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July 2, 2017. Guest pastor Tom Schoenherr shares with us today a poem he wrote to go along with the Gospel reading from Matthew 10:40. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Sometimes we are not the ones welcoming, but we’re the ones being welcomed. How does it feel to be welcomed?

*** [Keywords: 2017 Gospel I’m not in charge Jesus Christ Matthew 10:40 Thomas Tom Schoenherr accept people as they are afflict all that keeps me bound in fear all the same to me at your table lord bear with me believe in someone stronger betrayals and regrets bleeding body and blood shed for me breakable breakableness breathe a new spirit in me brittle caress caverns of my mind and heart come to you Jesus comes alongside of us coming up the road community of love complex and complicated than my fears and doubts connect with it connected to Christ could it be cringe crushable cry to be known deep in my being dependence on you lord depending on others depths of my fears and pain difficult time disciples does not rhyme drawn into community draws us to the table embrace facebook page failures are many fear and prejudice fear of rejection fearful heart fears too extensive feel very vulnerable for all of us for all the world for each of us for whoever forgiving fragile frail getting at here give me hope again good enough for welcoming grudges heal me heal my broken life how does it feel is it you again knock know me learned let go let my vulnerability show letting others know like me locked doors locked room of fear long for connection love me made whole midst of being welcomed more than a name no one will know not berated or condemned not even God not so much welcoming not weak but strong oft too deep to be shared okay to feel vulnerable old Russian Orthodox monk out of control pain and death and new life painful peace poem prime minister promise is true promise of eternal life prostitute refreshing drink of cold water in the heat of the day reject me resting and trusting in the promise of God revealing my insides run to save yourself scares me secrets see through my outward confidence strength and smile segregated and apart send me out sermon set me free set the agenda shattered so delicate so many questions someone else is welcoming me speak to me stand at whoever’s door stranger those who open their doors too apparent touch your wounds unlock the doors of my life very free verse wait waiting at the door walks through the door with us walls want to be in control ways that relate we are sent to do the same we’re the ones being welcomed welcoming God the father welcoming Jesus welcoming others who I really am whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me whoever welcomes you welcomes me wondering]