God: “Don’t be afraid. I am your shield. Also, the payoff will be well worth your while.” Abram, asking for a friend: “What kind of payoff? My friend might not be afraid if they know how big the reward will be. But right now, things don’t look promising.” God: “It’ll be seriously big. Land. Children.… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Blessed
Blessed be the Wind: racing, eroding, unsettling, compelling, and blessed are we that the Wind does not leave us alone. Blessed be the Flesh: grieving, straining, delighting, satisfying, and blessed are we that the Flesh reveals the fullness of life. Blessed be the Insight: guiding, surprising, marveling, upending, and blessed are we that the Insight… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Bliss & Blues
Blessed are you, O GOD, O Eternal Mercy, and woe to us who cannot welcome mercy in our hearts and in generosity to others. Blessed be the strangers who bear grace. Blessed are you, O GOD, O Delightful Joy, and woe to us who cannot dance & whirl without the highs of risk or consumption.… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Planted
Y’all. I’m scheduled as a guest preacher this coming Sunday … I’ve already submitted my texts from the RCL, sent a sermon title and some hymn ideas … already drafted an outline … but lo and behold! today as I reflect on Sunday’s RCL readings, I’m struck by an entirely different theme. Oy. And so the… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Six Wings
With two they covered their faces; Interrogate the ways we watch the world, O Holy Magnificence, for too often we hide the eyes of our hearts from the blaze of your love as it is at work on earth as in heaven; too often we watch with cynicism, judgment, and self-interest. Now cover our sinful… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Unknown
There are so many things to say, O Spirit — delight and thanksgiving and frustration and rage and heartbreak and hope — yet no words are adequate to express it all. Listen with us in the fullness of silence, we pray. For all that we know, for all that is unknown, we pray your mercy.… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Immerse
Life is not tried it is merely survived if you’re standing outside the fire. (Garth Brooks, “Standing Outside the Fire”) I’m cruising on the RevGalBlogPals’ Big Event 12.0, and the Rev. Angie Shannon — making use of Garth Brooks’ lyrics — reminded the group in opening worship that the fire (the Fire) does not change… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Growing Up
Holy and Beloved, our Wisdom and our Peace, we add our praise to the song of heaven and earth. You are good and glorious! Holy and Beloved, our Wisdom and our Peace, we seek after you in word and deed, in breath and fellowship. You are both siren and satisfaction! Holy and Beloved, our Wisdom… Read More
Advent 4: Sunday Prayer
O Present and Still Coming Wisdom, contrary to the lessons of this world: From the littlest ones teach us love, and from the meekest show us majesty. In the ire of self-righteousness reveal human foolishness, and in the heartbeat of wealth lay plain hopelessness. To the most outcast announce the greatest joy, and for the… Read More
Advent 3: Sunday Prayer
Sing aloud, o daughters! Shout with joy, o children! The peril against you is gone. Yet again and again, O God, we have picked it back up: the peril of fear, the peril of greed, the peril of jealousy, the peril of nationalism, the peril of self-abasement. Again and again we pray, O God: show… Read More
