I wrote and shared the following blessing to close the Sacred Pause worship for Harmony on Monday, August 28, 2023.

O God that brings us the majestic wonder of sunrises and sunsets,

What a summer it has been. From picnics and bbq’s to swimming and sunbathing. Kids laughing and playing. Time spent outdoors embracing the wonders of your creation but also indoors to escape the rising temperatures. Yes, basking in the sun, burned by the heat. For we are like the land, thirsting for water. Oh God, how we have been reminded yet again of the destruction of your creation. The devastating loss on Maui and many other places being scarred by the effects of climate change and human greed. We pray for those effected. For the families of lives lost, livelihoods gone, culture charred, and history burned down. We pray for land with resolve to do better.

We started the season with Pride. A joyous celebration of who we are as your beloved and a protest against those systems still seeking to oppress us. We journeyed the eras of Taylor Swift, even if we didn’t attend, breathing into the spirit of friendship bracelets passed among strangers, united by a common love. We embraced a renaissance lead by Queen B and stepped into a new life of hope, freedom, and self-love.

Summer break now comes to an end, just as quickly as it began. Camps and Reunions are drawing to a close. Friendships renewed, Friendship created. Camp spaghetti, Dish lines, classes, and chats. Memories shared and lived. From Black Socks to Sanctuary, joy around the campfire closing our days. The love of you, oh Holy One, helped shape it all.  

We now continue towards fall. We pray for school staff and students back on campus’ near and far. We pray AND work towards peace in our schools so that education can flourish and the youngest among us can grow in the light of your hope for them.

God, the days are getting shorter, signaling that it is now time to prepare for one season to fade into another. Just as the green of summer fades into oranges and yellows and reds. We say goodbye to a summer of bright skies, and sometimes midnight rain, all of which brought forth much joy but also a cruel summer that saw deep loss for many. We now walk into the dimming but hopeful light of a Fall that embraces our return and reminds that change is beautiful. We take with us memories of flips flops, Barbie, and Boom Chick-a-Boom, and embrace pumpkin spice kisses, new seasons of our favorite shows, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), and the spirit of community that seems to be so strong around the time of trick-or-treating and hayrides.

God, you have been with us on our journey thus far and we pray that we continue to recognize your Spirit at work in our lives moving forward. We give gratitude for a life that is not yet determined but that invites us into a spirit of co-creating with you. May we now run with you towards this season of change, or at the very least, come together for a brisk walk towards cooler temperatures that are warmed by friendship and your love. Amen.