Benediction: The Life Of Suffering Love That Jesus Lived Is What We're Invited Into (based on I Peter 2:21-25)

We are invited into the kind of life that Christ lived. Jesus surrendered his place at God's right hand and chose to suffer everything that came with being fully human - so that we would know how to live as  followers of God's kingdom here on earth.

Like Jesus, we can surrender our ego to the unforced rhythms of grace and become more fully alive. 

As we go from here, let's remember that God continues to set things right in the effort to restore the created universe back to its original goodness. May that compel us to seek out ways to be God's healing
and new life to our homes, our communities, and the world beyond our walls.