Endings and Beginnings
“When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” (Maria, Sound of Music)
Well, the door may be closing on our time together at St. James, but that window of new opportunity will be open, for all of us, individually and for the future of St. James.
After all, it’s our fundamental belief as Christians. Jesus lived as we lived, with joys and sufferings. He died, but gave us incredible hope of new life with His resurrection. He came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). We are forever being made new.
David O. Taylor captures this reality of endings and beginnings in his lovely collects from Prayers for the Pilgrimage:
For the Ending of a Season of Life
O Lord, you who ended your earthly ministry in God’s good time, we give you thanks for the ending of this season of life: for the gifts of grace that nourished us, the experiences of hardship that deepened our character, the happy-sad moments that we encountered along the way, the friendships that sustained us and the memories that we will cherish for years to come; grant us your peace, we pray with all that we leave behind and your joy with all that awaits us ahead, so that we might end this season in faith, hope, and love. We pray this in the name of the One who brings all our stories to a good end. Amen.
For the Beginning of a New Season of Life
O Lord, you who began your earthly ministry in God’s good time, bless, we pray, the beginning of this new season of life: bless the adventures that await us, the newness that excites us, the strangeness that will surprise us, and the growth that will be required of us; grant us also your peace that passes all understand to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, so that we might begin this new season in faith, hope, and love, trusting that you go before and behind us in all things. We pray this in the name of the One who superintends in love all our earthly sojourns. Amen.
In the song “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera, Christine sings these closing lines:
Flowers fade, the fruits of summer fade, they have their season, so do we, but please promise me that sometimes, you will think of me.
I know that I will think of you often and hold you close to my heart, cherishing the journey we have traveled together. Thank you all for your gifts of welcome, support, and love.
God’s peace, Judy Q
