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Generous God,
we thank you that, time after time, in the most surprising places, you spread a table for us and welcome us to the feast of your presence. Sometimes we feel like amazed guests at a banquet, a great celebration; sometimes we meet you at a kitchen table among friends, sharing daily bread; sometimes as children enjoying a picnic, laughing, singing, in the sunshine; sometimes in a dark valley, on a hard journey, by the barbed wire, bread is broken. Always we find nourishment; always enough for all who come; we see that no-one is ever turned away; and always we are blessed by sharing – this is the gospel feast. Thank you for such good food, giving strength to do your work in the world, and for your welcome at our journey’s end. Amen Jan Sutch Pickard (YOU SPREAD A TABLE: PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING) |
I sit by my window on this tranquil autumn afternoon, bathed in the gentle embrace of sunshine. Its warmth and radiance paint the world with a golden hue, filling me with a profound sense of gratitude for this exquisite and peaceful moment.
In our parish, like in any corner of our society now, we are determined to stride forward after the recent pandemic and its far-reaching effects. This journey often entails scrutinizing what requires mending, nurturing, or renewal. While this introspection is a necessary and valuable process, it must be conducted in harmony with recognizing the hidden treasures within our church community that often seek no spotlight yet deserving of our noticing.
Last week, I was blessed with three deeply spiritual moments of gratitude that I feel compelled to share.
1. I had the privilege of meeting a newcomer to our parish, who spoke fondly of the warm embrace he received from the very moment of his first attendance. He shared his appreciation for our worship service, where he sensed the tangible presence of God. He particularly cherished the post-communion choir's celestial melodies, as they seemed to usher in God's presence with each note.
2. Another visitor to our church on a Sunday conveyed her sense of genuine welcome during our worship service. She shared with one of our church members that she was on a quest to reconnect with her faith and rediscover her connection with God. In our parish, she not only encountered with the presence of the God but also found herself embraced by a loving community of God's people. She expressed her desire to join our worship service each time she comes to visit her family.
3.Then came the third incident, involving one of our recent regular parishioners who, despite her intention to join our morning communion service, found herself unable to attend due to unexpected circumstances. What transpired next was nothing short of miraculous. In her own words, she experienced an overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit within the confines of her home. Glancing at the clock, she was astonished to discover that it was precisely 11 am, the very hour when our congregation gathered for worship. It was as though, in their worship, our congregation emitted a spiritual energy that transcended physical boundaries of our church building.
These moments of grace serve as a poignant reminder of the significance of cultivating the art of gratitude within our community. Even as we grow accustomed to the happenings within our midst, and we are often under the pressure of the many challenges around us, yet we are called to be grateful for all the gifts bestowed upon us by the God within our parish. We must learn to notice and appreciate the profound beauty concealed in the quiet moments of connection, the embrace of warm welcome, and the radiant presence of the God who is with us.
Behind the attitude of gratitude lies the themes of giftedness and grace. That life is gift, that every individual is a gift, that our health is a gift, that knowing God through Jesus is a gift beyond measure. As I noticed these three spiritual moments of gratitude from the past week, I couldn't help but contemplate how many other instances might have escaped my notice, as I occasionally allowed scarcity and fear to eclipse God’s abundancy that God continuously extends to us.
As we step into the month of October, where we shall celebrate the harvest service, let us heed the wisdom of John O'Donohue, who urges us to "Take time to see the quiet miracles that seek no attention" both within our personal lives and within the tapestry of our parish community.
In our parish, like in any corner of our society now, we are determined to stride forward after the recent pandemic and its far-reaching effects. This journey often entails scrutinizing what requires mending, nurturing, or renewal. While this introspection is a necessary and valuable process, it must be conducted in harmony with recognizing the hidden treasures within our church community that often seek no spotlight yet deserving of our noticing.
Last week, I was blessed with three deeply spiritual moments of gratitude that I feel compelled to share.
1. I had the privilege of meeting a newcomer to our parish, who spoke fondly of the warm embrace he received from the very moment of his first attendance. He shared his appreciation for our worship service, where he sensed the tangible presence of God. He particularly cherished the post-communion choir's celestial melodies, as they seemed to usher in God's presence with each note.
2. Another visitor to our church on a Sunday conveyed her sense of genuine welcome during our worship service. She shared with one of our church members that she was on a quest to reconnect with her faith and rediscover her connection with God. In our parish, she not only encountered with the presence of the God but also found herself embraced by a loving community of God's people. She expressed her desire to join our worship service each time she comes to visit her family.
3.Then came the third incident, involving one of our recent regular parishioners who, despite her intention to join our morning communion service, found herself unable to attend due to unexpected circumstances. What transpired next was nothing short of miraculous. In her own words, she experienced an overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit within the confines of her home. Glancing at the clock, she was astonished to discover that it was precisely 11 am, the very hour when our congregation gathered for worship. It was as though, in their worship, our congregation emitted a spiritual energy that transcended physical boundaries of our church building.
These moments of grace serve as a poignant reminder of the significance of cultivating the art of gratitude within our community. Even as we grow accustomed to the happenings within our midst, and we are often under the pressure of the many challenges around us, yet we are called to be grateful for all the gifts bestowed upon us by the God within our parish. We must learn to notice and appreciate the profound beauty concealed in the quiet moments of connection, the embrace of warm welcome, and the radiant presence of the God who is with us.
Behind the attitude of gratitude lies the themes of giftedness and grace. That life is gift, that every individual is a gift, that our health is a gift, that knowing God through Jesus is a gift beyond measure. As I noticed these three spiritual moments of gratitude from the past week, I couldn't help but contemplate how many other instances might have escaped my notice, as I occasionally allowed scarcity and fear to eclipse God’s abundancy that God continuously extends to us.
As we step into the month of October, where we shall celebrate the harvest service, let us heed the wisdom of John O'Donohue, who urges us to "Take time to see the quiet miracles that seek no attention" both within our personal lives and within the tapestry of our parish community.