The Candle of Love

From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough
​Hello Everyone, 
SpiritCare has received a donation of reusable masks as well as some disposable ones.  If your community has a need, do let me know.  Blessings to each of you as we light the candle of Love this Sunday.   Please remember that we are praying for the health of you, your communities, and all those you love.     

Scripture:  Isaiah 65:17-18   
Look!  I am creating 
a new heaven and a new earth; 
past events will not be remembered, 
for they will not come to mind. 
Be glad and rejoice forever 
in what I am creating, 
because I am creating Jerusalem
 as a joy 
and her people as a source of gladness.    
   

Meditation​ 
There are 66 chapters in the Book of Isaiah, so these words of encouragement are coming very close to the end of the book. I find these words comforting, because what I am understanding is that we should not fear change, but rather embrace it.  How we move through change depends very much on our mental outlook.  If we want to cling to the past, or to the way things have always been done, we risk creating an idol of the past.  However, if we believe these words in Isaiah, we know that God is creating something new right now. In these words we can hear God  asking us to trust that a new heaven and earth are being created "as a joy" and that the people will be a source of gladness.

If we love and trust God, why would we not believe that?  Why would we not let these words be part of our foundation?  We, too, are being built into this new heaven and earth.  Let us be willing to let go of how we think things should be, and let things be as they are.  In that trust we will find God. In the lack of trust, we find only fleeting images of ourselves and our fears.  Let's be willing participants in God's new vision.  Isn't this what we mean when we pray, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"?  I think that earth is our very own hearts. 
 

Prayer 
This Sunday Christians will be lighting the 4th Advent candle, the candle of Love.  May the world open their hearts to this Love that is always with us.  I am including two verses of "Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates," adapted from Psalm 24:7-10. 
​
 Let us imagine our hearts as gates.  Let us raise these gates, and let Love in. 

Lift up your heads, O mighty gates; 
behold the glorious Ruler waits! 
The Sovereign One is drawing near; 
the Savior of the world is here.  
  
Fling wide the portals of your heart; 
make it a temple, set apart 
from earthly use for heaven's employ, 
adorned with prayer and love and joy.     
   
Words:  Georg Weissel, 1642; translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1855 
--
Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Associate Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ
www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com