March 18, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 32, 42, 84
Jeremiah 14:1-22
Galatians 4:21-5:1
Mark 8:11-21

II. Selections
Psalm 84:1
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!

Jeremiah 14:9
Why should you be like someone confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?
Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us
and we are called by your name;
do not forsake us!

Galatians 4:28
Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac.

Mark 8:15
And [ Jesus] cautioned [ his disciples], saying, "Watch out-beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

III. Meditation: Be in our midst

You are not like someone confused,
a mighty warrior who cannot give help.
Make your dwelling place with us,
for any place you dwell is lovely.

We are children of your promise;
we are called by your name;
guard us from infection by the
yeasty culture of the world.

We are in the world, you have called us to be;
you do not ask for our withdrawal from it-
but you ask us to trust in you, not the world;
be in our midst, we pray, as you are in its midst.