6th Sunday of Easter

On Mother's Day this past Sunday, Pastor Amanda spoke on how Jesus meets us in life’s both/and moments—not by fixing our grief, but by promising enduring presence through the Spirit so that we are never alone or orphaned.

You can read the manuscript by following the link above.

Reflection Quesrions:

1. When have you experienced something as both joyful and painful at the same time, like the “both/and” you describe?

2. How do you understand Jesus’ promise that we are “not orphaned”? What does that mean in your life right now?

3. Where have you noticed God’s presence not in answers or solutions, but simply in companionship?

4. When someone you care about is hurting, do you tend to try to fix it or simply be present?  What might it look like for you to embody that kind of quiet, faithful presence for someone else this week?

5. What are small, tangible ways you can remind others (and yourself) that no one is alone—through presence, not perfection?

6. Where do you most need to trust that God is still present with you, even if nothing feels resolved?

Prayer:

Gracious and abiding God, you meet us in the both/and of our lives, in joy and in grief, in celebration and in sorrow. When we feel alone, remind us that we are not orphaned, but held in your Spirit, who stays with us and surrounds us. Teach us to trust your presence more than easy answers, and to be that same gentle presence for one another. On this day, hold all who celebrate and all who mourn, and draw us closer to your steady, unending love. Through Jesus Christ, who abides with us always. Amen.