TODAY LET the church BE THE CHURCH!

LORD GOD of HOLY SURPRISES!
YOU quicken our hearts with LAUGHTER.
YOU awaken us with NEW MERCIES.
YOU interrupt the expected with the MIRACULOUS.

WE Praise YOU.
WE Bless YOU.
WE GLORIFY YOU in all the Universe.

Thank YOU for eyelashes that fight away the dust.
Thank YOU for finger and toe nails to protect us from abrasions.
Thank YOU for FLOWERS that burst through cement,
RAINBOWS that bring closure to storms,
EAGLES who have no fear of heights!

Oh LORD, Our LORD,
How INCREDIBLE YOU are.
YOU make our ordinary days REMARKABLE.
YOU Bathe us in oils of ENCOURAGEMENT and Clothe us with PEACE.
YOU absorb the sting from the arrows hurled at us.
YOU put us in Spaces of BEAUTY.

NO Stained Glass Window has been able to depict YOUR RADIANCE.
NO Hymn accurately reveal YOUR PASSION.
NO LITANY rise to the heights of YOUR THRONE ROOM.
NO PROPHET utter YOUR GLORY!

TODAY lead us away from our self indulgent foolishness.
TODAY motivate us with KINGDOM of GOD thoughts.
TODAY establish KINGDOM grounds and priorities for ALL of our RELATIONSHIPS.
TODAY anoint us to "LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!"

TODAY LET the church BE THE CHURCH!

IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

AMEN.

~Reverend Cecelia Williams Bryant~