Christmas Wishes

Merry Christmas Neighborhood Church!

This is my last letter to you in this pandemic year of 2020. I am mixed with pride, grief, hope, and love as I think about what this year has been for us all. Last year at this time, we were meeting together at the Cloquet High School, and making plans for our move to the Hub. We were tired from setting up and tearing down cafeteria tables. We were celebrating our inclusionary work and new practices as a welcoming community for all people. We were also grieving the loss of relationships with friends and family members who exited our community. Many of us began the journey of deconstructing our faith, and our colonizing behaviors in order to practice the very things our faith in Jesus teaches. We’ve been holding fear, faith, frustrations, failures all before a global pandemic changed us again. To you, dear church, here is my prayer for us.

Divine One,

We celebrate the release of the first round of the Covid vaccine.

Thanks be to God.

We grieve the loss of family members and friends to disease and death this past year.

Comfort us, oh God.

We carry suffering, loneliness, and impatience.

Have mercy on us, oh God.

We feel guilt for our happiness, successes, and health.

Release joy in us, oh God.

We are thankful for generosity, kindness, and creativity.

Restore our faith in humanity, oh God.

We are unsure of the future.

Surround us in wisdom, oh God.

Amen.

Join us for our Christmas eve service on our website and Facebook page at 4 pm this Thursday. There will be no live service on Sunday, December 27th. Join us on Sunday, January 3rd as we welcome in the new year.

With Hope,
Nikki