Last week we sang a new song that contained this prayer:

Spirit, heal our neighborhood

Until Your kingdom work is done

Teach us what is just and good

As we look for the city that's yet to come

These four lines contain a great summary of our mission as a local body of believers here in Charlottesville. We look around us and see things that are both beautiful and broken in our corner of creation. This week while officiating a graveside service I was reminded so clearly of the truth that we groan together at our bondage to corruption (Romans 8:20-23). So we cry out to God with this song, “Heal our neighborhood! Lord, those closest to us are suffering from death, disease, sickness, and sin. Please bring more of your kingdom into my life that it might be transferred to the lives of others as well.”

That kingdom work has begun with the resurrection of Christ and it will be completed when He returns. In the meantime, we look around at our neck of the woods and find things that we can both affirm and challenge. There are lyrics in the song mentioned above to that effect as well. We’ll sing them together this Sunday when we gather for corporate public worship.

Friends, it’s good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace (Hebrews 13:9), and it’s good for us to gather and remind each other to look for the city that is yet to come. I look forward to being with you in worship this week with our eyes toward Christ and hands toward all of creation.

Strengthened by grace,

Tag