Member Communities

2 weeks ago

**Fifth Sunday in the Season of Easter**

**May 15, 2022**

*Revelation 21:1-6*
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;

for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

"See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them as their God;

they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away."

And the one who was seated on the throne said,

"See, I am making all things new."

Also he said,

"Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Then he said to me,

"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.”

*Prayer*

You are Alpha and Omega,

Beginning and End.

We, however, are in the middle –

in the middle of global devils and destructive forces

of personal deaths and desperations.

We are in the “not yet” of your kin-dom, longing

to see the “yet” of your kin-dom,

to have a vision of your reign in the present,

to experience the revelation of heaven here on earth.

Alpha and Omega,

Beginning and End,

your home is among us;

you stand with us;

you are in solidarity with our suffering.

Your intention is the healing of all creation.

Make our gardens green.

Your intention is for reconciliation and restoration.

Lead us to harmony and hope.

Your intention is for renewal and transformation.

Reflect your grace and holiness

in our communities, our cities, and our churches.

Your intention is to dwell with your people.

Wipe away every tear.

Give the water of life.

Make us your people.

*“John Beholds the New Jerusalem” by Lucas Cranach* ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago

**Sixth Sunday of Easter**

**May 22, 2022**

*John 5:1-9*
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool,

called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes.

In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people.

One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him,

"Do you want to be made well?"
The sick man answered him,

"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up;

and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me."

Jesus said to him,

"Stand up, take your mat and walk."
At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Now that day was a sabbath.

*Prayer*

Today, Jesus, we long for your holiness in our worship.

Reveal the divine, for us.

Heal us with your presence.

Show us your compassion,

that we might know blessing.

In the face of the seemingly endless news of

violence and hatred,

war and mass migration,

poverty and oppression,

ecological emergency,

Incarnate One, you would do well to ask us,

"Do you want to be made well?"

Showing compassion, ask us the tough questions and offer us healing grace.

*(silence)*

Jesus of Nazareth, who lived among us,

be alive in our midst this day.

Son of David, who envisioned God’s reign,

may we be part of your kin-dom come.

Rabbi and Teacher, who shared the Spirit’s wisdom,

nurture us in your Way.

Healer, who brought wholeness and health,

restore our integrity and faith

that we might stand up and walk out into the world to

listen to the lost and lonely,

learn from the broken and poured out,

address the fear and sense of quiet desperation,

name evil and societal sin,

offer hope and healing and hospitality.

Photo by [Ante Gudelj](unsplash.com/@antegudelj?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](localhost:3000/s/photos/healing?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

I do not know this story personally, just that his deacon’s heart touched others and now is held by God. May he Rest In Peace, and May we all be safe as we serve.BUFFALO MASS SHOOTING: Heyward “Tenny” Patterson, photographed below, was at Tops on Saturday, May 14th, 2022, when he was shot and killed. He was a deacon at church and would drive people who didn’t have transportation to get groceries. ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

David Clark started off DOTAC's Seminar Seried on Diakonia with his presentation **The Prophetic Vocation of a Diaconal Church**

**and of a Renewed Diaconate. **He was articulate, insightful, and prophetically challenging -- with a deep passion for diakonia, and a learning and listening community. The presentation can now be found at

[youtu.be/8CCymcdcg9c](nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F8CCymcdcg9c&data=05%7C01%7C%...) ... See MoreSee Less