“The ax is laid at the root of the tree,” John announces, seeing God at work in the destruction. As we say a welcome goodbye to 2020, we understand the violence of the image. COVID has taken an ax to our routines, jolted our physical, mental and economic health and dispelled our illusions about how… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
As the year ends, God, what shall we keep from this year? What blessings have we wrestled out of its kick to the stomach, its unrelenting grief and hollowing loneliness? And what, O God, shall we take up in the new year, as it brings its gift of newness to our weariness? May we hold… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Holy God, there are gifts we long for this Christmas. We praise you for the gifts that have sustained us this year: deep hope…holy energy…perseverance…righteous anger…the ability to see injustice around us, and within us. We ask you for particular gifts this season: rest for health care workers…a full table for the hungry…health for those… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Mighty God, we understand Advent…but Christmas? Can we turn from Advent to Christmas, when the time comes? Is there still joy, with millions dead around the world? Do we deserve peace, with fire weaponized again against Black people? How can we hope, with millions hungry? Advent matches our longing for your presence…a big helping this… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
O God, as I hear Mary sing her song this Advent, I wonder what songs have been silenced in us. Which ones of us have been told we’re not worthy of singing? Shushed for gender, skin color, lack of wealth, or any other excuse? And, what songs have been silenced in me? Where have I… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Life in the Ruins (Isaiah 61:1-11)
We have been in an extended Advent since March, yearning for God’s transforming power to come and kick butt, er, sweep through our world. COVID has put us all in a state of exile from our former lives, and we hear Isaiah’s words with extra longing this year. Restoration? Bring it on. Good news? Very… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
What tone of voice does Isaiah use, I wonder, O God? When he calls out to you to tear open the heavens and come down, is he full of rage? Cajoling? Lamenting? Losing hope? Whatever tone he uses, Holy One, we join his shout this Advent, calling out for the justice that is beyond our… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Why Is God Being So Nice to Our Enemies? (Jonah 1:1-17; 3:1-10, 4:1-11)
God loves even our enemies, darn it. In God’s care, they have an opportunity to move closer to God. God sends us to the places and the people we call unworthy, and God is insistent that we go there, even when we don’t want to. These are interesting truths for the Sunday after a bitter… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Guiding, guarding Holy One, you have made us to be watchful, mindful of threats from lions and bears, poisonous mushrooms and other treats, our brains and bodies on alert, but this watchfulness is wearing us out. The threats of disease, injustice, and job loss, the people of ill intent who would do us harm, and… Read More
Wednesday Prayer for the weary
Six more months of masks, no gatherings, no hugs. No, wait, maybe nine more months of quarantine. Or even twelve months until we can go out again, or be together. God, it’s hard to know what lies ahead in our COVID world. Our hopes feel far off, and the memory of our lives before this… Read More
