A church with heart in the heart of the city
From Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston:
Love follows where you go.
And it will linger after you are gone.
The love you create by word or action abides.
It shelters those with whom you share it.
It grows a spiritual climate.
It heals, enlightens and reconciles.
Love follows: when you walk in a blessing way.
Peace Be With You. – Paul
“If you want to be holy, be kind.” –Frederick Buechner
Peace Be With You. – Paul
From the tinyjoyproject.
The world is loud. Choose quiet.
The world is rushed. Choose slow.
The world is scared. Choose joy.
@thetinyjoyproject
Peace Be With You. – Paul
“God spoke today in flowers,
And I, who was waiting on words,
Almost missed the conversation.”
— Ingrid Goff-Maidoff
Peace Be With You. – Paul
Here are the Prayers Of The People from Sunday, May 11, 2025.
Prayers of the People
Holy One, in this world of jangling noise, speak to us.
Some noise is good – children laughing, our favorite TV show, our singing together.
Some is hard to hear – sirens going by, arguments.
Everyday we live in this alternating between silence and noise.
Help us to hear you.
God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Your story is one of joy, hope, love, care, of good news.
Help us hear that story when others insist on their own words and values.
Help us discern your love in all we experience.
God of love,
Hear our prayer.
In our uncertainties, ground us in your love,
In our lack of direction, help us pause.
In our impatience, help us wait.
God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For all whom we hold in our hearts, may you teach us how to love them.
For all who struggle to make it through the day, may you teach us all patience.
For all who can’t wait much longer, sustain them.
God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Holy one, when others are tired and afraid, bring us to their sides.
When others are without food, lodging, and resources, help us to be generous,
When others just need someone to listen, to wait, to stop, help us be that one.
God of love,
Hear our prayer. Amen.
Peace Be With You. – Paul
Echoing the words of Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston today as I think about all who read these words:
“What you most need now in your life I do not know, but I pray it for you with all my heart.
We are in kinship.
Community is our vision.
Reconciliation is our work.
We learn to live together: we unite the world in love.”
Peace Be With You. – Paul
God,
Let me not overlook the joy hidden in ordinary moments of today. Amen.
– Poet Tanner Olsen (@writtentospeak)
Peace Be With You. – Paul
From The Upper Room Sight Psalm – May 6, 2025
Imagine the abundance that Jesus created with just a few loaves of bread. What will we offer to meet another’s need?
Photo by Dawn M Adams
Peace Be With You. – Paul
“The grace of God means something like:
Here is your life.
You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you.
Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen.
Don’t be afraid. I am with you.”
~ Frederick Buechner
Peace Be With You. – Paul
Here are the Prayers Of The People from Sunday, May 4, 2025.
Prayers Of The People
God, be with all who are on different kinds of journey.
May they find safety in your loving arms, and may they find peace at their destinations.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God, grant us a world in which every kind of journey is affirmed.
Grant us understanding of different cultures, experiences, and customs.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Grant us open minds and open hearts that we may see others for who they are, and not our expectations of them.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Grant us strength within our bodies, our spirits, our minds, that we may open ourselves to what you wish us to see.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Grant us, O God, both strength and understanding for journeys which are involuntary, especially illness, grief, and great change.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lead us in your ways, fill us with your love, with your patience, with your care.
And may we find strength in serving others.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer. Amen.
Peace Be With You. – Paul
