Liturgy

God of heaven, we live in a world where we often feel invisible.
We swirl around in activity, neither seen nor seeing.
Our heads are filled with what must be done, dealt with, delivered.
Sometimes we find we are out of touch with others —
And even less in touch with ourselves.

We turn our eyes to you, the one who knows us completely.
We reach out for you, the one who heals and gives new life.

Oh God, slow us down.
Freeze frame us and move us moment by moment
So that we can see you
So that we can see each other
So we can see ourselves.

We turn our eyes to you, the one who knows us completely.
We reach out for you, the one who heals and gives new life.

No longer caught in the blur of movement,
We are present in a different way
Seen and heard and recognized,
Connected to you and to each other —
Belonging together, belonging to you.

We turn our eyes to you, the one who knows us completely.
We reach out for you, the one who heals and gives new life.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Scripture

We invite you to hear from the gospel of John 4:

6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.), 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?”

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.

Homily and Reflection

Homily Podcast – Belonging As Witness 3.19.2023

How might you consider sacred repair and healing for exiled parts of your life? For  people exiled?

How might you move toward more belonging for yourself and others?

What does a commitment to Beloved Community look and sound like for you in the coming weeks?

Benediction

Let us leave with a benediction.

May God give you places to go
That fill you up with goodness and light
Where your every need is met
And your heart is not alone.

May God give you places to be
Where all parts of you are welcome
Every exile tended and cared for
Every lost one seen and claimed.

May God give you places to explore
That are open to the othered ones
Creating a centered space
Where all belong together.

In the name of God the creator, Christ the healer, and the guiding Spirit. Amen.

[ Photo by Shivani ]