“When you pray, move your feet.”

“When you pray, move your feet.”  That’s the tagline at the end of each email I get from one of your dearly beloved fellow parishioners here at Trinity.  In these words, and in her life, S. has captured one of the most ancient pieces of Christian wisdom.  To pray is to unite yourself to God’s passionate care for the world, not only in heart, mind, and words, but also in action.

On the first two Sundays of May, hearty bands of Trinity parishioners will be putting their prayers into action through the Walk for Hunger on May 6, and the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace on May 13. God promises to “make firm the feeble knees” (Isaiah 35:3) for those of you who walk, and I am imagining the Christ walking with you in each step you take.  For those of us not walking, I am imagining God praying in us that we will take action in other ways to heal the wounds of poverty and violence in the city of Boston.

Last Sunday, there was an exciting buzz in the Commons during Coffee Hour at the Bake Sale as we raised money to help combat hunger.  Dozens and dozens of you had baked dozens and dozens of goodies.  Others of us brought our hunger and our wallets, and together we raised a record-breaking $2005.63 to support our Walk for Hunger team in their efforts to help feed our hungry brothers and sisters here and throughout the Commonwealth.  God bless you, if you baked or bought! And God bless those of you who will be walking, running, or volunteering this Sunday! Thank you for putting your prayers into action.

On May 13, our choristers and other stalwart walkers from Trinity will march in the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace.  The Mother’s Day Walk for Peace supports the work of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, which seeks to be a center for “healing, teaching, and learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss.” 

The Peace Institute was founded by Tina Chery, a deeply faithful fellow Christian, who needed to put her prayer into action in the wake of the death of her son at age 15, when he was caught in the crossfire of a shootout.  Louis had been a member of Teens Against Gun Violence, and Tina channeled her grief and prayer for healing into founding the Peace Institute that bears his name.  A number of Trinity members serve on the Board of the Peace Institute, but many more of you channel your prayers for the healing of violence through your walking and your wallets.

“Little children, let us love not with words or speech, but with actions,” says the Scripture. (I John 3:18)  As God so commands us, may we continue to make our prayers more than mere words or speech.  Let our prayers move us to act.  Thank you for your prayers, and thank you for your actions.  In both, God is glorified, and God’s world filled with greater justice and compassion.

Christ’s Easter peace be with you in this season of new life.

Bill