Rogation Sunday

Lectionary Reading

Revelation 21:1-8, 22-22:5
Psalm 67
John 14:21-29

Tithe Poem

Death Shall be No More | Revelation 20 & 21
In Memoriam, Jane Miller

Sorrow intermingles into joy
and it is agony. The husband distraught
keens beside his wife already diminished,
wasting away.

And yet. And yet. We do not lose heart,
somehow. Somehow as the Spirit hovers
even now within her, above her, thorough her,
though her outer, visible self decays,
her invisible, inner spirit is being renewed.
The Spirit ministers still moment by moment.

Christian—remember who you are.
Remember the water of the river of life
flowing from on high to you
for the glory of God and the life of our neighbor.
Remember the fruit of the tree of life
put in your hand to nourish and guide.
The fruit is of Christ’s out-pouring,
long-suffering, cruciform love.

The water flowing; the wine-press crushed.
Do not lose heart. Do not shrink back and be destroyed.
Have faith. Hold fast and preserve your soul
through the One who weeps for you,
who conquered death at the last
who has mercy when we go astray,
who blesses those who ought be cursed.
Oh, Abba, do not be far off.
We hurt. We need you so.