Matthew 26 19-20 is the end of the beginning. It closes the gospel, like every good sermon, with what to do next. Go & Make: This command is given in such a way that it can be read wrong (and often has been). We have the authority of God not to “make” disciples by force–and… Read More
Sunday Prayer: come, Holy Spirit
Divine Spirit,
come.
Breathe your peace into our cities
and our nations, we pray,
and quell the violence that threatens
to overtake us.
Make space for us to meet
our siblings in Christ … Read More
Saturday Prayer
My friend Dayalan Devanesen, director of Roofs for the Roofless, of Chennai, India, sent me a photo of Gurdon Brewster’s sculpture given to him by his mother. It is ‘Christ Dancing Off the Cross’. On the last of the waiting nights for whatever the “power” is going to be, it seems important to hold carefully… Read More
Friday Prayer
God who already knows my prayers- I am out of words that don’t sound trite. I believe that you are already showing mercy. Let my prayer, instead, be the work of my hands, my feet, my mouth, my earsTo daily, hourly, minute by minuteDismantle the systems of racism and racial oppression in my countryAnd across… Read More
Thursday Prayer
There’s a song we sing in worship. About God coming to turn the world around. About hearts singing and justice fires burning. Burning… About God delivering us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp. About justice tearing tyrants from their throne. TEARING THEM. The song remembers that Jesus said not a stone will be left on stone.… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Remembering
The author, as a Girl Scout, carrying the American flag in a parade, 1969 This year in the USA, Monday, May 25th, was Memorial Day. It is the annual day of remembering those who have died fighting in wars to uphold the freedom and values this country espouses. This annual day of remembrance began around… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
WTF!? George couldn’t breathe God! Why couldn’t they hear him? Did you hear George crying out, God? I am holding on to the hope that with every precious breath we are yet allowed to take— you are with us. But, damn! How much more can we endure, God? I must confess that it is hard to… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Come, Holy Spirit!
UPDATE: The Preacher Party moved to Wednesday a few weeks ago, to accommodate preachers who are recording sermons earlier in the week for online worship. Since that post, riots have erupted in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The spark igniting those riots may have been frustration over yet another death of a black man at… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Holy Spirit, Holy Breath- Our black neighbors can’t breathe. The ones in power have knees cutting into their necks robbing them of air and of many tomorrows. Our black neighbors can’t breathe. They wonder what the “nice white lady” will say when she calls the police for no reason. And then what will happen… Our… Read More
Worship Words: On Fire (Pentecost)
If you’re looking for some words for worship, here are some you are welcome to use or to adapt, or simply spring from as you write your own. If you use them in print, please credit the author and RevGalBlogPals.org. If you use them in a video or audio service, there’s no need to verbally… Read More
