EVERY YEAR
My heart and I have an agreement.
Every year we show up here—
here in the sanctuary,
here with the candles and the tall ceilings,
here with the creaky church pews
and the songs of silent nights.
My heart and I have an agreement.
Every year we show up here—
at the end of the year,
after another 12 months
of humanity, of me
trying to
keep it all together,
trying to
keep my head above water,
trying to
keep up appearances.
Every year we show up here.
We drop it all.
We leave it at the door.
We come into this space
and I could swear it feels different.
Maybe it’s God.
Maybe it’s hope.
Maybe it’s love.
But whatever it is,
I need it
every year,
so we show up here.
Tell us again the story of tonight.
My heart needs it.
Poem by
Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed