A Message from Mother Jenny 07.19.2024

The title of John O’Donohue’s book, To Bless the Space Between Us, has inspired me to design our upcoming Monday evening summer vesper series around two things. The first is to bless.

 

To bless, as I am coming to understand it more fully, means to intend, from the deepest place in your heart, the highest good for the other. It means to hallow, to hold in reverence, and to behold in awe the divine presence of God that abides in us and in the space between us.

 

To bless is to invoke divine care upon ourselves and others, knowing that it is God who bestows this grace. To bless is to pray for those with whom we disagree, those who may have hurt us in some way, or for those who have asked for our prayers. Because, at its deepest level, to bless invokes an unseen power that is available for protection and is able to make whole that which is broken.

 

This leads me to the second reason for offering these summer vesper services, which is to continue the work of reconciliation and healing within Grace Church. When we gather for prayer, healing happens. When we voice our hurts, healing happens. When we agree to disagree without shame, blame or attack, reconciliation happens. And, the more we bless from the heart, with a deep desire to see the good in all, the more divisions will fall away.

 

I look forward to our time together on Monday evenings July 22, 29 and August 5 as we gather in the Malm Narthex at 7pm to pray and to bless. I hope you will come.

 

Gratefully,

Mother Jenny+