After Great Pain

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25 CLASSIC POEM: After great pain, a formal feeling comes Emily Dickinson After great pain, a formal feeling comes – The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs – The stiff Heart questions ‘was it He, that bore,’ And ‘Yesterday, or Centuries before’? The Feet, mechanical, go round – A Wooden way Of Ground, or Air, or Ought – Regardless grown, A Quartz contentment, like a stone – This is the Hour of Lead – Remembered, if outlived, As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow – First – Chill – then Stupor – then the letting go – *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Washing the World Anna Marie Sewell SNIPPET: lay your hands upon the truth of beauty’s loss heavy, soft as moss, this blanket full of tears and dust and dying becomes ocean cradle, healing, dark the promise, washed clean by our sorrow today crying out, as we’re birthing tomorrow … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]