Over the summer, we have been paying attention to the fruit of the Spirit growing within us and between us. We have listened to one another’s stories—stories of love and struggle, of joy and sorrow, of peace and patience, kindness and faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. Some of us have heard every story. Some of us haven’t heard any. But, together, as a community, we’re growing the sweet fruit of the Spirit.
How has the fruit of the Spirit grown in you over the summer? What has sprouted, even if it’s just a deeper desire for growth? What has grown bigger? What has grown softer, or deepened in color?
Like the earth and her creatures, we are made to be fruitful. We are growing in ways that we can see and in ways that we cannot yet see. This past Sunday, we met at Kingfisher Farm to wrap up this summer series. Here is a prayer that we used during our ALL OUT:
Creator, giver of growth, you take what is hidden, and you draw it towards your light. You take what is small, and you nourish it so that it grows. You take what is unsupported, and you provide support and structure so it can bear fruit. We thank you for the ways we have grown, even when we do not notice it.
We thank you for love that has stretched us, for joy that has surprised us, for peace that has steadied us.
We thank you for patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Creator, keep growing us. Protect what is still tender, strengthen what is taking root, bring to fruition what is just beginning. May our lives bear fruit, for ourselves, and for the life of this world.
Amen.
As we say goodbye to summer, here is a blessing to carry with us:
May we go from here trusting in slow growth. May we be patient with what is unfinished, and gentle with ourselves along the way. And may we trust that our lives, rooted in love and growing in grace, are a blessing to the world.
Amen.
Blessings, Anne