I come to the garden alone
This hymn refrain puts us inside the mind of Mary Magdalene as she went to the garden to grieve the death of her friend Jesus. In her grief, the resurrected Jesus met her there and comforted her. This is the pathway that leads to our memorial garden, a place dedicated to memory and prayer. This spot is open for anyone at anytime who would like to come and find a spot to pray. You will find the path on the Virignia Street side of the church not far from the steps leading to the sanctuary.
Come follow me
In the front of our worship space is this stained glass window which depicts Jesus motioning an invitation to come and folllow him. We understand that Jesus is still calling us to live as he lived, to love as he loved, to care as he cared, and to risk as he risked in his life. Whenever we look at this window, we are reminded of the journey we are on with Jesus as our guide and friend. The sanctuary is a place of both public prayer and quiet sanctuary.
A PRAYER OF THOMAS MERTON
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”