God of the broken broken by shame hidden deep and ignored for years which nonetheless affected everything turned joy to skepticism turned hope to caution turned love to fear turned anger to depression turned abuse to self blame blame. God of the broken break open now the lies and myths that have kept me silent,… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Gracious God, In a world that is simultaneously Expanding and contracting Help us to breath in a steady rhythm in and out that the expanding may helps us grow and the contracting will not make us smaller Help us to see You In and Out In all ways always. In the rising sun In the… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
God, we live in interesting times. Like everything can change in a second; the weather a life a love a hope a fear a breath a decision a kindness a sorrow in a second. But you God, we believe are changeless, constant, ever present always with us. May it be so. Amen. Prayer poem and… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
There’s a change in the air that hints of fall mornings are cooler and the light is shifting with sharper angles as the sun moves south. The harvest in my garden is plentiful, plump ripe tomatoes, warm off the vine the deepest red, no other tomato this sweet. The flowers fragrant, the sunflowers rising high… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Through all the trials and tribulations, the anxiety and fear, the changes and challenges, the loss and the grief, the endlessness of these days, may peace come. may peace come, if only for a moment. may peace come like a gentle breeze like the soft breath of a baby may peace come like the stillness… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: What is God asking
This summer my congregation and I have been engaging a sermon dialogue time. We are doing this to help us all listen more deeply for God. To do this I ask them to listen for three things in the readings: What word, image, or phrase stands out for them. I ask them to pay attention… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
The heat of August, Michigan, USA, to be precise, heavy, muggy air filled with the clamor of cicadas singing their mating song. Occasionally broken by the violence of a cicada wasp, stinging dying, implanting, in order for another life. Google it. Garden vegetables of lush, thick vines, or bolting lettuce, and toppling tomatoes demanding to… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Holy and mysterious God, be present with us in these times of distress. Comfort us. Walk with us through the tragedy of the violence. Help us see our role in the violence of this world. Let us not be agents of injustice, not be spectators to tragedy, but help us be part of the healing.… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: To Do and To Be
Along with a group of clergy colleagues I am reading the book “Down Girl, The Logic of Misogyny” by Kate Manne. The book begins with stories about violence against women but then moves into a philosophical discussion and assessment of sexism and misogyny with some commentary on misogynoir (misogyny directed to women of color). It… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Footprints in the sand
Ten years ago I lived on the foothills of the Santa Ritas, a small mountain range in southern Arizona. Backyards were separated by deep rocky crevices called arroyos, ancient pathways for rain water that runs off the mountains during the summer monsoon season. The arroyos are vital to the environment, providing greenery for food and… Read More
