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Post-election prayerful thoughts.

11/10/2016

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In the last few days, there have been many different responses to the election results. Some jubilant, some tragic. For my part, like many of my colleagues, I'm acutely aware of the fact that Sunday is coming. And that on Sunday, I'll need to stand in front of this congregation and preach the good news. The same thing I try to do every week - and yet this week is different.

This week, in the wake of the election, we are even more divided than we were last week - a feat that I didn't think was possible. For liberals, hope feels out of reach. For those who have championed our President-elect, these have been good days. And yet, tensions continue to rise. We are divided along so many different lines - struggling to hear each other over the chaos and ill-will. In response to this division, our Bishops in Connecticut have issued this letter. As I always am, I'm grateful for their wisdom and their faithfulness. 

As Christians, most of us are familiar with Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." I've returned to this phrase again and again in the days since the election - they've almost become a mantra for me. When the ground shakes, and the world shifts, it's important for us to remember as people of faith that our God doesn't change. What this means for us is that the part of us that comes from God doesn't change either - and by extension, neither does our work. Because Jesus is the same today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow. Our work of welcoming the immigrant, seeking justice, respecting the dignity of every human being, is the same today as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow. No matter what changes around us, this job description does not.

​While we may stand at different places on the political spectrum, we are one in Christ. We are one Body, connected by faith, sacrament, and the mystery of God. We are responsible for one another - and for the peace of the world. So, while we seek peace and reconciliation, let's also remember to claim space at the table for all of our neighbors. While we try to move forward together, let's also remember that there are many among us who now are afraid. Who worry about the whole host of concrete ways their lives, and the lives of those they love, feel threatened. And let us remember that as Christians, it is our job not only to speak peace - but to work for it. To proclaim to the world that a light shines in the darkness and that the darkness can never overcome it. To claim for each one of our neighbors a place at the table that God sets for all of us - the feast prepared from the foundation of the world.

In God's abundance, there is space at this table for all of us. And it is my deep belief that Christ still goes looking especially for those who are left out, lost, oppressed, and excluded. Throughout his life on earth, Jesus sought out these people - and we are called to this work, too - by virtue of our faith, by virtue of our baptism. We are resurrection and reconciliation people. We believe that hope is never truly lost - that life always triumphs over death - and that with God all things are possible. We also believe in forgiveness, in redemption - and in the truth that we are all made in the image of God. And we promise in our Baptismal Covenant to love all people, "[to] seek and serve Christ in all persons," and "[to] respect the dignity of every human being" (BCP, 305).

​In the midst of the messiness of this life, hold fast to the truth that Jesus lives; and that because of his life, you also live. He is the same today as he was yesterday - as he will be tomorrow. I don't say this because I want to minimize the effect of fear and isolation. For many of us, this feeling is both real and overwhelming. We are encouraged by Jesus and the church to participate in the life of the world around us - and so it is good and right that we do so. But even as we participate, we must remember that even though we live in this world, we are not of this world. We are called and chosen to be citizens of the household of God. And this citizenship makes us who we are. Because of this citizenship, there is nothing anyone can do to change the most important part of you: that you are God's beloved.

You are loved so completely, so fully by our God that your mind, your heart, your body cannot hold it all. Nothing you can ever do, nor anything anyone else can ever do, not life or death or powers or anything else in all creation can separate you from this love. This love doesn't go away because of who you love, it isn't limited because of the color of your skin, it isn't conditional on your wanting it, your education, your tax bracket, or anything else that you can think of. This love is for you - and it stays with you - so that you can give it away. And because of that - we have work to do. To make the table longer. To draw the circle wider. To seek justice and love mercy and claim safe space for all of our neighbors - especially the poor, the lonely, the sick, and the outcast - because Jesus was especially fond of them.

​Looking forward to being with you on Sunday. I'm enclosing below one of the prayers we said today at Morning Prayer as we offered special prayers for our nation.


Help us, O Lord, to finish the good work here begun. Strengthen our efforts to blot out ignorance and prejudice, and to abolish poverty and crime. And hasten the day when all our people, with many voices in one united chorus, will glorify your holy Name. Amen. (BCP, 839)


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Politics and Prayer.

11/1/2016

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A few weeks ago, I had breakfast with someone from the church who was concerned about the political climate in which we find ourselves. He asked about how we, as Christians, might address this. Knowing that not everyone will agree, how do we create a climate amongst ourselves that is peaceful? And respectful? A space where we can all discern God's will, what God would have us do, despite where we might disagree on the issues?

In the wake of that conversation, he wrote a prayer that we have been using in worship for the last few weeks. It borrows some language from our Book of Common Prayer, and I edited it lightly, but it is largely his creation. I'll include it at the end of this posting. As we approach November 8th, I commend it to you as an addition to your own personal prayer practice. 

Our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry has spoken about the importance of Christians (and specifically Episcopalians) going to the polls next week. In fact, he calls voting a "Christian obligation." Our Bishops, here in Connecticut, have also written a letter urging us to do the same. They remind us, too, that the overall tone of this election is "not worthy of our country's great democratic ideals." 

And so, mindful of our chief pastors calling us to vote - and reminding us of the way in which we treat one another, I'm writing also to encourage you to go to the polls. I do so with a great awareness of the fact that we do not, in the Episcopal Church, endorse any specific candidate(s). While there may be other pastors and denominations in which this is common, it's not part of our tradition. However, as Christians, we believe in discipline and personal responsibility. So it should not come as a surprise that so many Episcopalians are speaking out about the importance of voting - about the privilege and responsibility of participating in our great process of democracy. So, while I will not endorse a specific candidate, there are two thoughts that continue to bubble up for me as this election approaches.

First, I want to echo our Bishops call to go and vote. Vote your conscience. Vote your faith. Vote within your Christian identity, as someone who believes in the good news of Jesus Christ. Vote as someone who heard Jesus say last week in the Gospel that "the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). Vote knowing that as a part of the Body of Christ, this decision and all of your decisions affect the rest of the body - the people to whom you (and we) are connected all around this world. Vote knowing that you are exercising your voice in a way that is profoundly Christian. Vote.

And second - I pray that we will all keep in mind that when this election is over, we all will still be here. There will be a country that needs to get on with the work of governing, elected leaders on both sides of the aisles, on many different sides of issues, who will have work to do together. There will be people all over this great country who are either joyful or disappointed. And because this election cycle has been so divisive, there will be some healing that needs to be done. Regardless of what happens at the polls on 11/8, there will be bridges that need to be rebuilt and relationships that need to be re-imagined. When this happens, I pray that as Christians, we will be able to help repair those breaches, to speak peace in the face of conflict, and love in the face of hate. Our God teaches us through scripture and tradition that we are all connected, all responsible for one another - and all part of God's family. Together.

I will be unable to be at my polling place on 11/8, so I have already mailed in an absentee ballot. Please join me in taking up this great privilege of a civic duty, and to do so faithfully, with Jesus in your heart. God bless you as make your decision. God bless you no matter the outcome. And God bless this great country that we call home.



Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide us as we prepare to elect new leaders in our country and in our state. Remind us that we are responsible for the health and wholeness of all of our brothers and sisters, but especially those who are hungry, homeless, sick and wounded, oppressed and bereaved, lonely and anguished. Give to us the ability to see clearly, and to choose wise leaders who reflect your commandments in their words and actions; give, O Lord, to all the candidates elected your spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice. Enable all of our elected leaders to enact justice with kindness so that the rights of all may be protected and our nation may be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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    Author

    The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach is an Episcopal priest, writer, and spiritual wanderer. She is blessed to serve as Rector and partner-in-ministry to God's beloved at
    St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Wilton, CT. 
    The views expressed here are her own and do not represent the views of any other body or insititution. 

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