Studies have shown the past few years that more and more people are getting out of the habit of attending worship. Anecdotal stories from people active in our own congregation confirm the same. Once you lose the habit, it's so hard to re-engage. The author of Hebrews challenges us not to neglect meeting together and that we all have a role in encouraging one another and provoking one another to form and stick with our life-giving habits!

Connection and care for self and others is a major motif in the biblical narrative; from the beginning of our sacred story in Genesis, we see how it is not good for one to be alone. This sermon reflects on the way we are called to love ourselves and others and integrates insight Pastor Jill had from her renewal leave spiritual pilgrimage to the US/Mexico borderlands of Arizona.