“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

In 1859, Charles Dickens opened his great classic A Tale of 2 Cities with these words to compare and contrast life in London & Paris during the French Revolution. But they could just as easily describe the world we inhabit today b/c ours is a world of great beauty & great pain. A world of sickness & disease & one of medical breakthrough and recovery. A world of social injustice & unrest & one of awakening & heroic courage.

An age of enmity/strife, and one of compassion and hospitality. And in the midst of all these contrasts, our story is unfolding.

How does our life & faith bring meaning and beauty and purpose into the middle of such pain, suffering and loss? Listen this week as we seek answers to those very relevant questions.

OPENING PRAYER

God of wonder and glory, this world around us is awesome.
You created it!
You continue to hold it together,
even as we threaten to tear it apart.

God of justice and righteousness,
to you we look for the truth.
You are the ultimate judge.
Your wisdom cuts through the lies.

God of grace and mercy,
the love you have shown us in Jesus is more than we deserve.
Your arms are open wide,
like a waiting father for his prodigal children,
ready to welcome and restore.

We come to you just now thirsting for your living water.
Guide us to the streams of your wonder and glory,
your justice and righteousness, your grace and mercy,
that we may drink and be satisfied,
renewed for our continuing journey with Jesus
in whose name we pray, Amen.