August Twenty Twenty

Listen to your life.
See it for the fathomless mystery that it is.
 In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness:
 touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because
in the last analysis all moments are key moments,
and life itself is grace. -Fredrick Buechner 

Though we walk in the midst of trouble, You keep us safe. Though we walk in the midst of uncertainty, You hold our future. Though we walk in the midst of cynicism, You inspire our hopes. Though we walk in the midst of division, You knit us together. Though we walk in the midst of sorrow, You guard our hearts. Keep us safe, O God, hold our future, inspire our hopes, knit us together and guard our hearts, all for the sake of Your kingdom. Amen.  -Rev. Paul Palumbo, Lake Chelan Lutheran Church 

 Praying for God's sustaining hand to hold you all as you close out this summer season and enter a new school year with uncertainty, newness, and some anxiety. I am reminded repeatedly in this season of the name they called Jesus "Emmanuel; God with us". God with us in our anxiety, God with us in the gaps, God with us in our grief, God with us in our joy, God with us in our laments, God with us in our celebrations. May we take hold and remember that God is with us on this journey of faith and life. 

-Phil Lewis