Grace for the scoffers and deniers

Genesis 18:1–15 

'I did not laugh.' 
'Oh, yes, you did laugh.' 
Gen 18:15 

Confession 
When your message is hope for those oppressed,
for surely hope is futile –
we laughed;
then we denied it.
Oh, but you know we did.

When your call is to make room for the outcast,
for surely they belong outside –
we laughed;
then we denied it.
Oh, but you know we did.

When your love means staying home, staying away,

for surely, you did not mean us? – 

we laughed;
then we denied it.
Oh, but you know we did. 

When your justice demands we let them cross our border,

for surely we can not take that risk – 

we laughed;
then we denied it.
Oh, but you know we did. 

When your peace requires presence, reconciliation, restraint,

for surely we need not pay such costs – 

we laughed;
then we denied it.
Oh, but you know we did. 

When your Way is welcome, generosity, vulnerability,

for surely not? Not us, not such price, no now – 

we laughed;
then we denied it.
Oh, but you know we did. 

Repentance 

Forgive us our scoffing, our dismissal.

Forgive us our denial, our dishonesty. 

Heal our shame, 

God of grace,

God of surprise,

God of Love. 

Forgiveness 

Holy One sees and hears.

Holy One understands our fear. 

Holy One extends a hand to bid us stand,

leave our tents of safety and comfort,

and with courage, to embrace the Way

of grace, surprise, and Love. 

Amen.

sarah tells stories · Grace For The Scoffers And Deniers

Sarah's turn

Sarah laughed

Genesis 21:1–7



as God promised,
though I had laughed to think
of motherhood, shocked to think
of motherhood, afraid
of motherhood now

but God promised
a child to us now, when
the bridge was crumbling
from disuse, the water under
long ago evaporated

was this promise
of new life to dry bones
a curse in disguise? of course
I laughed, preposterous
promise to bring to a desert
content to be a desert

who would promise
a son to a man
of a hundred years and counting?
yet here is the son God
promised Sarah and Abraham,
and I laugh more joy than fear –
laugh with me, all who hear:
I am a mother, as God promised,
and I will laugh you a river.

Sarah’s scowl

Genesis 21:8–14



the boys played as brothers
play having not yet learnt
to doubt their father’s love

the mothers watched, as rivals
watch, jealous of what she has,
blind to what is her own

and in a moment, the bow
snapped its arrow through thick
taut air, thwacked into its target

a mother’s love twisted the light
to cast shadows to follow them all;
and the father’s love had not seen its last test yet