By: Conference Minister Diane Weible
Hope. I agree with the newscaster who said that an Inauguration gives hope to a country in its most difficult time. No matter who you voted for. No matter how you are feeling of the events of the past weeks and months, I hope that you are feeling a sense of hope for the possibilities that lay before us.
This morning I woke up to an email from our General Minister and President, The Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, that contained prayers and messages from two of our Ecumenical Partners. I want to share the words of one of those messages with you as my reflection this week. This comes from Dr. Deidre Palmer, President of the Uniting Church in Australia.
As the Uniting Church in Australia, we share in a global communion of churches, who are witnessing to the good news of Christ’s peace, love, reconciliation and renewal in their nations and local contexts.
Today I invite you to join in prayer for the churches and the people of the USA and particularly for those in which we share a partnership – the United Church of Christ in the USA and the United Methodist Church.
We express our deep concern and lament over the situation in the USA. We have witnessed the violence of those threatening the peaceful transition to a new administration. We pray for strength and the Spirit’s sustaining power to uphold all those people of nonviolence and peace, who are resisting the hate and lies that are undermining the flourishing of civil society.
We join in hope with those Christian leaders who have called for a new day:
“We must be willing to adopt the new hearts, minds and skills necessary to build a church and world where all belong and are embraced as beloved of
God.” Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, President, UMC Council of Bishops
We pray for God’s vision of grace, justice and love to shape the hearts and minds of all those who follow Christ.
We pray for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and their administration, as they begin their service to the American people. We pray for wisdom, courage and strength, as they respond to the health crisis and as they work for unity, and the wellbeing and common good of all Americans.
In the name of Christ, our Hope and Light, we pray. Grace and peace be with you.