Blessings for the Journey

On Sunday, September 23, the congregation send me on my sabbatical journey with a commissioning and a blessing.  The Rev. Dr. Ralph Nelson prayed the following prayer:

"Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31.

O God, upon whom we wait and to whom we must draw apart in order to be renewed in mind, heart, and strength; we praise you and give you heartfelt thanks for the ministry of Lynn Williamson; the gifts which you have given to her for the building up of this congregation and the care and strengthening of its people.  We are grateful for her preaching and teaching, for her sharing of our common lives and the sense of direction she brings to this church.

Now as she draws apart for a time to be with you, to wait upon to, to rebuild her mind, to reach out to you in prayer, to learn from others, to travel to her spiritual roots, to search out your Spirit for guidance, for deepening and direction, we pray that she may renew strength, that her spirit may take wings, that he might re-enter the ministry which you have set before her with fresh zeal and renewed faith.

Be with her in all her travels to keep her safe and return her once again to those she has come to love, that she may serve with honor and faithfulness and renewed insight in the tasks which you have set before her. For this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thank you, Ralph, and thank you, Shepherd of the Hills Choir  who sent me off with a beautiful prayer, too-- "May the Lord Watch Over You" arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram.
I have spent this past week visiting people and making last minute preparations.  Now my suitcase is packed. Tomorrow, Barb Watters and I head to Denver.  We fly out Tuesday morning. 

While we are in Israel, we will be blogging at barbandlynn.blogspot.com.  Please follow this portion of my sabbatical there.