![](\"https:\/\/64.media.tumblr.com\/98ede4b6aa6d02dab21f39519cff1378\/6cd0616902bc2f7f-db\/s640x960\/9d5113ce652c83a2a08c093e5f98d7a1606d66e2.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBut, pragmatically, it isn\u2019t possible to conceive of the whole world all at once. So we pick one part of it, a part of the world our hearts lead us to, and we focus there. When we start the process of planning World Communion Sunday, our first question is \u201cwhere in the world are our hearts leading us?\u201d We remember our siblings in faith in that part of the world are eating at God\u2019s table just like we are. Well, maybe. This year our hearts led us to Gaza, and I\u2019m not sure how many people in Gaza are able to gather together in Christian worship, nor how people would be able to scrap together the symbolic elements of a feast that feeds God\u2019s people. There is not enough food, and the people are not safe, so our connection with their table means that we notice their struggles and the fact that few tables \u2013 even- remain.<\/p>\n
As a part of the United States, where anti-Semitism is rampant and far too often deadly, and where support for Palestinians is often heard as hatred of people who are Jewish, I feel a need to be abundantly clear: when I say \u201cGod\u2019s people\u201d I mean absolutely everyone. That includes people who are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, from any other faith tradition and those who don\u2019t participate in any faith tradition. There is no place in my understanding of God for hatred or dehumanization of any person or people. To connect my heart with the people in Gaza does not imply that I do not care about any other people.<\/p>\n
That being said, now I want to take face on the fact that worship today is really depressing. This is a sermon entitled \u201cWeeping\u201d and I took out our normal \u201cRegathering Song\u201d of \u201cHalle, Halle, Halle\u201d because it was too cheerful for today. It is possible that you were hoping for a more uplifting worship service. My premise in letting all the sadness and weeping hang out today is that we have a communal need to mourn. People have a right to live. Food access is a human right. Hospitals do sacred work. Homes should not be destroyed. War rarely brings peace. The realities of people in Gaza, especially for the past 2 years, are a reason to mourn.<\/p>\n
The world is not as it should be, and so we lament.<\/p>\n
We do not lament so we feel guilty about what has happened, nor do we lament to make ourselves feel worse. We lament because things have happened that should be mourned and the only way to face them is to mourn together. We mourn because we need to let the feelings out rather than hold them within us, festering.<\/p>\n
We have a human need to mourn the things that aren\u2019t right. It is the counterpart of the human need to express gratitude for the things are good and right. And, when possible, we should mourn and celebrate together because it moves the emotions through our bodies and makes space for the next thing. At the \u201cLuke 10 Congregations\u201d retreat last weekend we were told \u201cPrepare, it is going to get worse\u201d (all of it.) It was said, if we assume that it won’t, we’re always going to be horrified, overwhelmed and joyless. But, even when only horror is around, something else is possible. So we mourn and celebrate together. As we do that we learn again and again that our “smething better is possible and we can be a part of making it so.” (Liz Theoharis.) Mourning and celebrating are part of preparing.<\/p>\n
That all being said, I have a poem to offer you as another piece of our communal lament.<\/h1>\nPoem: My Son Throws a Blanket Over My Daughter1<\/a><\/h1>\n<\/p>\n
by Mosab Abu Toha<\/a><\/p>\nNovember 30, 2023<\/p>\n
At night, at home, we sit on the floor,<\/p>\n
close to each other and<\/p>\n
far from the windows and the red<\/p>\n
lights of bombs. Our backs bang on the walls<\/p>\n
whenever the house shakes.<\/p>\n
We stare at each other\u2019s face,<\/p>\n
scared and yet\u00a0happy<\/i>\u00a0that we were lucky,<\/p>\n
that our lives were spared this time.<\/p>\n
The walls wake up from their fitful sleep.<\/p>\n
Flies gather around the only lit ceiling lamp<\/p>\n
for warmth in the cold night,<\/p>\n
cold except when missiles hit<\/p>\n
and heat up houses and roads and trees,<\/p>\n
scorching an adjacent neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Every time we hear a bomb<\/p>\n
falling from an F-16 or an F-35,<\/p>\n
our lives panic. Our lives freeze<\/p>\n
somewhere in-between, confused<\/p>\n
where to head next:<\/p>\n
to a graveyard, to a hospital,<\/p>\n
or to a nightmare.<\/p>\n
Our lives keep their shivering hands<\/p>\n
on their wristwatch,<\/p>\n
fingers ready to remove the batteries<\/p>\n
if and when needed.<\/p>\n
My four-year-old daughter, Yaffa,<\/p>\n
in her pink dress, hears a bomb<\/p>\n
explode. She breathes in deep,<\/p>\n
covers her mouth with her dress\u2019s<\/p>\n
ruffles.<\/p>\n
Yazzan, her five-and-a-half-year old brother,<\/p>\n
grabs a blanket warmed by his sleepy body.<\/p>\n
He lays the blanket on his sister.<\/p>\n
You can hide now<\/i>, he assures her.<\/p>\n
As for me and my wife, Maram, we pray<\/p>\n
that a magic blanket would hide all the houses<\/p>\n
from the bombs and take us to somewhere safe.<\/p>\n
—–<\/p>\n
O Lord, hear our prayers. Amen<\/p>\n
1<\/a>https:\/\/progressive.org\/magazine\/my-son-throws-a-blanket-over-my-daughter-toha-20231130\/<\/a> accessed 10\/2\/25<\/p>\nOctober 5, 2025 – World Communion Sunday<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Great Thanksgiving<\/p>\n
One: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Lord be with you.<\/p>\n
Many: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And also with you<\/b><\/p>\n
One: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lift up your hearts<\/p>\n
Many: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We lift them up to the Lord<\/b><\/p>\n
One:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let us give thanks to the Lord our God<\/p>\n
Many: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is right to give our thanks and praise.<\/b><\/p>\n
It is a right and fitting thing to gather around Your table and mindfully extend its blessings to all people, but most especially to those in the devastated land of Palestine, where Jesus was born.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
From the beginning of time You have called us to share hospitality with friends and with strangers.\u00a0 Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rebekah, Laban, Lydia, Phillip.. and countless others unnamed in scripture called and chosen to help your beloveds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
You are the One who called life into existence,<\/p>\n
you are the one who lives and breathes in and through all people, always and everywhere.<\/p>\n
You formed us in your image, and work with and through us moment by moment to feed the starving, to comfort the sick, to release the captive, to bring hope to the lost, and to protect the most vulnerable.\u00a0 You are always with us.<\/p>\n
Because of all this, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:<\/p>\n
Many: Holy, holy, holy One, God of Love and Light.<\/b><\/p>\n
Heaven and Earth are filled with your glory! Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is the one who comes in your name.<\/b><\/p>\n
Hosanna In the Highest!<\/b><\/p>\n
In the fullness of time You sent Jesus, the embodiment of Your love.\u00a0 He walked with Your people, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, eating with those dismissed and marginalized\u2026and angering those in power.<\/p>\n
On the night before he was murdered, Jesus took the bread, raised it, blessed and broke it, saying \u201cTake and eat, this is my body, broken that it may be shared, shared so that you will be connected through me.\u201d<\/p>\n
After supper, he took the cup, raised it, blessed it and offered it to his friends saying, \u201cTake and drink this is my life-blood, my love poured out for you and for many so that you know nothing will separate you from me.\u201d<\/p>\n
As his followers today, remembering his acts of love toward us, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:<\/p>\n
Many: Christ was birthed among us.\u00a0 Christ was killed among us.\u00a0 Christ lives among us.<\/p>\n
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and cup.\u00a0 Make them be for us the body and spirit of Christ that we may be his hands and feet in this world.<\/p>\n
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until your Kindom comes in completion and all the peoples of the world sit to eat together in peace.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Many: Amen<\/b><\/p>\n
As we gather around this table, we remember the ones who came before, the frightened ones in an upper room, the ones on the way to Emmaus, and on the River Tiberius.\u00a0 We recall the ones who worshipped in catacombs, who hid in basements, bomb shelters, and rubble\u2026as they gathered to share a meal like this one that strengthened bodies and minds.\u00a0\u00a0 These tables where we gather to share the joy of being God\u2019s beloveds, even in the midst of fear and sadness.\u00a0 These tables that are as much prayer as protest, where we remember Jesus \u2013 but also find the courage to stand up to oppressors and to re-member His Body with those who are dying from floods, famines, bombs, and blockades.\u00a0\u00a0 Come and be fed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rev. Sara E. Baron and Karyn McCloskey
First United Methodist Church of Schenectady\u00a0
603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305\u00a0
Pronouns: she\/her\/hers\u00a0
http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/\u00a0<\/a>
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FUMCSchenectady<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
by Mosab Abu Toha<\/a><\/p>\n November 30, 2023<\/p>\n At night, at home, we sit on the floor,<\/p>\n close to each other and<\/p>\n far from the windows and the red<\/p>\n lights of bombs. Our backs bang on the walls<\/p>\n whenever the house shakes.<\/p>\n We stare at each other\u2019s face,<\/p>\n scared and yet\u00a0happy<\/i>\u00a0that we were lucky,<\/p>\n that our lives were spared this time.<\/p>\n The walls wake up from their fitful sleep.<\/p>\n Flies gather around the only lit ceiling lamp<\/p>\n for warmth in the cold night,<\/p>\n cold except when missiles hit<\/p>\n and heat up houses and roads and trees,<\/p>\n scorching an adjacent neighborhood.<\/p>\n Every time we hear a bomb<\/p>\n falling from an F-16 or an F-35,<\/p>\n our lives panic. Our lives freeze<\/p>\n somewhere in-between, confused<\/p>\n where to head next:<\/p>\n to a graveyard, to a hospital,<\/p>\n or to a nightmare.<\/p>\n Our lives keep their shivering hands<\/p>\n on their wristwatch,<\/p>\n fingers ready to remove the batteries<\/p>\n if and when needed.<\/p>\n My four-year-old daughter, Yaffa,<\/p>\n in her pink dress, hears a bomb<\/p>\n explode. She breathes in deep,<\/p>\n covers her mouth with her dress\u2019s<\/p>\n ruffles.<\/p>\n Yazzan, her five-and-a-half-year old brother,<\/p>\n grabs a blanket warmed by his sleepy body.<\/p>\n He lays the blanket on his sister.<\/p>\n You can hide now<\/i>, he assures her.<\/p>\n As for me and my wife, Maram, we pray<\/p>\n that a magic blanket would hide all the houses<\/p>\n from the bombs and take us to somewhere safe.<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n O Lord, hear our prayers. Amen<\/p>\n 1<\/a>https:\/\/progressive.org\/magazine\/my-son-throws-a-blanket-over-my-daughter-toha-20231130\/<\/a> accessed 10\/2\/25<\/p>\n October 5, 2025 – World Communion Sunday<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Great Thanksgiving<\/p>\n One: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Lord be with you.<\/p>\n Many: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And also with you<\/b><\/p>\n One: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lift up your hearts<\/p>\n Many: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We lift them up to the Lord<\/b><\/p>\n One:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let us give thanks to the Lord our God<\/p>\n Many: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is right to give our thanks and praise.<\/b><\/p>\n It is a right and fitting thing to gather around Your table and mindfully extend its blessings to all people, but most especially to those in the devastated land of Palestine, where Jesus was born.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n From the beginning of time You have called us to share hospitality with friends and with strangers.\u00a0 Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rebekah, Laban, Lydia, Phillip.. and countless others unnamed in scripture called and chosen to help your beloveds.\u00a0<\/p>\n You are the One who called life into existence,<\/p>\n you are the one who lives and breathes in and through all people, always and everywhere.<\/p>\n You formed us in your image, and work with and through us moment by moment to feed the starving, to comfort the sick, to release the captive, to bring hope to the lost, and to protect the most vulnerable.\u00a0 You are always with us.<\/p>\n Because of all this, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:<\/p>\n Many: Holy, holy, holy One, God of Love and Light.<\/b><\/p>\n Heaven and Earth are filled with your glory! Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is the one who comes in your name.<\/b><\/p>\n Hosanna In the Highest!<\/b><\/p>\n In the fullness of time You sent Jesus, the embodiment of Your love.\u00a0 He walked with Your people, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, eating with those dismissed and marginalized\u2026and angering those in power.<\/p>\n On the night before he was murdered, Jesus took the bread, raised it, blessed and broke it, saying \u201cTake and eat, this is my body, broken that it may be shared, shared so that you will be connected through me.\u201d<\/p>\n After supper, he took the cup, raised it, blessed it and offered it to his friends saying, \u201cTake and drink this is my life-blood, my love poured out for you and for many so that you know nothing will separate you from me.\u201d<\/p>\n As his followers today, remembering his acts of love toward us, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:<\/p>\n Many: Christ was birthed among us.\u00a0 Christ was killed among us.\u00a0 Christ lives among us.<\/p>\n Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and cup.\u00a0 Make them be for us the body and spirit of Christ that we may be his hands and feet in this world.<\/p>\n By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until your Kindom comes in completion and all the peoples of the world sit to eat together in peace.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Many: Amen<\/b><\/p>\n As we gather around this table, we remember the ones who came before, the frightened ones in an upper room, the ones on the way to Emmaus, and on the River Tiberius.\u00a0 We recall the ones who worshipped in catacombs, who hid in basements, bomb shelters, and rubble\u2026as they gathered to share a meal like this one that strengthened bodies and minds.\u00a0\u00a0 These tables where we gather to share the joy of being God\u2019s beloveds, even in the midst of fear and sadness.\u00a0 These tables that are as much prayer as protest, where we remember Jesus \u2013 but also find the courage to stand up to oppressors and to re-member His Body with those who are dying from floods, famines, bombs, and blockades.\u00a0\u00a0 Come and be fed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rev. Sara E. Baron and Karyn McCloskey
First United Methodist Church of Schenectady\u00a0
603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305\u00a0
Pronouns: she\/her\/hers\u00a0
http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/\u00a0<\/a>
https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FUMCSchenectady<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"