There’s the cacophony within: Lists – To Do today, To Do this week, To Do in a lifetime Regrets – things said and unsaid, done and undone Worries – real and imagined There’s the cacophony without: Home – humans, animals, objects, all with needs to tend Work – unpacking boxes, unpacking scriptures, unpacking relationships World… Read More
11th Hour Preacher’s Party: The Wisdom (or, uhm, not??) of Kings, Prophets, and Bread
After years of storing our home baked communion bread in the freezer of the church kitchen, we had two Sunday’s this summer where we discovered the communion bread was gone. All of it. 9 loaves, twice. Taken, I imagine, by a homeless person who wandered in to the kitchen, which is also the… Read More
Friday Festival: Lasting Gifts
In summer’s last days, I have the sense of time zipping past – the days feel fleeting. Our bloggers offer a vision of things that last, some of which may be a little too permanent. Jan Edmiston is questioning what to do when your church sign is a tombstone. Does it – unintentionally or not… Read More
Friday Prayer: I say a little prayer
Today’s prayer is inspired by one of the hit songs of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin (1942-2018). May we each say a little prayer for those who knew and loved her best, that their hearts will be comforted. And may all of our “little prayers” today have wings to those who need them most. The… Read More
RevGalBookPals: Forgotten Books of the Bible
The Forgotten Books of the Bible is a new study of the Five Scrolls—each of which has a central place in synagogue life, being assigned to the major festivals of the Jewish year, but which are largely overlooked in many Christian settings. They don’t appear often in lectionaries, and while they are sometimes included in… Read More
Thursday Prayer: a blessing for a clergywoman
May God bless you this day: May God’s presence undergird your days: sustaining you in hope, indwelling you in peace, encouraging you in faith. May you find freedom and room to breathe when the space seems narrow; may you find boldness and clarity when you are called to speak truth to power; may you find… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Leadership Lessons
Solomon, in all his idealism, painted a retrospective image of his father King David as a “very nice guy.” So God rewarded Solomon with discernment, wealth, and longevity. Wisdom, in all her discipline, built a house, tended a farm & vineyard, and set an ample banquet table for the whole community. So God sent the… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Church Seasons
Jesus said, “Have you never read what David did when he & his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, giving some to his companions too. In the same way, the sabbath was made for humanity’s sake — humanity was not made for sabbath’s sake. The… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Waiting
For those who die in the raging war of injustice, O merciful God, hear our cries & our prayers. For those who kneel in protest and in despair, O merciful God, hear our cries & our prayers. For those who dream and those who are haunted, O merciful God, hear our cries & our prayers.… Read More
Saturday Prayer – Evening
Whatever we need this night, to prepare us for the morrow – celebration or solitude, prayers or parties, chores or cheer – grant us oh God. Amen. Jennifer Garrison Brownell serves as pastor at First Congregational Church -UCC in Vancouver, Washington. She contributed to the Revgals book There’s a Woman in the Pulpit and is the… Read More
