Habakkuk 1: 1-4

Susan Scott preached on World Communion Sunday and reminded us that regardless of our various religious journeys, national origins, denominations, and worship practices (including the incarcerated who cannot choose their mode of worship), that we are all a part of larger Christian Church family that is striving to follow the teachings of Christ. Susan also reflected on the lamentations of Habakkuk from the lectionary scripture. During these very tense, frustrating and worrisome times we are experiencing, it is easy to reflect negativity and despair back into the world. Lamentations, a form of brutally honest prayer, is one way that we can offload these feelings and transition our frustrations into a posture of waiting to hear from God and also a trust in God's love, goodness, and mercy for us.

Mark 14:16-26, Isaiah 25:6-8

Susan spoke this Sunday about something Christians universally practice and everyone maintains is important in some way: the Lord's Supper. Also called Communion, the Eucharist or the Mass.

She painted three word pictures for us that could provide a greater appreciation for what we're doing at the table: a Passover meal, a covenant ratification meal, and a wedding celebration. The thing these three meals and communion all have in common is that they are celebratory. They knit people together and they all have a host. In communion, the Lord's table, Jesus serves as the host.

Lamentations 3:17-26

This Sunday Melissa Rogati shared from her personal story of lament and dealing with a dark period in her life. It's very uncomfortable to be in that place. As humans, we don't like being there. But as she came to eventually realize, God is in the dark too! It's us who feel discomfort when we're in the dark. But if we can't sit in the dark and know that we are safe, where is our faith?

We can force ourselves to be upbeat, even when we don't see the good coming, but that is not authentic. We don't need to force an upbeat spirit to prove anything to anyone, including ourselves. Even when we can't engage with that upbeat, we don't have to force it when we don't want to. But we continue to seek the goodness of those around us while we wait in the dark. Because we still believe, even in the dark, that there's goodness to be had. Because the Lord is good to those who wait for Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the Lord.