Thirst

Dear Beloved Christ the King Community,

In this past weekend's sermon, I challenged you and myself to pause and think of someone in our lives that could use a little bit of encouragement, someone to connect with this coming week.  Thank you to all of you who have accepted that challenge and who are acting on it this week, despite all of the last minute "to do's" that may be on your list.  We gather as Christ's body to be nourished in worship, to then be sent into our communities.  May the connections you make this week be renewing for you, and may the hope you bring to another transcend the daily rush toward Christmas.

I wanted to offer you a little bit of grace this week in the form of a poem that reminds us that though we prepare the best we can, we may not feel we are completely ready for Christmas.  And this is ok, as it is a reminder of our humanness and that God comes to us whether we are ready or not, because God loves us just as we are.

An Advent Poem by Mary Oliver:

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but

still nothing is as shining as it should be

for you. Under the sink, for example, is an

uproar of mice – it is the season of their

many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves

and through the walls the squirrels

have gnawed their ragged entrances – but it the season

when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And

the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard

while the dog snores, the cat holds the pillow;

what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling

in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly

up the path, to the door. And I still believe you will

come, Lord; you will, when I speak to the fox,

the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know

that I am really speaking to you whenever I say,

as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

From Thirst by Mary Oliver.  

May Christ come to you this day and every day, bringing you life, love, and wholeness.  Amen

Grace and peace, and even more, hope,
Pastor Jennifer