Treasure Valley Mennonite Summer Gathering

Isaiah 61: 1-4 The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me

    because God anointed me.

He sent me to preach good news to the poor,

    heal the heartbroken,

Announce freedom to all captives,

    pardon all prisoners.

God sent me to announce the year of his grace—

    a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies—

    and to comfort all who mourn,

To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,

    give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,

Messages of joy instead of news of doom,

    a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.

Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness”

    planted by God to display his glory.

They’ll rebuild the old ruins,

    raise a new city out of the wreckage.

They’ll start over on the ruined cities,

    take the rubble left behind and make it new.

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

**Use this Scripture passage to help you focus on these questions: -~What is the transformation that God is seeking in my life?

~My congregation’s/neighborhood’s life?

~In what ways is God calling me to work at helping with the transformation in those places/people around me?