March 29, 2025

John 14:27
Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor afraid.

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Loving Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
We, your people, come simply to say thank you for the “transplant”--
Thank you for removing
the heart and the spirit of fear that has gripped us.
Thank you for infusing our souls
with new life and new hope and new dreams.

A new life where fear is not even in the vocabulary!
I thank you that we are not orphans, not knowing who will take us in,
and instead you allow us a place at your table.
Instead, we sit around your table of grace!

Jesus calmly and firmly tells us,
“I leave my peace with you,
and I give my peace to you.
And my peace will not look like the world's peace.”

My peace, Jesus is saying,
my peace will calm your greatest fears
and soothe any of your uneasiness and lingering doubt.

Come to Jesus, my friends,
and bask in the peace that only Jesus can offer.
Sit in the presence of Jesus and listen for Jesus' voice
to calm the troubling waters of your soul.
Jesus is speaking to you and to you
and to you, to bless abundantly.

O Lord Jesus,
we’re your people who patiently wait for you.
May you pour gently the waters of baptism over us,
that we may open our eyes and see afresh and anew,
see people differently?
See you differently.
That we may be transformed
because your presence sticks out all over us
and we thank you for that!

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.