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Sunday was a wonderful day though several parts did not go as I had anticipated or expected. I had in part planed to spend some time writing and reflecting before people arrived. However upon my arrival I found two there before me. I listened to the bell being rung across the street and greeted the bell ringers as the crossed the street to the church before going with them into the kitten where the first two people were getting things ready fro breakfast. I ended up taking over the pancake making responsibilities and spending time in fellowship with these four and others as they arrived.

As time drew near for the Prayer and Testimony service and youth classes, I asked one of the pastorate, who teaches one of the classes “Do you know who is leading the Prayer and testimony service?” and she did not know. So I went into the sanctuary, turned on some music and waited for people to arrive. A few came and sat down, but no one came to lead, and thus I stepped up to the role. I felt a bit awkward, having not planed at all ahead of time. However I opened myself up. Listened to what was said and found myself drawn to certain scriptures to help find direction and also to reaffirm, bring comfort, and perhaps push a bit what I was sensing and hearing from those gathered as they shared vocally and silently in community.

A prayer started to form within my mind as we shared together, however as I shared the closing prayer to move us from that service and into the communion service I found the words shifting changing and transforming from that prayer.

During the service I sat  in the rear of the congregation operating the audio, listing to words shared, watching, reflecting praying. Watching the gathered community as they shared in the sacramental bread and wine. Then went and spent time with friends, sharing a simple meal of grilled cheese and soup, after two very young doctors checked me out and said I was okay, though I did receive two or three shots that I was told were strawberry.  Though the older doctor also at one point had taken a chainsaw to me and turned me into food. It was wonderful to see the energy and joy in their faces and to share with them and with their parents. After lunch the older of the doctors, and his dad traveled with me to the store where the tree of us gathered supplies for the church before heading back and retackling the “gigantic pipe.”

We spent some time working on our piping project, which has been an on going process. We learned new skills and gained new insights, but in the end it seems we will have to return at least once more to finalize the project, however it is getting there. Once we concluded and the young doctor, who now had become our assistant, and his dad took off to their home and I went and spent time with another friend. We sat and we talked, we sat and we ate. We stood, ran, jumped and more while attempting to hit yellow balls with rackets over a net… my tennis skills degrading greatly since the last time I had played, and I was a bit loopy by the end… then more time sitting and talking and watching things.

It was a great day. It was a long day. It was a day that went differently in part than planed, but still it was a great day. It was a blessing to find myself open on this day of Resurrection, to be able to see the joy in others and respond. To see the struggles in others and respond. To allow others young, old, and near my age to bless me, to share the peace of Christ with me whether they knew they were doing so or not. It was an amazing day and I realized the need more clearly to be open and allow my friend to truly enter my life and the blessing that transpire when I step out of my shell and allow light to shine in and out of me. May we all be open, and through that openness become healed and more whole, and share the peace of Christ with all whom we encounter.

We were created in community, called into community, by a communal god (the mystery of the trinity, three yet one – “Holy One, Christ, and Spirit”). So let us listen to one another, embrace each others gifts, allow ourselves to be healed as other find healing as well. Let us embrace that sense calling, heal the broken world, and truly live Christ’s peace as Community of Christ…. We are sisters and brothers, we are community, we are many and yet we are one.

Peace be with you all,