Oh Holy One, We are broken and scattered. Our hearts are crushed. We see the debris of lives before us, tossed about with indifference and violence. We see the carnage of prejudice and bigotry. We are grieving. We stare at the broken bodies, the tearful families, the aches that cannot be eased, the posturing and… Read More
Saturday Prayer: Mountains out of Molehills
Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland Holy One, I stare at the rising trail, and I sigh. I am facing my fears… counting the steps… calculating if I’m ready to go. The goal is so far away. You invite. You encourage. You Call… this is your work… this is your place… this is your task… these are my… Read More
Saturday Prayer: Frozen heart confession
Holy One, The ice that fell on top of my driveway, just shoveled last night, reminded me… Repentance is an act of daily, even moment-by-moment awareness of the depths or my stubborn nature, and the limitless Grace you offer me. Sometimes I resent this work of persistently seeking you. Sometimes I want my humanity to… Read More
Saturday Prayer: The fields of our hearts
Take fields of our hearts, Lord,The tired, the worn, the fertile and well-used,The tested and tried ones.The fields of our hearts need rest, Lord.They are weary. As we begin the Lenten season,Prepare us.Cultivate our hearts to listen.Help us turn over the old barren places.Soften the hard and rocky edges.Show us the promise of spring, of… Read More
Saturday Prayer: Priorities
Holy One, I made choices today. – how late I slept, what I ate, where I traveled. What tasks and chores I planned. (Or didn’t.) I realized as I made my choices that most of them were selfish, if not self-serving. I took notice of my family’s needs, not the world’s aches and pains. Forgive… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Inauguration Day
Author’s Note: Here in the United States, today is Inauguration Day for our 46th President. My thoughts come from my reflection on my nation’s struggles, but I pray that they speak to yours as well. Today I remembered a Christmas carol we sang just a few weeks ago, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”… Read More
Saturday Prayer: God Who is With Us
God Who is With Us, My mind and body are tired and my heart is full. The “glorias” are still echoing, and I remember the flicker of candles from years past with those near and dear to me. You are unchanging, Holy One. You stand true as the Light of the world, the Hope of… Read More
Saturday prayer: Messy
Holy One, Life is messy right now. Nothing is neat and tidy, and all of our traditions and expectations from previous Advent seasons lie in pieces. How we need a reminder that all is well and you are still in the heavens. We hold those we love close in our memories, if not by our… Read More
Saturday Prayer
Holy One, You hide us in the Shelter of your wings. You give us courage to face the feelings of doubt, the enemies of our self-worth. Give us hearts that warm to your Voice first above all others. Confirm your Calling on our lives before the opinions of the world sway us. There are many… Read More
Saturday Prayer: Peace among the pieces
Holy One, We who have been giving comfort, speaking hope, modeling joy… we are tired. Our hearts ache with unsung songs. Our churches are quiet. The people we love… are safely at home. We are worn, broken, and tired. We do not feel peaceful. We do not see the culmination of Peace around us. Yet,… Read More
