Painting inside St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mounds, Minnesota

Almighty God, “You are the Lord and You will never change.” (Malachi 3:6) In this shell of a body, is a dream that can unite all people. The dream of a better world where everyone will know the love of God, so don’t let anything take away that dream.

And when the gravity of our situations work against us and holds us down, let hope stare us in the face and keep us in God’s light.   For You are not afraid of our storms, and our faith rests not upon who we are but in who Christ is, in His life, and in what He continues to do for all of us so “that we can know truth, and that truth will set us free.” (John 8:32)

“In any given moment we have two options; to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.” (Abraham Maslow) So “may the light of God illumine the heart of our soul. May the flame of Christ kindle us to love. May the fire of the Holy Spirit free us to live this day, tonight and forever.” (Celtic Benediction)