Rochester, MN Congregational Church Peace and Justice

Guide our feet into the path of peace. LUKE 1:79

The Congregational Church UCC has established a tradition of observing the Sunday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend as “Peace and Justice Sunday”.  This Sunday, our morning worship will include a conversation with Rochester resident George Thompson.  George will help us reflect on the theme of “Hope” as he shares experiences both personal and professional that have shaped and continue to shape his commitment to living a life of hope with integrity and authenticity.  As we give ear to his story, perhaps we will find renewed inspiration for how and where we can find hope and live out of hope as individuals and as a congregation in this present time and place.

 IN THE LAST WEEKS, my heart has been heavy from all that is happening in the world.  It’s in times like this that I seek out deeper connection to the Holy for hope and inspiration, often through prayer or meditation. This week, I want to share with you the Prayer of St. Francis, a prayer that has brought me great comfort and encouragement as I consider who my faith in Jesus calls me to be in this chaotic time. I hope that you will find it helpful and I pray that we all can find ways for our souls to be fed.

 Peace, Pastor Shannon

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.