Jesus, we walk again with you Cheerful palms waving Music full of Hosannas Bells and children choirs add light to the day Even as we read the Passion account, it’s like we don’t hear it. Even “Happy Easters” on the way out of worship After singing “Were You There?” … without a verse about resurrectionContinueContinue reading “Between the Hosannas and Hallelujahs”
Tag Archives: prayer
On feeling overwhelmed
The texts for Sunday, July 10, 2016 are: Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Psalm 25:1-10; Colossians 1:1-14; and Luke 10:25-37 “Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it forContinueContinue reading “On feeling overwhelmed”
Take heart …
The texts for Sunday, October 25, 2015 (22nd Sunday after Pentecost): Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 7:23-28; and Mark 10:46-52. (We didn’t choose the Reformation texts this day, but something about these texts seems to speak pretty closely to the Reformation too, even if they aren’t Martin Luther’s favorites.) † A blind man, he wasContinueContinue reading “Take heart …”
The Prayer of Service
A meditation for Maundy Thursday. The gospel text: John 13:1-35 When my Granddad died, my Grammy and my mom — his wife and daughter— cleaned. A lot. They got incredibly busy with emptying closets and cleaning up the house. And there was knitting. And cooking. And running errands. And doing what needed to be doneContinueContinue reading “The Prayer of Service”
On retreat – A poem
I went walking this morning The air hung heavy with moisture As the winter lets go And the rain softly falls The light—perfect So that the beech leaves—shaking at the slightest breeze— glowed. The eerie – white – yellow leaves have begun to fall And I smile, think how much they remind me of feathers —angelContinueContinue reading “On retreat – A poem”
Praying for Everyone?
Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay The texts for Sunday, September 22, 2013 (Lectionary 25 C): Amos 8:4–7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1–7; and Luke 16:1–13 . “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone” – 1 Timothy 2:1 I know this sentence continues in the text to tell us to prayContinueContinue reading “Praying for Everyone?”
“Failing” Lent: Day 18
Breathe. Why is Lent—this time of introspection and growth, this time which is supposed to be about taking time, this time which is supposed to be about stripping away and wandering in the wilderness—so crazy busy?? I am looking at my calendar through the month of March and feeling a tad overwhelmed and stressed aboutContinueContinue reading ““Failing” Lent: Day 18″
Unanswered Prayers
The texts for Sunday September 30, 2012 (Lection 26): Numbers 11:4–6, 10–16, 24–29; Psalm 19:7–14; James 5:13–20; and Mark 9:38–50 Man, I’d give my eye teeth to be able to pray like that. Maybe even my right hand. Maybe even an eye. …To be able to pray like Elijah and stop the heavens up for threeContinueContinue reading “Unanswered Prayers”
The Depths of Worship
The texts, moved from Sunday, July 1, 2012 to Sunday, June 24, 2012: Lamentations 3:22–33; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7–15; and Mark 5:21–43 “The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” -Lamentations 3:25-26ContinueContinue reading “The Depths of Worship”
That we may be one…
The texts for Sunday, May 20, 2012: Acts 1:15–17, 21–26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9–13; and John 17:6–21. (Also mentioned: Acts 2:7-11) … And Jesus’ prayer for us? “that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the worldContinueContinue reading “That we may be one…”
God’s Just Playfulness
The texts for November 20, 2011: Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24; Psalm 95:1–7a; Ephesians 1:15–23; and Matthew 25:31–46 “For the LORD is our God, and we are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand.” – Psalm 95: 7 I love this psalm. I think it is my favorite part of morning prayer, set beautifully to a singableContinueContinue reading “God’s Just Playfulness”
Taking a cue from Jeremiah
“Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.” – Jeremiah 15: 18 So, this is Jeremiah talking to God. Can you imagine calling God a deceitful brook? A liar? A failure? I’m not exactly sure that I canContinueContinue reading “Taking a cue from Jeremiah”
A Call to Prayer
* The featured image: Christian Franciscan monks and nuns hold a candle procession on 21 December 2007 through an Armenian section in the Church of the Nativity as they walk from Saint Catherine’s Church into the Nativity Church and then down into the ‘Grotto,’ where they pray before the silver star in a niche markingContinueContinue reading “A Call to Prayer”
A Divine Silence
The texts for Sunday, August 7, 2011 are: 1 Kings 19:9–18; Psalm 85:8–13; Romans 10:5–15; and Matthew 14:22–33 “… and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”- 1Kings 19: 12b-13a As IContinueContinue reading “A Divine Silence”
Groans
The texts for Sunday, July 24, 2011 are: 1 Kings 3:5–12; Psalm 119:129–136; Romans 8:26–39; and Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52. “for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” -Romans 8:26b Words. It might come as a surprise to some, but words doContinueContinue reading “Groans”
Jabbok Dawn 