The danger of reviewing books is that I have to decide how ignorant to appear in my reviews. Do I let you know how much a book made me rethink everything I ever knew? Do I crack open the door to say, “I blindly trusted XYZ and I have come to regret that decision”? How… Read More
Thursday Prayer
God, Thank you. For her words. Her honesty. Her life. Her witness. Her hope. Her wonder. Her love. Thank you for your dear child Mary. Hold her close. As she heads home. Always. Amen. The Rev. Erin Counihan serves as pastor at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, MO. She blogs at http://www.somewhatreverend.wordpress.com.… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Ever present God, Open our hearts to find beauty even in the simplest of times. Open our minds to discover magic in the midst of routine. Open our hands in acts of kindness and tenderness. Open our day to include laughter, rest and sips that bring comfort. Thank You for breaking through the heavens to… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Divine Illustrator- You painted the scenery and called it good- And yet, we abhor it. The night soulless sky void of life and light smothers us As we await for the flickers of dawn to appear. The morning’s arrival greets us with a forlorn gaze And a stupor brought on by the cloud’s authoritarian tenure.… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Wine & Spiritual Gifts Edition
This week’s reading from 1 Corinthians is one of my favorites. A number of spiritual gifts are listed, in such a way that the reader could imagine countless more – this does not seem to be an all-inclusive list. What other gifts of the Spirit are manifest in your life, or in your community? Most… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Highs and Lows (Matthew 4:1-17)
When I visit a nursing home near my church, I say hello to the receptionist, and ask her how she’s doing. Her answer is always the same. “The devil is busy,” she says firmly. Sometimes, if the phone isn’t ringing, she elaborates with news of her family’s struggles, or an illness or a problem she’s… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Beyond Pro-Life v. Pro-Choice
Earlier this year, I had an encounter that shook me in a powerful way. I was speaking on a panel of religious leaders at a sexuality education conference. I was by far the most progressive person on the panel. A woman who worked at an abortion clinic asked about finding chaplains, as so many of… Read More
Monday Prayer
Precious Holy, The sight of the tree, acting as host to the vine The knowledge of Holy Design, which gives life to the other The hope of two, entwined, supporting, nourishing, Showing us potential… Precious One, when we seek each other seek to know more seek to learn from each other’s experiences, may we be… Read More
Sunday Prayer
Holy One, In water splashed, in bread broken, your Mystery is so much more than we can ask or imagine. In kindness given, in help offered, in stories shared, in beginnings and endings, and goodbyes, your Mystery is so much more than we can ask or imagine. When we seek to live with more integrity,… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Baptism Edition
It’s Baptism of the Lord Sunday in liturgical traditions, which means that some of us are incorporating a renewal of baptismal vows, some of us celebrating an actual baptism, some of us remembering baptism in another way, and some of us doing something different altogether. Whatever your plans for Sunday, welcome to the 11th Hour… Read More
