At the close of another sunday...

Worship was full and sweet today ~ the choir nailed "Jesu Joy of Our Desiring" (loved when a snarky chorister said, "are you trying to be politically correct?" and without missing a beat the music director said, "not at all, just inclusive, after all God's love is for all" and kept on going!) and our jazz ensemble shared a hauntingly beautiful "Deep River."  People resonated with the notion that we need to practice embracing our identity as God's beloved cuz we mostly don't believe it is true.

So for the next five weeks, whenever we touch water we're going to pray: "Lord, I am your Beloved and my life has meaning."  We found our 60 second daily retreat into silence during Advent was a great blessing - who knows what this will unlock?

Later in the day I took our confirmands on a "secret" tour of the church - into all the nooks and crannies nobody else knows about - and these very sweet and sophisticated tweens became little kids again!  IT was so much fun ~ then I gave them all hymnals and sent them home with the assignment:  bring this back next week and tell me your favorite hymn.  We shall see...

So now that next week's liturgy is done - and a few pastoral phone calls completed - it is time to kick back, share a little red wine and watch "Downton Abbey" with my honey.