PRAYER
O God, we come before you with heavy hearts as we read the news of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona and the path of death and destruction they leave in their wake.
We pray for those in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Florida, and many other communities as they face the loss of lives, widespread power outages, and decimated homes and buildings. We pray also for those communities bracing for Ian’s arrival later today.
May God grant strength to all impacted by horrific storms, safety to those still facing imminent threats, and fortitude to those working to provide relief and care.
Compassionate God, source of all comfort, we pray for the people whose lives have been devastated this hurricane season. Bring them comfort, we pray. Protect the vulnerable. Strengthen the weak. Keep at bay the spread of disease. Have mercy on all those working to rebuild. And may our response to their suffering be generous and bring you praise. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
SERMON
Remember that emotion is not a debatable phenomenon. It is an authentic reflection of our subjective experience, one that is best served by attending to it. —Curt Thompson, Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections Between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices that Can Transform Your Life and Relationships
POINT: Emotions are an authentic reflection of our
POINT: We want to feel things deeply, and be
Proverbs 28:13-14 NRSV
No one who conceals transgressions will prosper,
but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Happy is the one who is never without fear,
but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity.
The rising strong reckoning has two simple parts:
1. engaging with our feelings,
2. getting curious about the story behind the feelings—what emotions we’re experiencing and how they are connected to our thoughts and behaviors.
Psalm 139:23-24 NRSV
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
POINT: Life can be