“ Blessed are those [who seek virtue], who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
Dear Friends of the Wholeness Service,
Here at the end of the year this is our prayer: The past is behind us. We lift our heads and pray for a different kind of year in 2023 as we peer into the future. The theme for this year is The Beatitudes, and we will focus on “Blessed are those [who seek virtue], for they shall be filled. “ The challenge of this scripture is growing into a beautiful pattern of always seeking righteousness so that we may be filled.
Is it possible that our hunger and thirst for virtue will be satisfied? We know that Jesus wouldn’t make such a promise and not fulfill it. But what does virtuous mean and how do we strive to achieve something that seems so vague? “Few are familiar with the seven, heavenly virtues that serve as counterparts to the seven deadly sins. It’s important to know about these virtues, or good habits, so you can answer the call to personal holiness … The seven heavenly virtues are humility, liberality, chastity, meekness, temperance, brotherly love, and diligence.” (John Laney in “The Seven Heavenly Virtues.”)
Participants are invited to mask or not, as they see fit. The sanctuary will be arranged in a mindful social distancing arrangement.
Communion will include gluten free elements. All are welcome at the Lord’s table. As usual, the services will involve the beautiful music from the Taizé Community in France, along with intercessory prayer, personal prayer and anointing, candle-lighting, silence, a message or meditation, and communion. As part of this service, we will sing favorite Christmas carols.
We hope that you will be able to attend in person! If you are not able, we will also live-stream the services and post a recorded copy to our YouTube channel. We hope you can join us with beautiful worship in song, scripture, and prayers, and please spread the word and invite others.
As always please be in prayer about our services and the many people necessary to put them on. Right now, we are always in need of people to serve as ushers to pass out the bulletins and songbooks and people to set up and take down the changes to the sanctuary to accommodate the service. If you can help in any of these capacities, please email us at volunteer@wholeness-service.org. Thank you!
We look forward to seeing you December 11, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.!
Blessings,
Rev. Mary Powell
