Dear Westwood Family,

This weekend, we’ll celebrate Promotion Sunday–honoring and recognizing how our young people are all becoming a grade older. We’ll give Bibles to our new 4th graders, and celebrate our graduates.

I know that our young people attend many different schools, and that the calendars don’t all line up exactly, but we are certainly in the midst of these weeks of stress and celebration as school years come to an end. I am so proud of our graduates, and all of our students.

I invite you to use this time of transition as an occasion for reflection, wherever you are in life. Perhaps even more than the end of the calendar year, these days are an ideal opportunity for contemplating what has been, and getting ready for what will be–in the shifting schedules of summer and in the year ahead.

Drawing from St. Ignatius’ Examen prayer and the traditions that have used it, I invite you to find time to sit and contemplate, with these prompts as a guide:

1. Place yourself in awareness of God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you.
2. Pray for the grace to perceive and understand how God is active in your life.
3. This back over this past year — recall specific, significant, memorable moments and your feelings at the time. (If it’s helpful, you might look back through your calendar, or scroll through the photos on your phone. I encourage you to make a list of moments from the year.)
4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those moments. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away? Hold gratitude for times you drew near to God, and offer yourself compassion for moments when you drew away.
5. Look toward this summer and beyond — think of how you might open yourself to God’s presence and call. Name some ways that you hope to experience grace. End by praying the Lord’s Prayer.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Molly