While we are limping away
and earthquakes and terrible fires,
and from great failures in compassion,
not to speak of the small
and so personal pain in lives
of all the folks in all our churches,
we do these simple things
that all the world calls crazy —
we put water on children,
and we install a woman of God.
We need your courage, Cleo
someone to send a dove
for an olive branch of peace,
someone to mix in a little leaven
and pulling over to pray at 1:11,
someone to carry spices to every place
where sad people need to hear
about the resurrection,
someone to speak Pentecost words
that does not know “churchy” language
but recognizes the truth in a life
that knows both mess and message,
the rim of the dark horizon
and the dawn of hope.
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God’s grace be with you this autumn day of celebration and every day of your ministry.
– Maren C. Tirabassi, October 8, 2017
Congratulations, Rev. Cleo. Thinking and praying for your ministry today and all days.
I hope this helped your event. This version is missing a couple lines “from storms” and “breaking bread” but what it is not missing is the incredible presence of your ministry — all your life and in a very special way now!!!
Congratulations, Rev. Cleo. Prayers for your ministry today and all the coming days.
Thank you Amy. My second post didn’t post.
It was and still is a wonderful piece which was read at the service, inserted the bulletin and it was also posted on my FB page. It captures the heart of the event. Thank you Maren. I’ll post a corrected copy.