Tag: poetry

A Meditative Prayer Using a Poem by Amanda Gorman.

I presented this poem with a short prolog describing the thoughts it inspired within me for our Church’s “Prayer of Invocation” on January 18th, 2026. The poem is entitled “For Renee Nicole Good, Killed by I.C.E. on January 7, 2026.” Amanda Gorman wrote this poem shortly after the events of January 7, 2026 in Minneapolis, MN,

Good morning and welcome home, I am Allen Vander Meulen, your Covenant Leader this morning.

For me, this church and actually all of you, are a place of rest and restoration.  A community of those with whom we gather and find love and support and healing and purpose.

And it is in times like these, times where we see pain and harm, even death, needlessly and deliberately inflicted upon so many in this nation and throughout the world, that we learn why communities like ours are so important.  Communities that welcome all and labor to build respect and love and affirmation and hope, for all.

We worship and work together to prepare ourselves and those whom we love to go out into a hurting and lost world; ministering out-of, and sharing, the Gospel that has been planted within us.

And so, with these thoughts in mind, hear this poem written a few days ago by Amanda Gorman (whom you may remember spoke at Joe Biden’s Inaugural) entitled “For Renee Nicole Good, Killed by I.C.E. on January 7, 2026.”

Continue reading “A Meditative Prayer Using a Poem by Amanda Gorman.”