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
Thursday Prayer: Corpus Christi
We thank you, Gracious God, for all the ways in which we are sustained: by heartbeat and breath; by food and drink; by medicine; by the love of friends; by rhythms of exercise and rest; by your grace, always by your grace. On this day we particularly give you thanks for Jesus: Living Bread. Whether… Read More
Thursday Prayer: Names
Dear God, I am grateful that you want us to know you; that you make yourself known to us in story, in creation, and in the person of Jesus. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to point people to you, how to enlarge their view of you, how to engage them… Read More
Thursday Prayer: decent and disorderly
Dear God, In the part of your church I’m from we like to talk about worship being done decently and in order. We are busy writing prayers, crafting liturgy and dressing the building for Pentecost: that day when we celebrate your life-giving Spirit, poured out on all flesh. Help us not to be so concerned… Read More
Thursday Prayer: for the paths we tread
Bless, O God, the paths ahead of us: the clearly marked ones, the rocky ones, the muddy ones, the relentless concrete so hard on our feet, the paths we can hardly discern, the ones faintly appearing. Walk with us: that our gait might be trusting; that we might walk with hearts of compassion and conviction;… Read More
Thursday prayer: Maundy Thursday
On the night before he died, your Son, Jesus Christ, took bread; when he had given you thanks, he broke it, gave it to his disciples and said: Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you; do this to remember me. Loving God, in the tradition I’m part of this is the day in… Read More
Thursday Prayer: Counting
Dear God, We are counting: counting palm crosses (will there be enough for all the people who like to take one for a neighbour, and for the rest home services next week, and some to dry for next year’s ashes); counting how many liturgies are written and services prepared (Holy Week is busy); and counting… Read More
Friday Festival: Advent continues
It is late in Advent. Some of us are weary, some stressed, some relieved to be nearly done. In the midst of all that here is some reading for refreshment. Rosa shares the beauty of a home visit to a priest with dementia, and the ways the words of Advent engage him. Melissa shares Joseph’s… Read More
Monday Prayer: Tūrangawaewae
[God] lifted me out of the pit of death, out of the mud and filth, and set my feet on solid rock… (Psalm 40:2, CEB) Thank you, God, for giving me a place to stand, a place to stand tall, a place to know myself loved, a place in which I belong, a place to know… Read More
Friday Festival: A seasonal edition
Tonight, in the suburb where I live, it was Midnight Madness. The main street was closed, there were food trucks and performers and the Christmas tree at the top of the hill had the lights turned on, and the main street was lit up and now, officially, the holiday season has begun. Of course there… Read More
