Noticings – June 7, 2023

It was lovely. Last week, our pastoral visiting team hosted a tea party at the church. They invited all the folks who are among our most senior members, many of whom are usually unable to attend worship in-person due to illness, or mobility challenges, or timing. A team of folks arranged for rides. The tables were set with nice table cloths and pretty napkins. Sandwiches and nibbles were served on multi-tiered dishes, and there were all manner of sweets. And tea, of course!

Enid told some stories, Diana played a couple of old, classic, favourite hymns that we all sang along to, and I shared a bit of scripture and a prayer. The scripture was Romans 13:1-2 Let mutual love continue. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!

I told our guests that on that day they were our angels, and the tea party gathering was a way that we can “let our mutual love continue” and share in hospitality. All of us, at one time or another, have experienced the challenge of not being able to be together. It was one of the hard lessons of the Covid pandemic. And we’ve all felt the joy of gathering as a community of faith after a time apart. I felt that joy again at the tea party! By looking at everyone’s faces as they greeted and chatted with one another I’m certain they felt it too. It was the simple joy of being together – in faithful community – loving one another.

This is the prayer I prayed…

Ever Loving, Ever Present God – Help us to see and to know that this journey is not one we make alone – that we are called to travel together, supporting one another, challenging one another, loving one another as you have loved us. 

As members of this community of faith we share each other’s ups and downs, successes and failures, joys and pains – and arm in arm we offer them all up to you Abba. For the joys and blessings, we give you thanks and praise. And for the struggles and challenges we offer prayers of support for one another – and we offer our deep prayers of intercession for those who hurt. 

Abba, we lift it all up to you and ask for your grace, your peace, and your holy presence as we breathe in the warmth of being together, and pray… [pause]

God of good times and hard times, God of solitude and solidarity, as we journey remind us that we are not alone – as we journey remind us that we are part of this great community of faith – as we journey remind us that filled with your love for us we can be Christ for one another, loving one another, whether together or apart, always.

We pray in the name of Jesus who breathes every breath, animates every heartbeat, and shares every step of the way with us. And for that, we are truly, truly thankful.

(And for the pastoral visiting team that embodies this loving ministry, I am truly grateful!)

Surely, God was in that place, having tea. And we noticed!