{"id":7788,"date":"2019-07-12T13:56:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T11:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=7788"},"modified":"2019-07-12T13:56:29","modified_gmt":"2019-07-12T11:56:29","slug":"embrace-the-cities-and-towns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/12\/embrace-the-cities-and-towns\/","title":{"rendered":"Embrace the cities and towns"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nYork Minster  (Photo: Irene Bom)<\/span>
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Here’s a thoughtful meditation by Ann Bell Worley<\/strong>, based on Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7<\/a>, Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles headed for the city of Babylon.<\/p>\n

The meditation is taken from the Cities and Towns<\/em><\/a> issue in a series of publications on faith and ethics produced by Baylor University<\/a> (and available for free download).<\/p>\n\n

Meditation: \u201cBabylon\u201d<\/h3>\n

Not simply an evil territory
\n     or a dirty word,
\n     as we are prone to believe.
\nBut a place where God\u2019s people were sent
\n     in exile
\n     on purpose
\n     on mission
\n         to offer their culture
\n     to the culture there
\n     in love.
\nFor God so loved the world.<\/p>\n

Like Israel in exile, still we hope
\n     for our homecoming in the city of God,
\n     where there will be no more tears.
\nLet us hope not
\n     in closed communion
\n     in isolated sanctuaries
\n     apart from the Babylon-world.
\nRather let us hope
\n     in the fullness of God\u2019s love
\n     in the life of the cities and towns
\n         where we work
\n         and love
\n         and worship
\n         and play.
\nAnd remember
\n     that God so loved not only us,
\n         but the world.<\/p>\n

Let us hope for Babylon
\n     as we hope for ourselves.
\nLet us embrace
\n     its people
\n     its buildings
\n     its streets
\n     and fill them with the beauty
\n         of God\u2019s temple.
\nLet us hope
\n         with doors wide open,
\n     welcome the city in
\n     and pour ourselves out.
\nFor God so loved the world.
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~ written by Ann Bell Worley, copyright \u00a9 2006 The Center for Christian Ethics. Posted on the Baylor University website<\/a>.
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… more on Cities and Towns<\/h3>\n

Other subjects included in the Cities and Towns<\/em><\/a> issue:<\/p>\n