Living Table is Here for You
Even in the midst of all of this, we need to be together. Join us on Sunday.
We need one another now more than ever! Over the last 24 hours my phone, email, and social media have been very busy with requests for support. We all have big feelings about the election results.
People keep asking me what can be done or what they can do or should do now. I don’t have any simple answers. I do have one big suggestion though, come to church.
Come to worship, kinship, and educational events. Come on Sunday morning to be with like-minded people who are angry, grieving, and trying to discern a path forward. Gather with people who can offer support and hope.
When my mother died, I was still new to Living Table. I wasn’t scheduled to preach the Sunday after her death so I decided to attend worship. Later that day, a friend said that they couldn’t believe I went to church, to worship.
My response was, where else would I go? I couldn’t imagine processing my grief without church.
I feel the same way now. Where else would any of us go if not to church? Join us in person or on Zoom on Sunday morning at 10:30 am as we worship and prepare for an uncertain future.
No one should be alone with their anger or grief. We need one another. Living Table needs you.
I hope to see you on Sunday, if not sooner. In the meantime, be gentle with yourself and your neighbors.
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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Long story as to why today I came across this passage from Paul’s second letter to the church at Thessalonica, but I did. It gave me the chills to read these words from almost 2,000 years ago, about “the Lawless One. (I left “Lord” in since tis is a translation of Paul’s language.)
2 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one[a] is revealed, the one destined for destruction.[b] 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus[c] will destroy[d] with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, 10 and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, 12 so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
This needs a lot of background–Rachael, I trust you can help with it!
Thanks, Doug. There is a lot that is powerful in this text. And there is much that needs unpacking for sure. However, what we can all take comfort in, is that we are not in a unique situation. People around the world have lived under arrogant, oppressive rulers and they continued to live and thrive. Love, Divine Love, cannot be obliterated by any ruler of this world be they benevolent or not.