morning that messengers at the empty tomb met some of Jesus' female disciples. First the messengers asked the women to COME, look at the empty tomb. Next they told them to GO, quickly and tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee. So they went quickly up the road and as they were walking Jesus met them on the way. And reminded them again that they must GO to the disciples and then to have the disciples GO to meet him. Next, when we meet the disciples today they are GOING up the mountain where Jesus told them to go in Galilee.
Then finally, after all the going, the disciples SAW Jesus and the WORSHIPED him. All of the movement had paid off. The disciples finally got what they had been moving toward ever since the women first approached the tomb.
I think of another mountain top experience in the bible when I hear this. I am reminded of the mount of Transfiguration when Jesus took a few disciples up to the top of a mountain and they were washed shining white and they heard a voice from heaven say about Jesus, "this is my son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."
The disciples were so moved by this experience that they wanted to stay on the mountain top. They asked Jesus if they could build dwelling places for each person there so that they could remain in that shining warm glory of God. But Jesus said no, this is just the beginning. This is how our ministry is to start now we have to go back down the mountain and actually spread this news and live into this gift from God.
The disciples must have felt just like this on the day that we meet them in our lesson. They had been through a harrowing experience. They'd been hiding out through the crucifixion and entombment of Christ. Then they had had to do so much listening, traveling and moving. But finally they had heard the voice of God and seen God face to face. Jesus the resurrected had come to dwell with them. Surely they should make dwelling places and stay there forever.
But no, no the lifestyle of movement was just beginning for the disciples because while they were on the mountain top, again, instead of new homes to live in, they got a new commandment that involved a lot of movement.
Jesus commanded them to go to world and to teach what Jesus had taught them and to baptize people in the name of the father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the Trinity they were to baptize. That is actually why we have this as our lesson today. Because it is Holy Trinity Sunday. But what a good lesson for today as we bless the children in the congregation and as we prepare to baptize a child of God in just a few minutes. And what a good day for it as it is the day we celebrate what it means to call ourselves Trintiy Lutheran Church.
But just like the disciples the message for us today, the message of the Trinity is one of movement. In the name of the Triune God. We are called to GO be in the world, to SPREAD the word of God and the good news that all people are beloved children of God and to INVITE those children into our community through baptism.
And not only that but even baptism is an act that requires movement. We will baptize Jordan today but then we are called as a whole community of believers to TEACH him, to HELP him, to FORGIVE him, to LOVE him and to GUIDE him. Just like we are called to teach and love, care for and lead all of the children of this congregation. That is why we have a day like today where we lift up our ministry to children and it is why we are so grateful for all of the people who work to make this a welcoming and fulfilling place for children.
Baptism is a beginning. The first movement in a lifelong journey.
How great to be to baptizing Jordan on a day that we are called to baptize in the name of the father and son and Holy spirit. And how great to be baptized people on this day!
Because just like the call to care for the baptized is a dynamic one, so to is the life of all baptized people. A life full of movement. It is for this reason that we baptize in the name of God father son and Holy Spirit. For this calling we need a God in three persons, we need all three to LEAD, to TEACH, to ACCOMPANY and to LOVE us and to GIVE us REST when the journey is too strenuous. It is through this quality of God that Jesus assures us in our lesson today that in all our journeys, in all of our movement as baptized people of God, we will never be alone even to the end of the age. We move after all not by our own power but by the power of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Then finally, after all the going, the disciples SAW Jesus and the WORSHIPED him. All of the movement had paid off. The disciples finally got what they had been moving toward ever since the women first approached the tomb.
I think of another mountain top experience in the bible when I hear this. I am reminded of the mount of Transfiguration when Jesus took a few disciples up to the top of a mountain and they were washed shining white and they heard a voice from heaven say about Jesus, "this is my son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."
The disciples were so moved by this experience that they wanted to stay on the mountain top. They asked Jesus if they could build dwelling places for each person there so that they could remain in that shining warm glory of God. But Jesus said no, this is just the beginning. This is how our ministry is to start now we have to go back down the mountain and actually spread this news and live into this gift from God.
The disciples must have felt just like this on the day that we meet them in our lesson. They had been through a harrowing experience. They'd been hiding out through the crucifixion and entombment of Christ. Then they had had to do so much listening, traveling and moving. But finally they had heard the voice of God and seen God face to face. Jesus the resurrected had come to dwell with them. Surely they should make dwelling places and stay there forever.
But no, no the lifestyle of movement was just beginning for the disciples because while they were on the mountain top, again, instead of new homes to live in, they got a new commandment that involved a lot of movement.
Jesus commanded them to go to world and to teach what Jesus had taught them and to baptize people in the name of the father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the Trinity they were to baptize. That is actually why we have this as our lesson today. Because it is Holy Trinity Sunday. But what a good lesson for today as we bless the children in the congregation and as we prepare to baptize a child of God in just a few minutes. And what a good day for it as it is the day we celebrate what it means to call ourselves Trintiy Lutheran Church.
But just like the disciples the message for us today, the message of the Trinity is one of movement. In the name of the Triune God. We are called to GO be in the world, to SPREAD the word of God and the good news that all people are beloved children of God and to INVITE those children into our community through baptism.
And not only that but even baptism is an act that requires movement. We will baptize Jordan today but then we are called as a whole community of believers to TEACH him, to HELP him, to FORGIVE him, to LOVE him and to GUIDE him. Just like we are called to teach and love, care for and lead all of the children of this congregation. That is why we have a day like today where we lift up our ministry to children and it is why we are so grateful for all of the people who work to make this a welcoming and fulfilling place for children.
Baptism is a beginning. The first movement in a lifelong journey.
How great to be to baptizing Jordan on a day that we are called to baptize in the name of the father and son and Holy spirit. And how great to be baptized people on this day!
Because just like the call to care for the baptized is a dynamic one, so to is the life of all baptized people. A life full of movement. It is for this reason that we baptize in the name of God father son and Holy Spirit. For this calling we need a God in three persons, we need all three to LEAD, to TEACH, to ACCOMPANY and to LOVE us and to GIVE us REST when the journey is too strenuous. It is through this quality of God that Jesus assures us in our lesson today that in all our journeys, in all of our movement as baptized people of God, we will never be alone even to the end of the age. We move after all not by our own power but by the power of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Pentecost A
(Preached several days after the Cyclone in Myanmar)
Our lesson today starts with a great rush of wind, with fire and power and might. Some things that have been in too much abundance the past few weeks if you ask me. At least too much abundance in certain parts of the world. Tens of thousands of people are living in makeshift camps right now in Myanmar. Their homes and lives in pieces. Many people are dead, more are sick and dying. What a terrible rush of wind and show of the power and might of nature.
It is hard with this in mind to think about the good in such a show of force. It is hard to find a good message in it, except when we start to think about just where the great and mighty rush of the spirit came from on the day of Pentecost. And what its purpose was.
The story in our text today came from a time when everything seemed broken. When the whole world seemed to be falling apart. A time after Jesus was gone from the earth, the joy and glow of Easter was fading and the disciples were trying to figure out how to make it on their own, trying to find direction, trying to start a church from scratch. No model, no directions.
And so they all went to their old church. All the apostles and many other people went to the temple for a festival that happened that time of year. It was a first fruits festival actually where people took some of the very best from the first crops that they had grown that Spring and offered them to the Lord. So as they were all gathered in the temple, giving thanks for what they had been given, all of a sudden a great rush of wind came through the place, there were bright lights like fire all around and suddenly everyone present could hear the word of God spoken in their own language. There were people here from all over the place. Imagine. People who spoke Manderin and Thai, people who spoke English and Russian, people who spoke Swahili and Greek all in one place and suddenly they could hear the voice of the Spirit each in his or her own language. Clear as a bell, no translator needed. How fantastic. How amazing and unbelievable.
The funny thing about this story though is that it is all about being spoken to and hearing but we never find out just what was said. Just what people heard. At the end of this chapter as Peter is explaining what happened he encourages everyone to be baptized but that apparently isn't what they heard in their own languages. He also quotes the old testament but that apparently isn't what they heard in their own languages. So what did they hear?
I think we get a clue by looking back at the gospel for today. In the gospel lesson for today Jesus finds the disciples hiding out in an upper room after the crucifixion (we go back in time a little so we're before the resurrection again). The disciples were hiding in the upper room afraid, not willing to go out and be part of the world. Not willing to teach or preach for fear that a fate similar to that of Jesus will befall them. Then Jesus appears, a stranger whom they don't recognize suddenly in their midst and they are afraid. But once he is inside the room Jesus says simply, "Peace be with you". Don't be afraid have peace.
The disciples calm down when they hear. He shows them who he is, his wounds, proof that he was on the cross. And the disciples finally recognize him and they are get excited because all of their work hasn't been for nothing. Jesus is back and he's going to take care of everything right?!
Then again Jesus says peace be with you. Same words but this time they meant something different. Maybe this time to calm them down a little. To explain that his being back means the opposite of what they think. It doesn't mean that they have nothing to do from that point forward. No, with this second greeting of peace Jesus calls the disciples to be leaders and caregivers of the people of God. And the disciples did what they were told. At least they tried. They stopped staying behind a locked door. They started going out into the world again.
It was after this that they went to the temple to the festival of first fruits to give thanks for their time with Jesus and to begin the mission he had sent them on. I believe that after Jesus left though the disciples were still pretty directionless until the day of Pentecost. I think that might even be why they went to the temple. They thought they might as well go to worship to try to figure out what they were going to do next in this crazy mission.
In this state, confused and unsure of their next step, the disciples heard the words of Christ again. Peace be with you. But this time, this time the the disciples weren't the only ones who heard. The message was spoken to all within listening range. And even though the words were the same, again this time, "Peace be with you" told the disciples something entirely new.
It told them that they weren't the only ones that the message was for. It was for all people in the temple and outside of the temple. All people who were already members of the temple and those who had never been inside. Those people who spoke their native language and those they couldn't understand.
The disciples suddenly knew just what to say. They said the spirit is here. They said peace be with you. They said be not afraid. Though we have been persecuted. Though we are just starting out. Though we are not sure where to turn and we don't know what to do. Let us be not afraid because we know that we are not alone.
And I do think that Peace be with you might just be what each person heard the Spirit say, I believe that they heard many things, each one of them a unique thing.
Peter and the disciples likely heard: Peace be with you...now you know where to start your ministry.
Those who were brand new to the story of Jesus heard peace be with...don't be afraid, my church will care for you and show you where to go.
The priests in the temple heard: Peace be with you...I love you even though you haven't believed.
And the same thing happens today at Pentecost. We hear the spirit softly calling. It says the same words but means different things.
People in the U.S.A today worried about war and the economy and the elections and hear: Peace by with...I will give you strength.
People in all safe places hear: Peace be with you. Help those in need of peace and hope, food and water.
People in churches hear: Peace be with you, now share a sign of peace with your neighbors in and outside of these walls.
People in Myanmar and all other places where it feels like that world is coming down around them hear: Peace be with you I have not abandoned you even here.
And may the peace of the Lord be with us and bless us to hear and see and feel the Holy spirit moving in our lives this season of Pentecost and teach us what "Peace be with you" means in this age, in this place, and for these people around us.
Amen, peace be with you.
Now before the hymn, with a renewed understanding of the Spirit's peace, Let us share a sign of peace with the people around us.
Our lesson today starts with a great rush of wind, with fire and power and might. Some things that have been in too much abundance the past few weeks if you ask me. At least too much abundance in certain parts of the world. Tens of thousands of people are living in makeshift camps right now in Myanmar. Their homes and lives in pieces. Many people are dead, more are sick and dying. What a terrible rush of wind and show of the power and might of nature.
It is hard with this in mind to think about the good in such a show of force. It is hard to find a good message in it, except when we start to think about just where the great and mighty rush of the spirit came from on the day of Pentecost. And what its purpose was.
The story in our text today came from a time when everything seemed broken. When the whole world seemed to be falling apart. A time after Jesus was gone from the earth, the joy and glow of Easter was fading and the disciples were trying to figure out how to make it on their own, trying to find direction, trying to start a church from scratch. No model, no directions.
And so they all went to their old church. All the apostles and many other people went to the temple for a festival that happened that time of year. It was a first fruits festival actually where people took some of the very best from the first crops that they had grown that Spring and offered them to the Lord. So as they were all gathered in the temple, giving thanks for what they had been given, all of a sudden a great rush of wind came through the place, there were bright lights like fire all around and suddenly everyone present could hear the word of God spoken in their own language. There were people here from all over the place. Imagine. People who spoke Manderin and Thai, people who spoke English and Russian, people who spoke Swahili and Greek all in one place and suddenly they could hear the voice of the Spirit each in his or her own language. Clear as a bell, no translator needed. How fantastic. How amazing and unbelievable.
The funny thing about this story though is that it is all about being spoken to and hearing but we never find out just what was said. Just what people heard. At the end of this chapter as Peter is explaining what happened he encourages everyone to be baptized but that apparently isn't what they heard in their own languages. He also quotes the old testament but that apparently isn't what they heard in their own languages. So what did they hear?
I think we get a clue by looking back at the gospel for today. In the gospel lesson for today Jesus finds the disciples hiding out in an upper room after the crucifixion (we go back in time a little so we're before the resurrection again). The disciples were hiding in the upper room afraid, not willing to go out and be part of the world. Not willing to teach or preach for fear that a fate similar to that of Jesus will befall them. Then Jesus appears, a stranger whom they don't recognize suddenly in their midst and they are afraid. But once he is inside the room Jesus says simply, "Peace be with you". Don't be afraid have peace.
The disciples calm down when they hear. He shows them who he is, his wounds, proof that he was on the cross. And the disciples finally recognize him and they are get excited because all of their work hasn't been for nothing. Jesus is back and he's going to take care of everything right?!
Then again Jesus says peace be with you. Same words but this time they meant something different. Maybe this time to calm them down a little. To explain that his being back means the opposite of what they think. It doesn't mean that they have nothing to do from that point forward. No, with this second greeting of peace Jesus calls the disciples to be leaders and caregivers of the people of God. And the disciples did what they were told. At least they tried. They stopped staying behind a locked door. They started going out into the world again.
It was after this that they went to the temple to the festival of first fruits to give thanks for their time with Jesus and to begin the mission he had sent them on. I believe that after Jesus left though the disciples were still pretty directionless until the day of Pentecost. I think that might even be why they went to the temple. They thought they might as well go to worship to try to figure out what they were going to do next in this crazy mission.
In this state, confused and unsure of their next step, the disciples heard the words of Christ again. Peace be with you. But this time, this time the the disciples weren't the only ones who heard. The message was spoken to all within listening range. And even though the words were the same, again this time, "Peace be with you" told the disciples something entirely new.
It told them that they weren't the only ones that the message was for. It was for all people in the temple and outside of the temple. All people who were already members of the temple and those who had never been inside. Those people who spoke their native language and those they couldn't understand.
The disciples suddenly knew just what to say. They said the spirit is here. They said peace be with you. They said be not afraid. Though we have been persecuted. Though we are just starting out. Though we are not sure where to turn and we don't know what to do. Let us be not afraid because we know that we are not alone.
And I do think that Peace be with you might just be what each person heard the Spirit say, I believe that they heard many things, each one of them a unique thing.
Peter and the disciples likely heard: Peace be with you...now you know where to start your ministry.
Those who were brand new to the story of Jesus heard peace be with...don't be afraid, my church will care for you and show you where to go.
The priests in the temple heard: Peace be with you...I love you even though you haven't believed.
And the same thing happens today at Pentecost. We hear the spirit softly calling. It says the same words but means different things.
People in the U.S.A today worried about war and the economy and the elections and hear: Peace by with...I will give you strength.
People in all safe places hear: Peace be with you. Help those in need of peace and hope, food and water.
People in churches hear: Peace be with you, now share a sign of peace with your neighbors in and outside of these walls.
People in Myanmar and all other places where it feels like that world is coming down around them hear: Peace be with you I have not abandoned you even here.
And may the peace of the Lord be with us and bless us to hear and see and feel the Holy spirit moving in our lives this season of Pentecost and teach us what "Peace be with you" means in this age, in this place, and for these people around us.
Amen, peace be with you.
Now before the hymn, with a renewed understanding of the Spirit's peace, Let us share a sign of peace with the people around us.
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