Holy Parent, I give you thanks for the memories, almost 18 years worth. I’m thankful for parent teacher conferences, all those other adults who spent more time with my child than I was able, who taught her more than I could ever know. Thank you for paintings, misshapen pottery, walks to school on autumn days,… Read More
Friday Prayer
For every feathered thing that sings we give you praise, For every green and living thing we are thankful. Hear us Lord as we cry out to you: Supplication and praise, Sorrow and thanksgiving, Song and lament. Hear us Lord, for your mercy is great, and your abundance unrivaled. Help us to believe in both.… Read More
Monday Prayer – Love
Compassionate God, Lay on our hearts an undeniable call to love: The people who do not know what they will eat today or where they will sleep tonight. The people who are hurting, lost, in captivity, sick or dying. Those who pretend not to hear the rattle of the chains that hold them, or to… Read More
Monday Prayer – Last Words
Ceaseless Creator – This week many of us walk toward a new church year. Give us the will to wrap up or snip off the dangling strings of the things we have left undone until now. Give us grace when we can’t find our scissors, and when we can’t let things go. Give us insight… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary – Nov. 14
As I reviewed the readings for this week one theme rang out, accompanied by a visceral image of robed people crossing a field at dusk toward a church that glows. A wondering of mine is how to find the right words to convince people to be true disciples of Jesus, to undertake a painful and… Read More
Monday Prayer – Letting Go
There’s some saying about what the trees are doing now. They are gold and orange, red and brown, caught by the wind, twirl through the air to rest on the ground. The trees are showing us how beautiful it is to let go. But God, though it may be beautiful, it is not always easy.… Read More
Monday Prayer – Intercession
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Saints Michael and Gabriel, fight for us, bring us good news. Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, spur hearts toward justice and equality for all people. Sarah, Rebecca and Leah, who hold the Holy Innocents close to your bosoms, comfort us. Obispo Romero, turn our eyes again to the… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Following Jesus
Recently I feel like I’ve been confronted several times with folks who use the Bible as a sort of Magic 8 Ball. Something comes up and they run to their concordances (or their preferred search engine) and see if they can find all of the Bible verses about a certain topic or event and then… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary – Why?
Proper 24, Year B: Job 38:1-7 (34-41), Hebrews 5: 10-10, Mark 10:35-45 Track one lectionary preachers are continuing the story of Job this week, after being left last week with Job’s lament. Job has spent the last 37 chapters asking why, defending himself as his friends pose theology after theology all ending in what Job… Read More
Monday Prayer ~ Small Things
God of Small Things: Thank you for this small, yet perfectly formed Rose of Sharon flower, her delicate pinks, her bee beckoning center. Thank you for the small mercies: the green light when we’re late, the unexpected message from a friend, the way light refracts through stained glass, for warm smiles. Give us courage to… Read More