Creating Connection

  There Is a Balm in Gilead   Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt . Genesis 37:25 For many, the lyrics of the Negro spiritual, “There Is a Balm in Gilead” cannot be read without hearing the soulful tune sung: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. If you can’t preach like Peter, if you can’t pray like Paul, just tell the love of Jesus and say he died for all.   Creator God, Our hearts are weary. We pray daily for peace and there is no peace. We seek justice for George Floyd and all those victimized by violence at the hands of the state. We lament the violent training approaches taken by police academies. We lament a system of lo...

  Seek to Be the Balm in Gilead   Is there no balm in Gilead?    Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people    not been restored? Jeremiah 8:22   Diana Butler Bass made an excellent point about Spirituality in her book, Grounded : “Spirituality is not just about sitting in a room encountering a mystical god in meditation or about seeing God in a sunset. Awe is the gateway to compassion. It is a deep awareness that we are creators, creators who work with the Creator, in an ongoing project of crafting a world. If we do not like the world or are afraid of it, we have had a hand in that. And if we made a mess, we can clean it up and do better. We are what we make.” God of awe and compassion, help us to see your presence in every moment. As we ponder the smallest speck that the eye can see or the starry expanse of the universe, open our eyes and minds to the awesomeness of your creation. As we listen to ...

Steve Veazey, president and denominational leader of Community of Christ, introduces the 2021 Guiding Question for Community of Christ: "Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful one?" “To be fully present in a moment can be challenging. It requires a refocusing of the mind on something as simple as a single breath. Jesus, the peaceful one, resides in that moment. Embodying Christ's peace always has a strong aspect of what some call hereness and nowness. As individuals, groups and communities, are our thoughts and actions aligned with Christ's peace? Are we moving toward Jesus, the peaceful one? These questions continue to guide and challenge us in real life situations every day. it's my hope and prayer that we can collectively take a breath and keep our focus on what it means to be moving toward Jesus, the peaceful one.” Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained ...

  Scripture: Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22 O God our source, we enter into this time of Daily Prayer for Peace desiring to find peace in the quiet and the noise of daily living. When we feel isolated and alone, may we hear the words: “peace be upon you.” We long for the day when the temple doors will be open wide and the prayers of the people will echo up the lofty spire where we gather. Until that time, breathe your spirit upon us. Fill us with your peace that we may be ambassadors of your peace. Teach us the ways of justice and prepare us inwardly for righteous living that we might be agents of change for the earth and the dispossessed of the earth. Forgive us when we stray from living in accord with divine will. Open us to repair relationships and bridge the barriers between peoples. And once again open our ears, s...

  Third Places Ministry 1:Peter 4:8-10 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. I remember one Saturday in 2018, I prayed the Mission Prayer. Mission Prayer God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me courage to risk something new and become a blessing of your love and peace. Amen I looked at the handwritten reminder notes on my refrigerator. One said "Breathing in the Spaces" and another "Third Place Ministry." Our “First Place” is our home. Our “Second Place” is our work or school. And “Third Places” are places we occupy in community: grocery stores, coffee shops, libraries, etc. I went to a Starbucks a couple of miles from my church to practice Third Place(s) Ministry. I entered...

  A Moment of Resurrection Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. —Acts 4:32–35 Each Wednesday the “Love Lunch” team delivers about 80 sack lunches to the hungry and homeless on the streets of the neighborhoods surrounding the Covina, California, Congregation. Each Sunday they serve a hot meal after the worship service. I estimate they’ve served nearly 50,000 meals since they began. Every week is filled with moments of spiritual awareness. One of the stops each Wednesday is to a narrow opening leading to a culver...