Food for the Journey
August 19, 2021
Story of Faith title
by Karen Sande
I, and I’m sure all of you, have experienced a wide spectrum of emotions recently. Many welcome emotions: relief that First Lutheran Church and most things in our lives began to open up and function normally, joy that we can sing out loud again, happiness at teaching piano and organ students in person again, satisfaction that my youngest son had a delayed college graduation/reunion with classmates. And many unwelcome emotions: sadness for those who have lost loved ones, anger that so many in the world still have little access to vaccines, fear that covid is not going away, despair for those impacted by natural disasters, climate change and political upheaval.
Yet there is great comfort and hope knowing that Jesus experienced all of these emotions, too, and that we as a community are here to share and support each other in our joys and sorrows. As we will sing/pray this Sunday at our 8:30am service: Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living. This hymn is found in our new worship supplement, All Creation Sings, words by Ruth Duck (b. 1947), sung to an Irish tune Wild Mountain Thyme:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving.
Spirit, open my heart.
God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender.
Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory.
May I weep with those who weep; share the joy of friend and neighbor.
As I live from day to day, love will be my finest labor.