"Less is More"

The image in this week's Gospel lesson resonates with those of us who live in the Finger Lakes region. It is easy for us to imagine the vineyards that are all around us when we hear Jesus proclaiming that he is the vine and we are the branches and that God is the vine grower. We all know that grape vines need lots of tender care, pruning, providing a structure for the clinging tendrils, fertilizing.... And, so, even when we don't want to hear ourselves compared to vines, some part of us acknowledges that we too need a bit of pruning and fertilizing and re-structuring.

Pruning is usually thought of as clearing out or winnowing, so that the vines don't become too thick and tangled. Actually, the opposite is true.... vines that are not regularly pruned become spindly and straggly and too thin to support growing grapes. Wild, unpruned grape vines do not even resemble those we see in local vineyards and are thought of as an invasive species on our forests and woodlands!

So, as you prepare for Sunday, read the texts and imagine yourself as a branch in the vineyard. Think of the places in your life that need a bit of pruning. Identify the parts of your soul and life that have become hardened and need a bit of tilling. Seek the kind of fertilizer you might need to grow abundantly. Offer thanks for the support structures in your life that you need to thrive. And then, join us on Sunday morning as we offer our gratitude for the vine of Christ and the Vine Grower, whose abundant love enriches all of our lives. I suspect we will all become a bit more 'lush'.

Hoping to see you all in Worship - Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

Acts 8:26-40

Psalm 22:25-31

+I John 4:7-21

*John 15-1-8

Note: The texts in bold type will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.