Day 40: June 13

Scripture: Revelation 21:1 – 7  

On this day, we invite you to practice fasting or abstinence, praying for the gathering of the Virginia Annual Conference  

Eugene Peterson’s The Message declares of this text: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people; he’s their God...”

John of Patmos had a vision for all time, a vision of a huge city where all people would live together in love and justice. We might say it was a vision of urban renewal! In his time, a vision of God bringing hope to people who were persecuted, poor, and enslaved as citizens of Rome was a powerful word of assurance.

In our time, Christianity has become a respected religion, a religion of the status quo of our society. We are tempted to not heed the promise of God in Scripture to make a new earth and even a new heaven. We are still called, right here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, to hear God’s call for love and justice among all peoples. We share this vision for a society where we can all be whole and where God reigns in our midst.

It is simultaneously Good News for “born heres” and “come heres,” for lifelong United Methodists and for people who have never been exposed to the grace and goodness of God in Christ. We who share in John’s vision and hope must deal with a wounded earth and with each other, trusting in God’s power to heal us and all of creation. We have a powerful message of hope and God’s love to share all over Virginia. We are being invited to proclaim that indeed God can, and will, and is making ALL THINGS NEW.  

Prayer: O Gracious God, you have promised something we can hardly believe. You have said you will make a new heaven and a new earth, shattering all of our expectations of what heaven and earth are like in your sight. If you have this kind of power, you can even make a new Church, a new Virginia Conference, a new me. All we have to do and all I have to do is believe that you have shown up in our neighborhood to show us how to live and how to love you by serving your people. Help us to humbly and boldly follow you. Amen.  

Bishop Charlene Kammerer