Spiritual Strength Training – 11/2/24
Musical Prelude: Vivace from Sonata No. 2 by Amélie-Julie Candeille (played by Abby Lorimier and Andrew Robinson)
Opening Words: ‘Not for Ourselves Alone’ by Calvin O. Dame (adapted)
We come into one another’s presence
seeking some part of ourselves,
knowing that we do not live alone,
knowing that we cannot live fully if we are for ourselves alone.
We come as ordinary people, each with strengths
and each with weaknesses, aware of our shortcomings.
Our lives set before us many tasks. We are not always equal to them.
Too often we fall short of our best expectations of ourselves;
we do not know enough, we are not always patient, we fall into anger,
we cannot find strength, we do not wait for wisdom, we lack vision.
It hurts. It hurts to acknowledge our shortcomings.
And yet, here we are, not always perfect, not always wise, but always human,
gloriously and miraculously alive and breathing, wondrously and mysteriously human.
May our time together renew our hope.
May the stories we share refresh our courage.
May the music we hear soothe our spirits.
May the words we speak invigorate us.
May the listening we experience prove to be healing.
May the precious opportunity for human connection,
the sight of faces new and familiar,
restore us in faith and purpose for the onward journey. (pause)
Words of Welcome and Introduction:
These opening words by Calvin O. Dame welcome all who have gathered this morning, for our Sunday service. Welcome to those of you who have gathered in-person at Essex Church and also to all who are joining us via Zoom from far and wide. For anyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Jane Blackall, and I’m Minister with Kensington Unitarians. It’s good to be together once again.
This morning’s service is on the theme of ‘Spiritual Strength Training’ – we’re going to explore this as a way of thinking about the season of Lent – a season in the Christian calendar which starts this week, on Ash Wednesday. These days, I reckon most people think of Lent – if we think of it at all – as a season of ‘giving up’, a time of sacrifice and deprivation, with only a fuzzy sense of why we might want to do such a thing, what it might be in aid of. In today’s service I’d like to frame the season differently and in a way that might be more meaningful to you: Lent is a season for Spiritual Strength Training. A time to focus on spiritual deepening and to develop disciplines that might help us to live in greater alignment with our values, to live lives of meaning and purpose, to bring us closer to God.
Let’s pause, and check in with ourselves, before we go any further. How are you doing – in body, mind, and spirit? Maybe you need to take a conscious breath or two to settle in. Maybe it would help to stretch – shake off any physical tension you are carrying. Or maybe you could do with intentionally setting aside any worries that are bouncing around your brain. Be here now, as best you can.
Chalice Lighting: ‘A Flame of Transformation’ by Bets Wienecke
Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. This simple ritual connects us in solidarity with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over, and reminds us of the proud and historic progressive religious tradition of which this gathering is part.
(light chalice)
May this flame,
symbol of transformation since time began,
fire our curiosity,
strengthen our will,
and sustain our courage
as we seek what is good within us and around us.
Hymn 194 (purple): ‘We Light the Flame’
Let’s sing together now. Our first hymn is number 194 in your purple hymn books, ‘We Light the Flame’. For those joining via Zoom the words will be up on screen. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer. Sing up as best you can for this lovely gathering hymn.
We light the flame that kindles our devotions.
We lift our hearts in blessed community.
The mind has thoughts, the heart its true emotions,
we celebrate in worship, full and free.
Our faith transcends the boundaries of oceans.
All shall be granted worth and dignity.
So many ways to witness to the wonder.
So many dreams by day for us to dare.
Yet, reaching out, each way is made the grander,
and love made bold for dreamers everywhere.
Diversity will never cast asunder
our common weal, our bonds of mutual care.
Infinite Spirit, dwell with us, we pray thee,
that we may share in life abundantly.
Forgive our sins, feed us with good bread daily,
with strength resist temptation steadfastly.
O God of life, sustain us now, and may we
with mindful hearts, be thankful constantly.
Candles of Joy and Concern:
Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. This time we’re going to go to the people in the building first, and take all of those in one go, and then I’ll call on the people on Zoom to come forward.
So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us briefly who or what you light your candle for. Please do get up close to the microphone as that will help everyone hear (including the people at home). You can take the microphone out of the stand if it’s not at a good height and have it microphone pointing right at your mouth. And if you can’t get to the microphone give me a wave and I’ll bring it over to you. Thank you.
(in person candles)
And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church.
(zoom candles)
And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)
Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Laura Dobson
Let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer. This prayer is based on some words by Laura Dobson which in turn are a reimagining of the Lord’s Prayer. You might first want to adjust your position for comfort, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever works for you. Do whatever you need to do to get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – to be fully present here and now, in this sacred time and space – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us. (pause)
Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,
we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,
as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom
to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.
Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the
silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (pause)
Ground of all Being, Our Mother and Father,
Who are throughout the whole cosmos
Holy are All Your Names;
Holy are we, whoever and however we are.
Your realm of love and justice come
Through the actions of our hands
And the desires of our hearts.
Open our hearts to those who live at the edges, in the shadows.
Let us welcome them in love
And practise compassion towards all beings.
Give us what will nourish us today.
Let us be grateful for everything we have.
Forgive us when we miss the mark
As we forgive those who cross our boundaries.
Give us the strength to be honest with ourselves.
In trying times, guide us on the right paths
As we learn to trust our inner wisdom
And in times of joy and sorrow
May we keep turning towards the Light of Love.
For You are the Source of all that has been, is now and will be,
Let us honour your Indwelling Presence for evermore. (pause)
So in a few quiet moments let us take some time to pray inwardly the prayers of our own hearts;
calling to mind all those souls we know to be suffering this day, whether close to home, or
on the other side of the world. Let us hold all these sacred beings in the light of love. (pause)
Let us also pray for ourselves; we too are sacred beings who face our own struggles and muddle
through life’s ups and downs. So let us take a few moments to reflect on our own lives, and
ask for what we most need this day – comfort, forgiveness, or guidance – to flourish. (pause)
And let us take just a little longer to remember the good things in life and give thanks for them.
Those moments in the past week where we’ve encountered generosity, kindness, or pleasure.
Let us cultivate a spirit of gratitude as we recall all those moments that lifted our spirits. (pause)
Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up
our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,
and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.
As we look forward now to the coming week,
help us to live well each day and be our best selves;
using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen
ONLINE Reading: ‘But Lent’ by Diana Elizabeth Carroll (read by Chloë)
We’re going to have a bonus reading now. In a moment, Chloë’s going to share a reading which serves a counterpoint to the rest of the service, it goes against the grain of everything else we’ll be exploring. Like I said, today’s service is mostly about Lent as a time for spiritual strength training, for stretching ourselves, for personal development. But with this reading I wanted to acknowledge that for some of us – we might already be at full stretch – we might not be in the right place to throw ourselves into a season of spiritual discipline and personal challenge. And that’s OK. It’s for each of us to discern what we’ve got the capacity and desire for in this moment.
I would love to become
the kind of person
who makes sure the dishes
are done
every night
so she can wake up
in the morning
to the peaceful welcome
of a clean kitchen.
I would love to become
the kind of person
who replies to every email
the same day it arrives
and keeps a neat,
nearly empty
inbox.
I would love to become
the kind of person
who never picks
at her cuticles
or bites
at her lips
or chews
at the insides
of her cheeks
until the dentist
gives her a lecture about it.
But Lent
is not for trying
to become someone
I am not.
It is for honouring
the person
I already am.
My wholeness.
My integrity.
My belovedness.
And so,
in this holy season,
I will not strive
for self-improvement.
I will not seek
to create new habits
or to break
the old ones.
I will not squeeze myself
into impossible expectations
guaranteed to leave me angry
and disappointed
when I fail.
Instead,
I will do nothing
but breathe,
receiving the quiet gift
of every inhale
and every exhale,
receiving it even
when I am too busy
or distracted
to notice.
Somehow,
God is present
in the breath,
in the breathing.
And from time to time,
if I simply
stop
trying,
I may be given
the grace
of knowing it.
Hymn 117 (purple): ‘O Lord Now Give Us Strength’
Let’s sing together again. It’s number 117 in the purple book, ‘O Lord Now Give Us Strength’ – this is another one I don’t think we sing very often if at all – I’m trying to broaden our repertoire so we’ll be introducing a few new ones in the weeks to come. The words are based on a traditional Welsh prayer by the bard Iolo Morgannwg so perhaps we can sing it in a prayerful spirit. If the traditional language doesn’t work for you I encourage you to translate it as necessary. I’ll ask Andrew to play it through once before we sing. The words will be up on screen.
O Lord, now give us strength,
and in that strength divine,
we ask for knowledge, too,
the knowledge that is thine;
and in that knowledge, Lord,
grant to us in our days
an understanding heart
to see each other’s ways;
and when we understand –
to understand the right,
the right which we may love,
and love with all our might,
the Essence we may love
upon which life has stood,
the essence which is God,
my God, and all that’s good.
In-Person Reading: ‘Perspectives on Lent’ by David W. Fagerburg, Frederica Mathewes-Green, and Jami Yandle (Brian)
This reading brings together some thoughts on Lent as a form of spiritual strength training from three different traditions. You may need to ‘translate’ some of their more traditional language but they all have valuable insights about the value of spiritual discipline in Lent. Firstly, David W. Fagerburg, a Catholic writer, has this to say:
Lent is a paradoxical season. On the one hand, the word itself names something joyful: lencten in Old English means “springtime”, because the days begin to lengthen. The dead of winter is behind us, and the grass will begin to show through the snow cover any day. On the other hand, Lent is a season of asceticism. The word askesis originally meant the kind of training or discipline that an athlete underwent. Then it was applied to spiritual self-discipline for the sake of training one’s prayer life. One lifts weights at the gym to gain strength in the arm; Lenten asceticism is doing spiritual reps. It is the discipline required to become an icon of Christ, and make his image visible on our faces. The whole aim of the Lenten discipline is to refresh our spiritual conformity to Christ.
Orthodox writer Frederica Mathewes-Green writes: Lent is a time of year to remember that God has seen fit to make us not airy spirits but embodied human beings living in a beautiful, material world. The soul fills the body the way fire fills a lump of coal, and what the body learns, the soul absorbs as well. Spiritual disciplines such as fasting are analogous to weight-lifting equipment. One who uses them in a disciplined way will be stronger, not just when he’s lifting weights, but also for every situation he meets… The disciplines adopted in this season of Lent train us like athletes, strengthening our earthly bodies and souls, healing the body of believers, and forging union with the body of Christ throughout time.
Finally – in more accessible language, perhaps – adapted from words from Unitarian Universalist Jami Yandle: Lent is a time of renewal. It is about removing the obstacles between you and your best life so that you can gain more clarity, alignment, and purpose. Lent is a time to promote spiritual growth and ethical commitment; a spiritual Spring Cleaning whereby we make room in our hearts for justice, equity, and compassion in our own human relations. So, as Unitarians, let’s explore how a Lenten practice might bring us closer to our core values.
Meditation: Poem for Lent – ‘The Cosmos Dreams in Me’ by Joyce Rupp
Thanks Brian. We’re moving into a time of meditation now. I’m going to share just a short mystical ‘Poem for Lent’ by Joyce Rupp – a sister in the Servite order – it frames this season of Lent as a time for actively deepening our spiritual life (or, as she puts it, ‘leaning a little further into the heart of the Holy’). These words will take us into 3 minutes of silence which will end with the sound of a bell. Then we’ll hear some music from Abby and Andrew. So let’s do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position if you need to – put your feet flat on the floor to ground yourself – close your eyes. As we always say, the words are an offering, you can use this time to meditate in your own way.
The cosmos dreams in me
while I wait in stillness,
ready to lean a little further
into the heart of the Holy.
I, a little blip of life,
a wisp of unassuming love,
a quickly passing breeze,
come once more into Lent.
No need to sign me
with the black bleeding ash
of palms, fried and baked.
I know my humus place.
This Lent I will sail
on the graced wings of desire,
yearning to go deeper
to the place where
I am one in the One.
Oh, may I go there soon,
in the same breath
that takes me to the stars
when the cosmos dreams in me.
Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell
Interlude: Idylle Haïtienne by Lucien Lambert (played by Abby Lorimier and Andrew Robinson)
In-Person Reading: ‘Personal Spiritual Trainers’ by Nathan C. Walker (read by Jane)
I usually like to invite other voices to read but I thought I should do this one myself – it’s written from the perspective of a minister speaking to a congregation – it’s by Nathan C. Walker and it’s called ‘Personal Spiritual Trainers’.
When you come to me,
come not with the expectation
to have some passive clergyperson
coddle you into complacency.
No. Come to me as your PST––
your personal spiritual trainer.
I’m serious. I want to see you move.
I want to see you root yourself in a community
Built on moral complexity and
to hold one another to the
ethic of intellectual honesty.
I want to see you move beyond the
religious hang-ups of your broken past and
use your regenerative spirit to seize the day.
I want to see you flex your moral muscles.
I want to see you exercise spiritual practices to the point of
training your mind and body and spirit to collaborate
as a single, integrated, and dynamic entity.
I want to hear you articulate your beliefs.
I want to hear you articulate your faith
to the point of having some moral relevance.
I want to know that you are
engaged in the moral issues of our time.
I want to know what makes you afraid.
I want to know if you are cultivating
your doubts and your questions
so that when you do take a stand,
we can all trust your authenticity.
I want to know the intricacies of
how you are treating other people.
Have you learned new ways
to better your relationships?
If so, share them.
I want to know if you have learned to like yourself.
Have you learned to love yourself?
I want to know if you feel alive.
I want to know if you feel like you belong,
like you feel like you matter,
because to me, you do.
You do. Because you are my
personal spiritual trainers.
Reflection: ‘Spiritual Strength Training’ by Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall
So, as I said at the top of the service, today we’re looking at Lent as a season for Spiritual Strength Training. A time to focus on spiritual deepening and to develop disciplines that might help us to live in greater alignment with our values, to live lives of meaning and purpose, to bring us closer to God.
In order to get there, though, we probably ought to start by refreshing our memories about Lent as it is traditionally observed in the Christian faith. It’s a period of 40 days – from Ash Wednesday, next Wednesday, to Easter (not including Sundays) – a time of solemnity and self-reflection during which the faithful remember the events leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion. It is meant to parallel the 40 days which Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness, when he was tempted and tested by Satan, but he resisted those temptations, held firm in his self-discipline, and stuck to what he set out to do. So in the traditional view, Lent is a time to draw closer to God, through prayer, reflection, perhaps making sacrifices which test our own self-discipline, and resolving to live a more Godly life by doing so.
As we heard in the reading from Brian earlier, people from varied traditions – Catholic, Orthodox, and Unitarian Universalist – have noted similarities between Lenten practice and strength training. It’s a season of asceticism – like an athlete’s training programme – but rather than aiming to turn out like Usain Bolt, Simone Biles, or Arnold Schwarzenegger – the aim is to become more like Jesus. Or to put a more general, more Unitarian, interpretation on it: it’s a season to focus on spiritual growth and ethical commitment, and living in a way that is in greater alignment with our values. Lent can serve as a season where – metaphorically – we engage in spiritual weightlifting on a regular basis in order to build up our spiritual muscles so we’re more ready to face what life throws at us next.
I reckon this is part of the point of coming to church all-year-round – part of why we’re here – it’s a space where we nurture spiritual growth and personal development, where we are challenged to think new thoughts, to internalise and integrate spiritual teachings, to stretch ourselves and be transformed. And part of my job is, as the reading said, to be a kind-of personal spiritual trainer.
Some of you may know I’ve been seeing a personal trainer – a personal physical trainer – for the last 18 months or so. I brought some 5kg weights in as a visual aid (I do usually lift heavier than this!) One of the many great things about my trainer, Leila, is that she meets you where you are (both literally – as she’s based in Essex, and I’m not, so we meet once a week on Zoom – and metaphorically, as she adapts our sessions depending on the state I turn up in on any given morning). And some mornings I really do turn up in a state. The last few years have been quite tough going for me, in places, with dad’s illness, and the sudden death of my best mate Jef, and all the other ups and downs of life that we all have to face. So when Tuesday morning rolls round and it’s time for my session with Leila – sometimes I’m knackered – there have been months where my entire system has been marinated in stress hormones – there are nights when something’s been worrying me and I haven’t slept well. So I haven’t always got it in me to push my limits – to lift heavier weights or do more reps – but I want to turn up and do something… rather than skipping a session and breaking the habit of showing up. So on days like that we’ll say – OK, today’s session just requires you to get dressed and go out for a walk, and we’ll have a chat about life as you go – and sometimes that’s the only time in the week I’ve got away from my desk to get any sort of exercise or fresh air at all and it has done me the world of good.
Why am I sharing this? Well, the process of training – whether it’s physical or spiritual – is more nuanced than the archetypal image of a horrible sergeant-major type berating you to push harder. There’s always a balance to be struck. Sometimes it is the right time to push, to challenge yourself, to make sacrifices and do the hard thing in service of a greater goal. Equally, though, sometimes it is the right time to hold back, take it easy, rest up for a bit until you’re ready to go again, consolidate your gains. In weightlifting there’s this idea of ‘progressive overload’ – by increasing the weight or the workload your body will step up to the challenge and adapt by growing and strengthening muscle – you have to push yourself a little bit further in order to develop. You probably aren’t going to grow by just endlessly repeating what you’ve always done. But if you overdo it – if you increase the weight before you’re ready, or train when you’re sick or tired – you’re likely to end up hurt or burned out.
We can transfer this idea across to spiritual strength training too. It’s important to strike a balance, over the course of our lifetime, between times of stretching ourselves and times of taking it easy. If we want to be our best selves, to flourish spiritually, that is going to require us to give the process proper attention and put in intentional effort. We need to find a spiritual practice that works for us – or perhaps a smorgasbord of different practices that suit different seasons of our lives – and then we need to build new habits – ‘put in the reps’ – and embed these practices into the rhythm of our days.
I want to suggest that Lent is a time for each of us to embrace this process of Spiritual Strength Training – a time to refocus on spiritual discipline – to take up a practice. Unless it’s not! That’s why I included the poem by Diana Elizabeth Carroll that Chloë read for us earlier – as it says – ‘Lent / is not for trying / to become someone / I am not. / It is for honouring / the person / I already am.’ Each of us needs to weigh up both sides of this paradoxical advice and do some discernment for ourselves – only you will know whether right now is a time to challenge yourself or a time to curl up and rest.
So you’ve got until Wednesday to decide if you’re going to ‘Do Lent’ this year! And what form of spiritual practice, or habit, you might focus some attention on over the next 40 days. There are all sorts of things you might take up – it doesn’t have to be hugely arduous – and I can offer some suggestions to get you started. How about spending five prayerful minutes in bed, first thing each morning, to get yourself spiritually centred and set your intentions for the day? Or you could take five minutes at bedtime to review your day, give thanks for the good, notice what’s not so good, and ask for what you need in order to set it all aside before you sleep? Maybe you could choose a spiritual book that you’re going to read during Lent and just set aside five minutes or so each day to read a few pages and see how it works on you? Make time each day to sit quietly and appreciate music or art? Or get out each day to walk out in nature? Or maybe you’ll go down the traditional route and give something up for Lent – but make sure it’s something that’s in service of spiritual or ethical growth or an expression of your values – thinking of last week’s climate conference maybe you could go vegan for lent. Or perhaps you might think about cutting back on ‘doomscrolling’ and limiting your consumption of news or social media. If you feel like you’re really up for a challenge – consider your ‘growing edge’ – is there an area of your spiritual/religious life you know you’re kind-of neglecting or avoiding? Maybe you’re a bit squeamish about traditional religious language and symbolism. Maybe you’ve never got to grips with meditation as you struggle with sitting still. Perhaps now is a good time to investigate these challenging areas of your religious life with renewed curiosity.
Whatever you decide – let us know – so that we can all cheer you on! You might tell the WhatsApp group or stay for the Sunday Conversation with Jeannene after today’s service.
And in the weeks to come, let’s do what we can to strengthen our collective spiritual muscle – to flourish and grow, and be our best selves – for the greater good of all. Amen.
Hymn (on sheet): ‘Will Your Anchor Hold?’ (adapted)
Time for our last hymn, it’s on your hymn sheet, a slightly adapted version of the traditional hymn ‘Will Your Anchor Hold?’ – for me this speaks of the importance of nurturing a strong faith that will see us through the tough times in life. I’m not sure how well-known this tune is so again I’ll ask Andrew to play it through but I hope enough of us know it to make it a rousing ending. Please sing up and let’s enjoy our closing hymn.
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
fastened to the rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep, in the heart of love!
Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rage and the wild winds blow,
shall the angry waves then your bark o’er flow?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
fastened to the rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep, in the heart of love!
Will your eyes behold through the morning light
the city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
when life’s storms are past for evermore?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
fastened to the rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep, in the heart of love!
Announcements:
Thanks to Ramona for tech-hosting. Thanks to Charlotte for co-hosting and welcoming everyone online. Thanks to Chloë and Brian for reading. Thanks to Abby and Andrew for playing for us today and Benjie for supporting our singing. Thanks to Julia for doing coffee and Hannah for greeting. For those of you who are in-person – please do stay for a cuppa and cake after the service – it’s a new one – pear, hazelnut and chocolate this week – served in the hall next door. If you’re joining on Zoom please do hang on after for a chat with Charlotte.
We have various small group activities during the week. Stay behind after today’s service for the first of our new ‘Sunday Conversation’ group which will be led by Jeannene.
Heart and Soul, our contemplative spiritual gathering, is happening on Friday online. It’s a great way to get to know people more deeply. This week’s theme is ‘Neighbours’. Sign up with me!
In a change to our regular programming there’s no community singing this week – our group leader is otherwise engaged – it’ll be back on Wednesday 28th February so put that in your diaries. Sonya is back with her Nia dance classes on Friday lunchtime from 12.30pm.
Looking a bit further ahead, if you want to join the ‘Better World Book Club’ online, our next session will be on Sunday 25th February when we’ll be exploring ‘Less is More’ by Jason Hickel – that’s on an environmental theme – I’ve already lent out our three church copies but let me know if you need a copy and you can’t get one elsewhere and I’ll see what I can do.
On the first weekend in March we’ll have our next mini-retreat, on ‘The Stories of Our Lives’, the plan is to offer it online on the Saturday and in-person on the Sunday, but if you want to attend it is essential for you to register in advance, as we need at least six sign-ups to go ahead and we’ll make that call on the Wednesday before. If you want it to go ahead sign up early!
Next Sunday at 11am Sarah Tinker will be leading the service – it’s titled ‘In Praise of I Don’t Know’.
Details of all our various activities are printed on the back of the order of service, for you to take away, and also in the Friday email. Please do sign up for the mailing list if you haven’t already. The congregation very much has a life beyond Sunday mornings; we encourage you to keep in touch, look out for each other, and do what you can to nurture supportive connections.
I think that’s everything. Just time for our closing words and closing music now.
Benediction: ‘Becoming Our Better Selves’ by Emily Richards
May you leave this time together changed.
May the promises you have made
to yourself about who you want to be
feel closer to the reality of who you are right now.
May you share that feeling of transformation wherever you go.
May it spread into every word, deed, thought, and interaction
until we are all changed, transformed and transforming together,
becoming our better selves – for the greater good of all. Amen.
Closing Music: Joshua fit the battle of Jericho (Spiritual) (performed by Abby Lorimier and Andrew Robinson)
Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall
11th February 2024
