Streams of Mercy

This morning I shared the story of a Children’s Message I gave on Transfiguration Sunday in my first church - now 30 years ago. I had every light I could find: candles, flashlights, lanterns, spotlights, glow sticks, etc. Then we talked about the Transfiguration story and Jesus being transfigured. At this point I produced a sparkler, lit it and point was made, and the children loved it! Today I quickly moved past that memory to share that through the years, I’ve learned that we see Jesus most clearly in each other, and the love we show for one another. “Love one another as I have loved you,” Jesus told us. (John 13:34) That’s the challenge that’s ever before us.

After sharing these thoughts we sang a song. We brought our hands together and with our fingers made the shape of a heart and sang this song: “Lord, lay some friend upon my heart and love that friend through me. And may I always do my best to love that friend for thee.” No sparklers in hand this Transfiguration Sunday, only these words from a chorus I learned years ago in my heart, and I pray, visible in my life: “I love you with the love of the Lord, I love you with the love of the Lord. I see in you, the glory of my King, and I love you with the love of the Lord.”

It’s our tradition at Jackson Springs Presbyterian to have a symbol to carry with us through Lent each year. We pick up that symbol after we’ve received the mark of ashes on our foreheads. In thinking about a symbol for this year, I’ve decided to put all the leftovers from years past in the basket and let folks choose what they want. While filling the basket a stone with the word “Friend” caught my eye. That’s the one I hope to take from the basket. I want to be a friend to others on life’s journey. In John 15:15, Jesus says, “…I have called you friends…” That’s the thought I want to have in my heart as I make this year’s Lenten journey.

May this beautiful prayer by Rebecca Gresgam-Kesner, mark the beginning of our journey:

“Prayer for Ash Wednesday”

Holy One, as we come before you on this day with our traditional repentance, we remember those sacred words, ash to ash and dust to dust. Yet, this year is different. We have lived in the wilderness-like atmosphere of Lent for nearly a year. Our world is broken, our hearts are hurting and we need healing and hope. In those broken places, O God, let your healing love seep in. In places where we hurt, even amid this pandemic wilderness, allow healing grace to slowly enter our hearts and our lives. In this morose season, may we live into the healing that is so desperately needed. We trust in your holy hope as we remember our mortality. As we venture deeper into the wilderness, help us know that your transforming presence will guide us through to the joy of the resurrection with new found wholeness. Amen.

May God bless this Lenten journey we are making together in spirit, while unable to gather together. Traveling mercies!

Elizabeth