As the Father sent me so I send you

A writer I have just finished reading on the church and racial justice, (Drew Hart, Assistant Professor of Theology at Messiah University, author of who Will be a Witness: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance and Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism) gave a closing commencement prayer of encouragement. I also just watched Steve’s interview in the Wednesday Reflection with Marianne Haver-Hill, with their conversational focus on outreach and evangelism. I think we at PasCov can hear his words as a credo, words to take to heart and live boldly:

In the gospel of John 20:21, the resurrected Jesus says to his disciples “As the Father sent me so I send you.” So I pray that as you go from here you go not only proclaiming the name of Jesus but that Jesus Christ would be preeminent in your life, that you would immerse yourselves in the birth, life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus, that you would take Jesus’ way seriously as you remain attentive to the least, last, and lost, that on your way you would grow in love for your neighbor and your enemies, that God would transform how we view the Samaritans, the poor, and the vulnerable of our own society, and that we would join God’s liberating love, God’s compassionate solidarity and a deepened hope in God’s dream for all creation.

I pray that you would be attentive to God’s presence and the transformation of your mind, body and soul.

‘May you find God in the most broken of places’ [line from Dr Soong-Chan Rah’s commencement address], in the cracks, margins and edges of society.

May we go from here yielded to God’s Spirit, full of grace, mercy and truth with an ever-increasing vision of God’s beloved community.

In the Triune God I pray, Amen.

Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation