From Earthrise, by Amanda Gorman (shared with permission.)

On Christmas Eve, 1968, astronaut Bill Anders

Snapped a photo of the Earth

As Apollo 8 orbited the moon.

Those three guys

Were surprised

To see from their eyes

Our planet looked like an Earthrise

A blue orb hovering over the moon’s gray horizon,

with deep oceans and silver skies.

It was our world’s first glance at itself

Our first chance to see a shared reality,

A declared stance and a commonality;

A glimpse into our planet’s mirror,

And as threats drew nearer,

Our own urgency became clearer,

As we realize that we hold nothing dearer

than this floating body we all call home.

This week, we wish for you an experience of awe, of wonder and gratitude at the Earth’s beauty, and to feel, deep in your bones, your own sweet and small place in the interdependent web of existence, and your connection with whales and oak trees, wind and rivers, daffodils and bluejays, plankton and penguins, mountains and sunlight. Such a sense of connection brings joy, and it can also be a grounding for our choices and actions.

This week, we also have a chance to experience our connections and interdependence with other congregations, as we share worship with our neighbors of the Hudson Mohawk cluster.

We hope you can attend!

In faith~ Rev. Lynn & Rev. Wendy