We lift our hearts and hopes to the Holy
May we have the courage to stand against the forces of this world bent on tearing us apart. Let us link arms in solidarity and rise above the strident voices of today’s news.
May We stand for justice, We stand for freedom, We stand for love, We stand for tolerance
We stand for our children , our families, our loved ones, our neighbors, no matter their race or creed , who they love or where they come from.
For those who wonder when or from  where their next meal may come And those who feast in abundance
For those who are secure in their position in society  and For those who question their neighbor’s stare and fear a knock on the door.
For firemen and rescue workers and those who patrol our streets
And for those who sleep under them
For those who wear a Hijab and those who wear a ball cap
For those who wear a kippah and those who don a Stetson
Whether we Pray on mats, or with beads, in pews, beside our  beds or in the city square
We lift our voices in song for  those who can only whisper  
For those who seek jobs and those who seek justice
and on this day we stand with Charlottesville, with the family of Heather Heyer, Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen, and Trooper Berke M. M.
For those who march for Black Lives Matter,  environmental  rights,  for justice and for peace and
For all who stand against any who would tear us apart with calls to racism, white supremacy, white nationalism, neo-nazi fear or hate.
May from this moment on, we unite to insure that those in need find help, that the hungry find food,  that refugees find shelter;  and  in standing together,  no one feels that they must stand alone.  
AMEN

After slicing my index finger Sunday I realized that Twitter is popular because it is difficult to write tomes with your thumbs.
 
The sign for life is two thumbs up
 
A church member asked me on Sunday what is on my life bucket list.  I realized I am doing what I'm meant to be doing right now. And that surprised me because lately I have been grieving about the future of our church. 
 
Scripture this morning from Mat. 13:31-35. Parables of mustard seeds and yeast. We are placed where we make the greatest difference.  If seeds or yeast remain in their packaging, with others of their own kind, are they as effective as when they are tossed into the larger world, where against the odds they make the greater impact.  We as Christians can remain surrounded by others who believe as we do- and that's fulfilling for a while. But our call, our commission, is to be seeds of truth in a barren world, and be yeast to change it, where we are planted. 👍👍