Journey Towards God

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 21 BCP 234)

I've done a lot of running during my time in Franklin. Running around town to train for triathlons and marathons, and the Applefest 5K Race for Any Pace. I've also been running in other ways, running towards the future, running towards more support for St. John's outreach programs, running towards God. Not all of us can physically run of course, even my knees are starting to protest, but as we continue to strive in following Jesus, we grow in grace.

This coming Sunday will be my last as St. John's priest. Together we will pause in our running and reflect on the ministry of the last five years and start to imagine new futures. I expect this occasion will involve no little amounts of sorrow, anger, frustration, and joy as we acknowledge the changes going on in our community. I pray you will make some effort to be present, on Saturday night at 5, Sunday morning on Zoom, or Sunday in-person at 10.

Together we have been on a journey towards God, at various different paces. In this transition, we continue the journey towards God, even if we go in different directions. In the end, what we seek is the same, being fully alive in God. May God bless each and every one of us on our journey. Amen.