And so we contribute to Methodist programs for gender equity and health access, to education and to other concerns, all of which help people by supporting their human dignity and their physical wholeness. We will have envelopes in our bulletins in which you can contribute, or you might simply stipulate an amount on your check or your electronic contribution.

We will also have a guest pianist this week (and another next week!), auditioning for the role that Kathie Chavka has served so faithfully for us. Yuxiang Jiang is a young and gifted pianist, and I’m looking forward to hearing him play. Please make him welcome and feel free to share your thoughts with me or with Kathy Smith, who is head of SPRC.

I’ll see you in church!

Becky

Prayer

Holy God,

You created the world and called it good.

You continue to involve yourself with what happens here.

We sometimes live our lives oblivious to the needs and injuries of others.

Forgive us for not paying attention.

Grant that we might participate in your love,

in your care for the world.

Help us to notice the people who are hurting,

the ones held back by lack of access to all the things we take for granted:

clean water, a solid education, equal access to our human rights.

Help us to be part of the solution,

to persist in our efforts to effect change,

to honor your essential justice and your love for your creation

by treating it all with care and respect.

We pray these things in the name of the One who showed us in his daily life,

here among humanity,

a love and respect for your world that teaches us a better way. Amen.