On Wednesdays when I write my sermons in my office at home, I hear the dependable stop-and-go approach of our mail carrier – same route, same rise and fall of acceleration approaching, same predictable clank as he closes each mailbox hinged door. I know that within two minutes of his turning onto our street he will have made the u-turn at the end of our cul-de-sac and be at our mailbox before he turns the corner and drones away to the next street repeating this liturgy of letter-delivery.
Almost immediately after he makes the turn, I get out of my chair to go see what surprise awaits me in the mailbox. Regardless of the fact that 90-95% of what's inside goes straight to the recycling bin, I am eager every time to see what all is there – even the junk mail. It comes to me without any effort on my part and sometimes there is a real prize in that pile: a personal letter, a card, an important piece of news and sometimes a refund check from some overpayment that I made. The ritual of receiving this grace in the mailbox makes me smile every time and I feel thankful. I also get the same feeling every morning walking out to pick up the newspaper, especially on Sunday because that edition is so chocked full of goodies that I can really use. Grace comes again, especially on Sundays.
For the next three weeks, a church member will contact you by e-mail, text or voicemail to check on you and your needs – indeed an act of grace. They will also invite you to the special grace to be celebrated each Sunday in worship as we give thanks back to God for God's grace that is delivered to our lives seven days a week.
Be sure to be present in church this Sunday! We are returning to masks optional for those vaccinated beginning this Sunday, October 17. On top of that, we will receive a very special guest at all three services who you will want to see in person.
Above all, like King David and the people of Israel (1 Chronicles 29: 10-17), we will praise God from whom all blessings flow with our manifest thanksgiving and joy.
It will be fun. See you there in the grace-filled place!
