Saint Louis Mennonite Fellowship

We’re proud of you, Robert!

We might expect the long-awaited Messiah to greet his new followers like the kings before him havewith a pompous coronation, with hunger to exert power and control over his populus. Instead, Jesus steps in line along the river’s edge, blending in with the crowds, joining in solidarity with those around him. Jesus doesn’t demand any attention, but as soon as the water washes over him, creation is summoned to celebrate. I imagine him wading into the waters and leaning back to receive the blessing that falls upon him like rain: ‘You are my beloved. I delight in you.’ from the artist statement for I Delight in You by Lisle Gwynn Garrity | A Sanctified Art LLC

Join us this Lent as again and again, we bring all of who we are to God and trust that God will meet us, time and again, along the way.

Jesus shines like a beacon atop the high mountain while former prophets appear. The disciples are terrified, but also want to live this moment forever, making the glory-filled rock face their home. At once a cloud descends, obscuring things further, and God’s voice echoes down, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him!’ (Mark 9:7). It’s almost as though Jesus had exhausted all efforts to get the disciples to listen, and God had to spectacularly reiterate the importance of listening. I think it’s important to note that following God’s words, all the disciples could see was Jesus. from the artist statement for Transfiguration by Lauren Wright Pittman | A Sanctified Art LLC

God of yesterday and God of tomorrow, you gave us the gift of remembering so that we might learn from the past, practice gratitude, and remember who we are. In this Lenten season, help me to reflect and remember your story, my story, and the way the two connect. Amen. Prayer by Rev. Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC

Gracious God, you see me when I am down, and you invite me to tell you about it. You ask me, ‘What is your name?’ And in that moment, I can respond with the lies that cover me, or I can respond, ‘I am a child of God.’ No matter what I say, I know that you love me. What a gift to be seen and called by name. Amen. Prayer by Rev. Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC

Remember when we fell in love and the world was new? Remember when our heart was broken? Remember the tears? Remember the long nights? Remember when we laughed again and the sound surprised us?... Excerpt from Remember When? by Rev. Sarah Are From the Again & Again poetry collection by A Sanctified Art LLC See more

In this image, I have represented a woman spinning up out of a whirlpool, her face shining up at the sun. She rises above the ruins of ancient cities. Background motion spins up with the energy of the woman who represents the Holy Spirit, who represents the oppressed breaking free from the yoke, breaking ‘forth like the dawn’ (Isaiah 58:8). from the artist statement for Dawn by Hannah Garrity | A Sanctified Art LLC

When do you feel the closest to God? When do you feel the furthest from God? | A Sanctified Art LLC

God invites us into thorough self examination and authentic relationship. In this image, a person kneels with arms extended, basking in the glow of God’s all-encompassing love. It is in the true pursuit of God, this intimate, inward turning, that God sees you. It is in our full, embodied, intentionality that we find deep connection with God and ourselves. This is the reward. from the artist statement for Invited In by Lauren Wright Pittman | A Sanctified Art LLC

Friends, you’ve got mail. It’s an invitation to dust off your shoes, To go deeper, To trust that you’re worth it, To lose your keys and your faith,... And then to find them both, along with your worth. You are invited. We are invited. Again and again and again. This invitation is for you. Excerpt from Invited by Rev. Sarah Are From the Again & Again poetry collection by A Sanctified Art LLC See more

In this image, God’s hands hold various animals and plant life, and are surrounded by the bands of the rainbow, shielding Creation from the swirling waters of chaotic destruction. I chose not to image humanity because the hands are at once God’s and ours. We must respond to God’s covenant by protecting and keeping the earth. It is our responsibility; it is our calling. God meets us where we areutterly dependent and bound toward self-destructionwith a promise sealed with a bow bursting with the endless spectrum of colors light holds. from the artist statement for In Our Hands by Lauren Wright Pittman | A Sanctified Art LLC

We are having a virtual puzzle contest (via zoom) on Dec 18th! You can have a team of 1 to 4 people working on it (although Pastor Jennifer says small children probably count as negative numbers due to their helpfulness ). This is a low pressure event just for fun! Just let us know if you’d like to participate! It’s a suggested $20 per team and you get to keep the puzzle (which is gorgeous and fast!) but do not let the cost stop you! We will be glad to mail it to you if you’re not in St. Louis.

Pastor Jennifer has been thinking about what it means to be prepared in the waiting. In this timely (and timeless) reflection, written for the SLMF newsletter, she names the uncertainty of election week and reminds us to trust in the Lord and to seek each other out for support: As I'm writing this on Wednesday evening, we are still waiting to learn who the president of the United States will be this next term. . . and based on what I'm hearing now, it seems we will likely sti...ll be waiting when the newsletter goes out tomorrow. I hope you are finding ways to care for yourself and step away from the never-ending news cycle. Please reach out if you need extra support. You are important. Remember that you have a community here to walk with you. Our text for Sunday is a parable about waiting -- a group of bridesmaids waiting on the bridegroom. The bridegroom is delayed, and only some of the bridesmaids have enough oil for their lamps when he finally shows up. The others go to find oil, and when they arrive at the wedding banquet, they aren't recognized and are turned away. I'm thinking a lot this week about what it means to be prepared in the waiting. Presumably the lamps connect to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus says, "You are the light of the world." How are we tending to that light now as we wait? Does our lamp need to be trimmed? Are we keeping an eye on the oil? Or to speak more clearly -- what are we doing to further the Kingdom of God even now? How are we making the world a more loving, more just place? How are we loving our neighbor? I don't know how things will look in our country at the end of the week. I do know that our work continues no matter who the winner is, no matter what the level of unrest. I'll leave you with this prayer that we used on Election Night (shared with permission from Melissa Florer-Bixler). Given the continual wait, I think it is still relevant today: Some trust in chariots, in the power of officials, in the might and strength of money; We trust in the Lord, our God, who came to God’s people and set them free. God of our rising up and our lying down, who numbers the hairs on our heads and the lambs born each spring; we do not know what the days ahead will bring, but we have seen your faithfulness in the land of the living. In each generation, you come among us, as you came to us in Jesus Christ, born again into the lives of the poor, the marginalized, the vulnerable, and the hurting. We entrust this world to your love and care, knowing that, regardless of what the days ahead hold, you will call us again to the work of justice, hope, and peace. No weapon used against us will prosper for you, the God of Hagar the enslaved, of Ruth the sojourner, of Deborah the brave have defeated death and welcome us to the reign of your peace. Amen -- Jennifer Harris Dault

Before you sleep Some trust in chariots, in the power of officials, in the might and strength of money; We trust in the Lord, our God, who came to God’s people and set them free. God of our rising up and our lying down, who numbers the hairs on our heads and the lambs born each spring;... we do not know what the days ahead will bring, but we have seen your faithfulness in the land of the living. In each generation, you come among us, as you came to us in Jesus Christ, born again into the lives of the poor, the marginalized, the vulnerable, and the hurting. We entrust this world to your love and care, knowing that, regardless of what the days ahead hold, you will call us again to the work of justice, hope, and peace. No weapon used against us will prosper for you, the God of Hagar the enslaved, of Ruth the sojourner, of Deborah the brave have defeated death and welcome us to the reign of your peace. Amen (Election day Scriptures, links, and reflections compiled by Melissa Florer-Bixler)

Luke 6:20-25 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,... for you will be filled. ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. ‘But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. ‘Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. ‘Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. (Election day Scriptures, links, and reflections compiled by Melissa Florer-Bixler)

We will be meeting on Zoom at 6 p.m. (central) to hold our anxiety, our hopes, and our fears together before God. If you need the Zoom link, please message us or contact Pastor Jennifer.We will be meeting on Zoom at 6 p.m. (central) to hold our anxiety, our hopes, and our fears together before God. If you need the Zoom link, please message us or contact Pastor Jennifer.

Psalm 86 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord,... and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love towards me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Find a comfortable position. In silence, with your eyes closed, attend to each part of your body, starting at your head and moving to your feet. Notice the places where there is tension or pain. Offer to God these places with the words you are holy. (Election day Scriptures, links, and reflections compiled by Melissa Florer-Bixler)