Tessera Materials

A pause for reflection and prayer in light of current events in Minnesota

Across our nation, we are witnessing a troubling willingness to normalize violence as a tool of order and to resist accountability as though it were a threat rather than a safeguard. The church must say clearly: power that is unexamined, unchecked, or unaccountable stands in tension with the way of Jesus Christ. ~Bishop Lanette Plambeck

God of mercy and nearness,
we come to you with heavy hearts.
We grieve lives lost and hold close all who mourn.
Be near to those whose hearts are broken,
to those who are afraid,
and to all who are waiting for truth to come into the light.

In this tender space between tragedy and understanding,
teach us to lament honestly,
to seek justice with humility,
and to walk gently with one another.
Guard us from haste, from hardened hearts,
and from the temptation to let fear or violence shape our way.

We place our hope in you, O God of resurrection.
When death and grief seem to have the final word,
remind us that life and love endure.
Make us instruments of your peace,
and keep us faithful in the days ahead.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus,
who brings life out of death
and hope out of sorrow. Amen.

Opening Prayer

God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Bring healing to all wounds,
make whole all that is broken,
speak truth to all illusion,
and shed light in every darkness,
that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. Amen.

Scripture

Luke 18:9-14 NIV
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: [10] “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ [13] “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ [14] “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Reflection & Discussion

It's ice cold out this weekend! Let's consider any ice cold in our hearts, shall we? In today’s climate of rage, angry outbursts, and deep divisions, it is almost inevitable that many of us grow confident in our own righteousness while looking down on others. Can you feel it in yourself—even just a little? The very air around us invites us to bask in our sense of being right while freely condemning those we believe are wrong.

Consider the story Jesus tells. Most of us encounter it with an immediate, gut-level reaction: “Thank God I’m not like that Pharisee.”

We assume we understand humility and believe ourselves free from pride. Yet the moment that thought settles in our hearts—“Thank God I’m not like that Pharisee”—we have already become him. In judging another, we quietly exalt ourselves and bask in our own perceived goodness. This is the striking, creative wisdom of Jesus’ storytelling: it holds up a mirror that reveals us to ourselves.

Jesus understands the necessity of helping us stand honestly within our own sin, without passing judgment on others. He invites us into a continual practice of confessing our pride, our judgmental glances, and our unspoken accusations. From this place, we are finally free to live and love without condemning anyone.

This movement—away from self-righteousness and toward humble self-awareness—is the path to renewal in our world. So let us consider how we might live this way in the midst of a culture that so easily basks in its own sense of individual rightness while heaping judgment on others at many turns.

Where do you notice the “Thank God I’m not like that Pharisee” impulse showing up in your own life?
This could be in your thoughts, conversations, social media habits, or reactions to people you disagree with.
What helps you become aware of your own pride or judgment before it turns outward toward others?
Are there practices, relationships, or moments that help you pause, confess, and re-center yourself in humility?
What would it look like this week to live from a place of love without judgment in one specific situation or relationship?
Name one concrete action—something you could actually do—that reflects humility rather than self-righteousness.

Closing Prayer

God of Blazing light,
through the power of the cross you shattered our darkness,
scattering the fears that bind us
and setting us free to live as your children.
Give us courage and conviction
that we may joyfully turn and follow you
into new adventures of faithful service,
led by the light that shines
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Giving Update