Jim, the assistant pastor for the community of Emmanuel, is one for what I'll call hands-on-homilies. He often incorporates small items to be shared with community members into his sermons, and today was no exception. Everyone received a little ziplock containing a teaspoon of salt, and a birthday candle with a paper matchbook.
It's salt of the earth and light of the world Sunday, and we are all both of those, Jesus says in today's reading from Matthew's gospel -- but it requires some effort on our parts to give flavour and light to those around us. So at the end of this morning's service, we prayed with our lit candles:
You are the salt of the earth.
Sprinkle us across our community, God,
across our world,
to bring the good flavour of love
wherever we go.
You are the light of the world.
Uncover the radiance that is within us, God,
to shine the truth of your love
wherever we go.
Let your light shine before others
that everyone we meet
may see our lives of faithfulness
and glorify you,
our loving Creator.
+Amen
And Farley led us in the classic spiritual tune that Odetta and the Holmes Brothers sing so well in the video below.
Have a good week being salt and light for all those you meet!
(And P.S. -- if you have a spare prayer for Eleanor, a friend and moodlings reader who is awaiting some very important surgery, it's most definitely appreciated!)
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