For a handful of years, Grey’s Anatomy was my go-to television show for getting a good cry each week. Then an episode hit too close to home (I don’t remember why), and I had to find a new crying outlet. They’re easy to come by: a home renovation episode, the ending of any three Toy… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Forgiveness
Like bulky orange barrels along a construction zone, there are red flags and caution tape that catch my attention as I read this week’s Revised Common Lectionary texts: 1. Forgiveness (Genesis 50:15-21 and Matthew 18:21-35) is a theme that can tempt us preachers toward unhelpful generalizations about injury and reparation. Caution: Check whether your definition of forgiveness,… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Flooded
Still earth storms and trembles. Still nations war and rage. Still people hate and denigrate. Where is Your deliverance, O LORD? Where is Your help and Your strength? Where is the promised transformation? Still we boast and bicker. Still we deplete and doubt. Still we cling to hell when heaven is at hand. When will… Read More
Friday Festival: Questions for the Church
Discernment is an important word for the Church across all generations and seasons: the work of sorting through (information, events, purposes, intentions, actions, etc.) with the Spirit’s help to understand God’s call and work. Reading our colleagues’ thoughts around the RevGalBlogPals’ blogging network can be an inventive & insightful method for generating questions for discernment… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Famine
Go away from me! Christ, have mercy. I am broken and beaten down, worn and weary, and too discouraged to brave the sight of you. I am starved by the hatred of the world. Go away — your glory only reminds me of my imperfection, your grace shames my sin. Come closer to me! Christ,… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Love Supreme
O Love Supreme, our foundation and our irritation, our comfort and our chastisement: The earth quakes with the marching of racism (in every generation, new boots carry the same hatred) but we who know Love Supreme will not be shaken. The air blisters and scorches with words of hatred (old words, dusty words, dead words… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Little Faith
How does one read aloud, “The LORD tested him” (Psalm 105:19), to those who are struggling? How does one repeat Jesus’ words, “Why do you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31), to those who are drowning every day? How does one affirm, “No one who believes will be put to shame” (Romans 10:11), to those who have been… Read More
Sunday Prayer
To God be all glory, to Christ be all love, to Wisdom be all joy. Incline your ear, O God, for your people are anxious and lonely, restless and wandering. Call our names and show us your peace. Encourage our hearts in the daily work of love. To God be all judgment, to Christ be… Read More
Tuesday Prayer: All the Love
All the love – all the Holy Love – to those in mourning and those in desolation. May it be so by Your grace, O God. All the love – all the Holy Love – to those in pain and those in discernment. May it be so by Your peace, O God. All the love – all… Read More
Friday Festival: Counting
Each Friday, we highlight writing from across our RevGalBlogPals community, and today I notice how many of us are counting. Maybe I notice it because I’m counting, too: the oldest departs for his first year of college in 24 days, I’ve just marked my calendar with 18 soccer games for the youngest, and a writing… Read More
