Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. (Romans 12:9–13 nrsv)

This week marks the second in a seven-week volunteer corps called Lutherans in Trenton (LiT!). Made possible by funding given through the closing of Advent Lutheran Church, this program seeks to work at "two distinct issues, the growing fear of the city of Trenton, as well as the need to keep young adults talking about and deepening their understanding of faith."* There are ten young adults, ages 18-25, participating in LiT. Two of them are from Abiding Presence. The other eight are from five of our other Lutheran congregations in the Mercer Cluster of our Synod. LiT is a holy experiment, which I’m sure will be messy and uncomfortable at times, but will also lead to rich connections among our congregations.

My hope is that LiT will be a gathering of people who seek to live into the Romans passage. This group is a service group, but more than that is a group of Christians who will seek to learn from each other and the work that they do. Every day they will be reflecting on their experiences and praying together. They also will be trying to answer the question, "Where did you see Jesus in disguise today?"

I see Jesus in this group of people who will be serving in Trenton. They are from a variety of backgrounds and congregations and the unique makeup of the group is a gift of the Holy Spirit who has pulled talented young leaders from a variety of places. These leaders will also continue to be active in the lives of their own congregations and we pray that we learn from their experiences as well. To learn more about Lutherans in Trenton, check out the blog at: http://lutheransintrenton.blogspot.com/ which will be updated by participants throughout the summer.

God of all times and places, you call your people to work that may be uncomfortable or messy. Encourage us in service to you. We pray especially for the Lutherans in Trenton participants as their service begins. Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Becky
Monday July 9, 2012
Liturgical Year B: Week 33
Liturgical Color: Green
Sunday Gospel reading:
Lectionary 14 (Proper 9)
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost