Oh, how do we begin? Do we allow the words of lament to be the space to feel sorrow or do we allow more time, words, and feelings to flow? Am I to jump in quickly with the "God is good" or does that somehow feel a little hollow right now? Donald Trump and his campaign convinced enough Americans, the majority of voters, that we live in a third world country right now, that everything is terrible, the invasion of immigrants is an act of war that needs a military response, and that government, especially the federal government, can't be trusted to help people so that people were aiming guns at FEMA workers who were literally there to help people caught in hurricane disasters. The election is over, so now I can freely talk about 'politics'. Many, who voted for him, held their noses at his bizarre speeches and accusations and incoming racist policies and lack of moral character, and voted for him anyway. Many voted for him knowing full well that this could be the end
First of all, I invite everyone to stand. When I was at the clergy retreat, besides singing refrains, the retreat leader asked us to follow Taylor Swift (actually she didn't know who Taylor Swift was) and shake it off. Last year during Pizza and Social Justice, Kristin did a similar exercise with our youth. Shaking our bodies and letting go does help release our anxieties and the toxins that build up in our bodies. I am not going to put on any music, but let us take a couple minutes and shake our bodies. Be aware of those around you, and maybe swing your arms, bounce a little bit. REady? Begin... You may be seated. Can anyone tell me why Jesus' hometown people tried to throw him off a cliff the first time he preached after he was baptized? ... It was because they believed he was coming home to set up shop and they would have wealth and prosperity because all of Israel would flock to Jesus, the new prophet, the new king, the new messiah. And then Jesus told them the story of