Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that the prophet sings a song about planting a lovely new vineyard full of hopeful anticipation. The bad news is that it doesn’t work out as hoped. At all. The vineyard fails becoming a bitter disappointment, all the more so because it was planted with such high hopes. It’s a metaphor for God’s work in creation. Though a dismal picture there’s something reassuring about the prophet’s acknowledgment that life as we know it is, indeed, broken. The other good news is that God is a faithful viticulturist who does not give up. Ever. So as God plants in hope, so do we. And never give up.
This Sunday at the Reedville Church we’re practicing the deep connections between worship and service, words and action. The worship service, modified, rolls into service as we adjourn to the fellowship hall to pack school supplies for Reedville Elementary School, write notes of encouragement, and prepare a meal to share. All are included. We’re planting in hope, too, for a fruitful school year and healthy community.