Thursday, March 17, 2016

Journey to Jerusalem: United Along the Way

More than 100 different people traveled with us on this year's Journey to Jerusalem, the 6,150 miles from Elizabethtown, NC to Jerusalem, Israel! Wow!

Along the way, we have traveled with friends & family across various states, a women's basketball team, a cycle club, and even one pet dog. Pilgrims are always quite a mixed group, a motley crew, the people of God's own choosing.

Isaiah 43:5-7
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, “Give them up,”
and to the south, “Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Lord,
you choose us;
you call us;
you gather us together.
And we are a diverse group:
athletes & musicians,
business leaders & workers,
addicts & academics,
lawyers & the convicted,
doctors & the sick,
teachers & students,
mentors & apprentices,
at work, at rest, & at play,
parents, grandparents & children,
every color of the rainbow,
men & women,
young & old,
entitled & resentful,
rebellious & obedient,
hard working & lazy,
doubters & devoted,
poor & rich,
oppressed & powerful,
generous & stingy,
the good, the bad & the ugly.
we are all here.

All following you.
All loved by you.
All claimed by you.
All invited by you.
All yours.

All made in your image.
All in need of forgiveness.
All in need of grace.
All in need of love.
And all here,
in your kingdom.
All here
with our eyes toward you.

Made one Body in your suffering love.
Made one Hope in your resurrection.
Made one Church by your Spirit.

Lord,
we had no idea
just how far reaching your love is.
Thank you for including us.

We journey together
in life and faith
with our eyes focused
on the Cross of Christ and his Empty Tomb
that which makes us One.
Amen.

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