Go away from me, O God. You overpower my life and divide it ruthlessly: the chaff from the wheat, the longing from the glorifying, the entrenched from the freeing, the comfortable from the necessary. You melt my heart (like sap in the spring, like snow in the winter) until there is nothing left, for your… Read More
Saturday Prayer
Dearest Lord Jesus, for the crimes of the fathers, we ask forgiveness. For those who prioritize profits over the poor, who think that other is less than. Send us mercy and grace and soften Pharoh’s heart. Amen. The Reverend Shannon Meacham currently serves Ashland Presbyterian Church in the safest part of Baltimore, the suburbs. You… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: I can’t preach that!
I managed to see Wonder Woman this week. And, although that’s a genre of film in which I wouldn’t normally indulge, I loved it! The down to earth, underlying themes of truth and hope and love triumphing over evil and hatred and suffering, spoke to me at a primal level as I sought to escape the… Read More
Friday Festival: Books!
Once again, my pile of “to read” books has grown so high that I actually need to read a few books from the pile before I can reasonably defend the purchase (or library-borrowing) of more books that will surely increase the pile’s height! First to move from the “to read” pile into my hands for… Read More
Friday Prayer: For the unseen faithful
Thank you, Lord, for those faithful ones we never see on front pages or in important spaces… – for those who study and write and preach and plan services, for their faithful service feeds your people, week after week. – for those who endure lock-ins and pizza nights and summer camps and earplugs-required concerts, for… Read More
Ask the Matriarch: Clergy Colleagues
This week’s question is from a Rev who has found online support for her ministry in the RevGalBlogPal community. Now, she is looking forward to relating to come colleagues in real life. Dear Matriarchs, In the first years of my ministry, I served a rural congregation with no nearby clergy colleagues. The RevGalBlogPals online community… Read More
Thursday Prayer: Watching
As you, Lord, watch over the stranger, upholding the orphan, the widow; As you, Holy One, keep watch on the nations; so make me watch for you, O my strength; make my soul to wait for you, more than the one watching for the morning. Amen. (Psalms 146:9, 56:7, 130:6, 59:9). Jemma Allen is… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion we were like those who dream. Psalm 126:1 “We were like those who dream”, the ancients proclaim, when restoration and return to home happened after hope against hope. It was surreal and yet true, a dream. Make me like those who dream, dear… Read More
Our Spiritual Disciplines: Photography
I was introduced to photography as a spiritual practice or discipline while participating in Spiritual Director’s training in 2013 and since then it has become an integral and essential part of my life in all kinds of ways: social, family, ministry and especially spiritually. I ‘see’ differently, there are times when I see my surroundings… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Swords and Sparrows
This Sunday’s Gospel texts ranks high on my list of “things I wish Jesus never said.” Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword… and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. This is not the passage to… Read More
