worth waiting with

James 5:7–10 

The Liberator comes, beloved,

when patience has worn thin,

to sit with farmers waiting,

waiting – endlessly waiting – 

as clouds roll by not sharing

their load,

as fields fly by on the wind,

relentless, 

as sheep and cattle, horses and chooks

pant with thirst 

and we

pant with thirst 

Liberation comes – will come – 

must come – and as we wait,

the Liberator comes, beloved,

is with us

is with us 

is with us 

worth the wait

James 5:7–10 

The Liberator comes, beloved,
be patient as we wait.
As the farmers wait, and wait,
for the rain that comes, in time,
so we are patient as we wait.

We strengthen our hearts as we wait,
we practice compassion and kindness
for each other and ourselves.
As prophets watched and saw the signs,
so we keep watch, and wait.

The Liberator comes, the prophets tell us,
the Story tells us, be patient –
liberation is worth the wait!

do you really believe?

James 2:1–10 (14–17) 

In walk the well-dressed,
well-kept, well-mannered
members of the assembly;
How are you and how do you do, 
and please sit next to me. 

In walk the untidy, unwashed,
ill-mannered poor
members of the assembly;
cough. Oh, you, what shall we do? 
wouldn't you be happiest in the corner? 

Is this the way of Jesus the Christ?
Do we honour him with our judgment,
unkindness, snobbery, disdain?

Or has not the Holy chosen the poor
as heirs to the Holy Realm?

Love your neighbour, every neighbour,
Jesus said, and Jesus did; and thus
we will keep the law of Love,
thus enter the Holy Realm, together.

Religio: the life

James 1:17–27 

this is what we strive for:

to see, clearly, through the glass
with perfect love – to
Perfect Love;

to remember, stepping through
the frame, into
the tableau;

to embody, to enact, through
perfect love – with
Perfect Love;

to see, clearly, the overlooked,
the little, the least: to
see, to act, to love

this is the religion we strive to live;
Perfect Love,
may it be so.

Amen.


this may be a call to worship, or a statement of faith / purpose