Ok, so I admit it, I was a skeptic.
The opening worship service at General Assembly is always a high moment of GA. Thousands of Presbyterians, gathered with tremendous music, meaningful liturgy, and an electricity enough to light up 11,000 churches, or thereabouts.
This year, though –
Coming together beautifully, almost to the second, the two locations worshipped in sync. The Moderator of the 217th Assembly, Rev. Joan Gray, preached in one location, and made her way to the other in time for Communion. Who says you can’t be in two places at once. (Well, almost.)
O Majesty, O Magnificence, O Mystery, come!
Be earthquake, and shake our indifference.
Be sun, and splinter our shadows.
Be wind, and scatter our despair.
In the dry countries of our soul—
let your grace rain freely and fully.
Make of us stout branches, strong in all seasons—
bearing good fruit, giving shade to the weary, hope to the grieving, and shelter to those who are lost!
May we be channels of peace!
Where there is hatred, may we bring love; where there is injury may we offer pardon; where there is despair may we embody hope; where there is darkness may we be bearers of light!
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love those around us.
For it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is through kindness, justice and humility that we are
brought into unity with God’s abiding Spirit!
2 comments:
Marvelous prayer, thanks for sharing it and please do post the authorship if you are able to track it down. Thank you!
Just wondering if they tried any of that hologram stuff. If only they could have done a "beam-me-up" Scotty-style...
We were thinking of you all and praying for everyone at Nauraushaun on Sunday.
continued blessings.
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