Glorious God of Hope and Promise, we stand in awe of the abundance of your love for humankind. Your endless mercy confounds us truly. Just when we think we have committed the ultimate error, you call us to try yet again, a better way. We want to live your example— to live how you showed us to in the life and work of Jesus. We confess that we have fallen short of that goal and so we ask you to work on us. Open our hearts, Lord, to the brokenness around us, and give us the will and way to care. Open our eyes to see clearly the fear and prejudice that fuels unjust systems, in our society. Give us courage to speak for those who cannot. Give us the strength to stand up for those who may not. Give us the daring to advocate for those who are given no voice; Let us not only live the gospel, but teach us to BE the gospel in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
Jasper and gold clear as glass describe the New city, the New Jerusalem, God’s city where God will dwell with God’s people. John of Patmos’ luxurious description of the foundations of the new city of promise and hope bejeweled with jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chyrsoprase, jacinth, and amethyst is indeed a wondrous sight for the weary mind’s eye and a sign of the abundance that awaits the faithful souls who have persevered and stood their ground in the face of injustice.
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