"Can These Bones Live?" by the Rev. Dr. Kristofer Lindh-Payne

St. Francis Spiritual Sustenance : November 1, 2022 ======================================

The 6th century BC prophet Ezekiel spoke powerful words of hope to the people of God in, and emerging from, exile. His message of promise named the hardships of their age and cast a vision of restoration and possibility. The question “can these bones live”, shared between the prophet and God, invites us all into a transformation story in which we receive the enlivening breath of life and discover are being made anew.

In today’s video, Kristofer recounts witness to the glimpses of God we are experiencing at St. Francis, in our wider community, and across the diocese. He gives a birds eye view of some glorious grace-filled events that occurred over the last few days, as he shares some stories about the ministries arising in our church.

How are you coming alive? Where do you see the Holy Spirit animating the old dry bones that were thought to be long dead? What do you see happening in the Body of Christ as we extend our hands in love to one another and to the world around us?

Ezekiel 37:1-6 37

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you and will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”