Dear Friends in Christ,

I read in the newspaper that there is an unprecedented bloom of wildflowers in Death Valley.  In the San Joaquin Valley, it is a delight to experience the natural world take a deep breath and grow as the sun warms our still damp soil.

Michael Kleber-Diggs suggests in his poem Lupines in a Yard in San Antonio, Texas

The flowers speak to us. They say—
existence and persistence are the same thing.

Our religious traditions remind us that Lent means spring.  As we move through Lent we, prepare, once again, to experience springtime in our souls.

Kieran Bohan, the director of the Open Table Network says we are asking the wrong question in our churches:

We must move from the question, ‘Who is worthy?’ to the question, ‘Who is missing?’.

With God’s help, may we

Set an extra place at the table

Stay in a difficult conversation

Pray for someone whose theology differs from our own

Ask, ‘What has my faith cost me?’

For at Christ’s table, we do not guard the feast – we receive it.  And having received mercy, we learn to practice it together.

 When we ask these questions and act on these invitations we will see what new life will look like in our church.

Faithfully yours,

Rebecca