What’s wrong with many of our churches today is that they’re no longer sanctuaries. Not in the truest sense. Sanctuaries are supposed to be a holy place yet through the centuries they were also known for being a safe place. They’re no longer safe places. They’re no longer places of refuge.

We have made ourselves so holy, no brokenness can enter in for healing.

We have made ourselves so holy, we only let Nicodemus in because he fits our picture of a saint. But we won’t let the woman at the well inside or the Good Samaritan.

We have made ourselves so holy, we will sit in solemn, worshipful silence while our neighbor is bleeding out in the street.

We have made ourselves so holy, we forget our Holy God is also wholly love.

We have made ourselves so holy, we won’t sit at Jesus’ feet. Nor will we sit with Hannah in her pain. But we’ll praise Joseph for being a perfect ruler.

We have made ourselves so holy, we forget we are a bloody mess in need of redemption, having more in common with the broken than the perfect.

In sunshine or rain, in joy or in pain, God with us, God for us, God in us

In war or in peace, though trials come or they cease, God with us, God for us, God in us

Peace unto you, peace and grace from God our Father, from God our Mother, from God our Savior.

Hope unto you, hope and love from God our Father, from God our Mother, from God our Savior.

God in our loss, God in our gain, God with us, God for us, God in us

Savior in the dark, Savior in the light, God with us, God for us, God in us

Peace unto you, peace and grace from God our Father, from God our Mother, from God our Savior.

Hope unto you, hope and love from God our Father, from God our Mother, from God our Savior.