This Week
Dear friends and members of St. Matt’s.
We had such fun with some of our youth group yesterday making a Scarecrow that will hang up in the center of Wilton! Keep an eye out for our…not-so-flat Matt! I hope, like me, that you’ll particularly enjoy his hairdo!
I want to highlight for you that Andrew’s recital is this Friday night. More information below. I do hope you’ll make a special effort to join us. He’s put a tremendous amount of work into preparing for this recital – and from the little pieces I’ve heard, it’s going to be magnificent. In some ways, aside from Christmas and Easter, you might think of this effort as the pinnacle of his work this year. Please do come to enjoy and be amazed by a wonderful night of music and to support the wonderful work of our talented Choir Director & Organist. You can buy your ticket(s) here.
Since we gathered on Sunday, we have all taken in quite a bit more news about the violence that continues in the Middle East. Our Bishops have released a statement that you can read here. I’m also including, at the end of this note, the prayer the Bishops sent us from Archbishop Hosam Naoum. You may have seen already that a vigil will be held on Sunday night at Temple B’nai Chaim at 7pm.
Like you, I have been confronted this week with these stories and images from Israel and Gaza. Like you, I have been horrified by the violence and cruelty on display. I grieve that this region continues to struggle with a conflict that has raged on for generations, since Jacob and Esau. As Christians, I believe we must always grieve the loss of life on both sides. And I believe that we must condemn terrorism in all its forms. Our Lord calls us to the way of love, to peace, to prayer, and to action. We live in a world that is broken and complicated, where there are often no easy answers. So let us pray for peace, for safety, for security, rest, and comfort for all people. And let us use our own hands and feet to build that in every way we can every single day.
We have quite a lot going on in the next few weeks in our life together. So please take a good look at our e-news. As always, if you’d like to talk more, if you have questions to explore, if you need a companion, I am here for you. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch. I hope to see you on Friday night – and again on Sunday morning. Until then, God loves you. And so do I.
Faithfully,
–Marissa +
God of peace, we pray for the people of Palestine and Israel in these perilous and dangerous times.
For all who are fearful for the safety of their loved ones and themselves, we pray that the assurance of unfailing love, even in the midst of danger, settles upon them. Shelter them from despair and protect them from harm.
For all who are wounded, we pray they find healing.
For all who have died, we pray they find rest.
For all who grieve, we pray they find comfort.
For leaders on all sides, we pray for a renewed will to lay down arms, for the strength to put the grievances and wrongs suffered by their people to rest, and for the conviction to embrace a path of reconciliation and peace that preserves the rights and dignity of all of your children.
God of mercy, help us to remember there is no border that can separate us from your great love and protection, no stone that can sound the well of your deep mercy.
God of justice, we pray with hopeful hearts that your beloved children of the Holy Land will be spared a future of sustained violence and unrest and that a recognition of the humanity of all people will prevail.
We ask all this in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.