Dear Friends in Christ -
The Prayer Walk Around Shelton was a huge success. About 50 parishioners from St. Paul's and two Methodists participated over the course of the 2-day, 30 mile event. We prayed for ALL the various parts of our community - from garbage collectors and dumps to children and schools to farms and grocery stores - and had a wonderful time talking about the various things going on in our lives.
Even with all the training I did (about 400 miles over the course of 5 months), I was surprised to have actually been able to walk the whole way 'round. I've never done anything remotely like that in my life! I know that training works in my spiritual life (the "heavy lifting" of daily prayer and Scripture reading allows me to go the distance connected to God in my life and work), but I didn't know if it would work with my not-as-young-as-it-used-to-be body. Well, I got through the whole 30 miles without so much as a pulled muscle or a blister!
Now, it's time for my fingers to do the walking. This blog and my garden have been sorely neglected over the course of the summer. This back-to-school season of transition brings plenty of anxiety, so now we need to do the important work of regathering . . . and storytelling. Down through the centuries in cultures all around the world, sharing tales of tragedy and triumph, deaths and resurrections, has kept communities together and moving forward for good.
Sooo . . . this blog is the perfect medium for story-telling, and I've got a bunch saved up from my summer reading and adventures. May the words on these pages and the meditations of our hearts bring joy to God and encouragement to one another!
Faithfully and joyfully with you,
Janet+
