The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

God of mercy, this midday moment of rest is your welcome gift. Bless the work we have begun, make good its defects and let us finish it in a way that pleases you. Grant this through Christ our Lord. – Amen.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court declined to stop today’s execution of Kenneth Smith. Unless there is intervention by Alabama Governor Ivy, he will be put to death sometime today.

Yesterday, former governor Don Siegelman called on the current governor, Kay Ivy, to stop the execution. He noted that the jury had voted 11 to 1 for life in prison. But that a judge overturned that ruling in sentence, Mr. Smith to the death penalty.

judicial override – a process by which a judge can override the wishes of a jury and sentence someone to death – Is a relic of the Jim Crow era. That practice was outlawed some time ago in Alabama, but older cases were not changed by the law.

We hold space today for Mr. Smith. And for all of those who sit on death row around our country.

We hold space for all of those who are the victims of violence - both in their homes, on our streets, and around the world.

As we come together to break bread both right now, and this evening at our service, we hold together the paradox of our lives here on earth.

It is so complex, isn’t it, trying to navigate this life in all its ups and downs.

We taste and see the sweetness of God. And we taste the bitterness of those tragedies that life gives us.

We hear the laughter of children, the loud country music playing out of the car of a young woman in love. And we hear the sobs and wails of those who mourn the death of someone dear to them.

We feel the heartbreak of love and the heartbreak of grief.

We bring it all before God who is big enough to hold it all.

We take comfort in the words of Julian of Norwich. All shall be well.

“God did not say, ‘You shall not be tormented, you shall not be troubled, you shall not be grieved’, but God said, ‘You shall not be overcome.'” And all shall be well. -Julian of Norwich
Revelations of Divine Love

All shall be well.
All shall be well.
My peace I give to you.
All shall be well.