A New Day of Hope

Sunday Collect - January 30, 2022

“Oft hope is born when all is forlorn.” J. R. R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

---

COLLECT

A recap/summary of the week’s prayers and contemplations

MONDAY
We visited Black Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer’s garden of hope. 

TUESDAY
We witnessed Jesus flip over tables to let in a fresh breeze of hope. 

WEDNESDAY
We shared beatitudes of hope for those who care for our earth. 

THURSDAY
We found hope beneath the wings of Emperor penguins.

FRIDAY 
We continued to hope despite the cold, dark, bitter winter. 

SATURDAY 
We looked back on our week for glimmers of hope. 

---

PRAXIS

Whenever I despair about the meaning of life and if life-ever-after is worth hoping for, I look to the skies. Much like Howard Thurman found hope studying Emperor penguins, I find hope studying the cosmos: stars, black holes, nebulas, galaxies, the solar system, super novas, auroras, solar and lunar eclipses, asteroids, meteors, meteorites. And don’t even get me started on the concepts of light years and dark matter and gravity. Just the mention of these things and I can’t help but to exclaim, “There must be a God!” And if not a God, then there must be something more than my small breath of life. 

Find something that makes you feel both small and infinite. Whenever you despair, let it be your last gasp of hope. 

---

THE LORD’S PRAYER

From the New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever.

Amen.