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Have you noticed how an inspirational quote can arrive in your life at the right time? This quote from L.R.Knost came visiting this week with a resonance that keeps humming in my soul.
Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world.
All things break. And all things can be mended.
Not with time, as they say, but with intention.
So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.
The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
-L. R. Knost
Yesterday we celebrated All Saints' Sunday and as is our tradition, we read the names of our dearly departed friends followed by the ringing of a bell that resonated deep in our collective souls. Our resurrection faith believes that they have been mended and their suffering is ended in joyous life eternal. We who remember them do so with broken hearts, grief, and we seek our own mending.
To aid us in our mending journey our church offers a variety of intentional forms of pastoral care. Stephen ministers are prepared to walk along-side you in your bereavement and pastors are here to lend a listening ear. The brokenness of grief has a type of instinctive pulling back to it so whenever you are ready to reach out, we are here for you.
Brokenness at the holidays is perplexing and can be overwhelming. In order to provide care our Stephen ministry will sponsor Safe Harbor, Sunday, December 2 following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. This is a time to reflect and discuss the challenges of feeling broken during the holidays.
Later in the month on Thursday, December 20 Stephen Ministries from JCPC and JCUMC will host a worship service entitled The Longest Night. Worship provides a type of care experienced like no other. We celebrate Christmas with presents, gatherings, and merriment; however in the land of grief those seem to pale in comparison to our loss.
L.R. Knost states that the broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you. While we actively grieve this can be difficult to comprehend; however, in worship we lift up our souls to the One, the Divine Thou/You who knows our grief, soothes our wounds and heals us in a one day at a time manner. In the darkness, our light joins with Christ's light and our healing takes another step through the darkness.
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