A service of Holy Communion.
All are welcome to receive bread and wine (or juice) at communion. Gluten-free wafers are available for those with sensitivities.
We continue our reflection on Wisdom.
Wisdom is silence. Last week we wondered about the wisdom of complaint. It is important to allow others (and ourselves) to complain; to let our feelings out. Suppressing our feelings and experiences is unhealthy.
There is another wisdom: holding silence. It is tempting, as someone listening to the complaints of another, to try to say something to help. Job’s friends tried this. It was a disaster. It would have been better if they kept their silence and held Job in it. Our desire to help is often confused for our desire to be needed or perceived as helpful. This desire takes the attention of the person in grief and their problems and focusses the attention on ourselves. That doesn’t help. It is wisdom to keep silent.
I wonder how silence is for you.
I wonder how long you can keep silence.
It is also in silence that we can listen for God. It is in silence that we can recall a greater power holding all things in love.