Creator God, You made all of these things. Leaves. Lichen. Sunlight. Ants. Ferns. Worms. The seed that nestled into the earth. The seed that grew into a seedling that became this majestic tree. The wild wind that blew her down one winter night. And me, standing here in the buzzing silence of rain forest, my hand… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Messy Desk Edition
At the first church I served, the church administrator gave me a sign for my office door: “A clean desk is the sign of a messy mind.” Ahem. Yes, my desk is always always always messy. Let’s hope that means my mind is orderly, because it’s time to get a sermon in order. Preaching friends,… Read More
Friday Prayer
The Reverend Julia Seymour serves Big Timber Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Big Timber, MT. She blogs at lutheranjulia.blogspot.com and readsallthethings.com. She contributed to There’s A Woman in the Pulpit and is President of the board of RevGalBlogPals, Inc. RevGalBlogPals encourages you to share our blog posts via email or social media. We do not grant permission to cut-and-paste prayers… Read More
Thursday Prayer
Before the piled-up crumbs on this second-hand table, And the not insignificant clumps of dog hair collecting around the bottom of this chair, Work up their nerve and finally attack, Let me admit, I am overwhelmed. The hurts of the world, The pains of my dear ones, The cries of your beloveds, I am overwhelmed.… Read More
Ask the Matriarch: Showing Compassion While Respecting Pastoral Boundaries
There’s formal “Boundary Training” for pastors, and then there are the real-life boundary tests that pop up along the way. Here’s one: Dear Matriarchs, I’m pastoring a tiny church (as in 18 members). There’s a family who were very active and beloved before I came who have now moved away. Because of their love for… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
My heart continues to sting from losing my dad, peaceful God. My soul is not quite as vivacious, and the innocence I felt before his death has drifted away. Grief robs us of possibilities of the future. Grief fogs up the lens we use to see the world. Our universe is smaller and sadder. Pour… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Lost and Found
Years before I was out to my congregation, Friend A approached Friend B, and said, “I think Pat R. is gay.” Friend B, who knew full well that I was indeed in a relationship with another woman said, “Well, what makes you think that?” Friend A replied, “I saw her at the Pride worship service!”… Read More
Monday Prayer
Precious Holy, It is another Monday; another week begins… Holy One – it feels like the world is full of unhappiness and fear… We read our newsfeeds, our social media and it seems everywhere is hate, is betrayal, is sadness… But. If we look a little deeper If we change our outlook just a little…… Read More
Friday Festival: It’s the Little Things
The world seems pretty overwhelming these days. We watch hurricanes and tornadoes and floods and fires destroy the lives of thousands of people, and we don’t even know how to start grieving. We worry that we have passed a tipping point in the destruction of the earth. We worry that we have passed a tipping… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Boundless God, On these days when my energy is low And rest seems to be my closest ally, Surround me with your energy. May I find my second wind Before the pit of exhaustion swallows me And I cannot reemerge from its trap before nightfall. As I breathe in your reinvigorating air And feel the… Read More
