There’s a song we sing in worship. About God coming to turn the world around. About hearts singing and justice fires burning. Burning… About God delivering us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp. About justice tearing tyrants from their throne. TEARING THEM. The song remembers that Jesus said not a stone will be left on stone.… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Holy Spirit, Holy Breath- Our black neighbors can’t breathe. The ones in power have knees cutting into their necks robbing them of air and of many tomorrows. Our black neighbors can’t breathe. They wonder what the “nice white lady” will say when she calls the police for no reason. And then what will happen… Our… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
My heart is weighing me down today, God. Is it from my extreme anxiety over this virus and opening up buildings and programs again? Is it from the need to face our own mortality and not knowing how this disease will affect my body if I catch it? Is it from the 90,000 deaths in… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Is This The Time?
Whether you’re celebrating the Ascension of the Lord or the Seventh Sunday of Easter this week, you’ll be hearing a timely question from the disciples: Lord, is this the time? (Acts 1:6) Is this the time we can meet in person again? Is this the time to resume congregational singing? Is this the time we can… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
God of our path- We don’t know what’s coming. We don’t know how this disease will spread or how it will impact our bodies- if we catch it. God of our road- The journey is long. Have we hit the wall on our run? Have we overestimated our energies? May we see this is a… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
Oh the disappointment are piling up, God. From the musical tickets, To weddings, To the vacation up north this summer. Fill our hearts feeling empty by sorrow. Fill our worried souls with peace. May we find our tomorrows filled with joy- Even in the wilderness. Amen. ***** The Rev. Michelle L. Torigian is the Senior… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Meanwhile, O God, the usual things keep happening. The woman is still sleeping at the bus stop, the angry partner still raising a violent hand, the exhausted parent still creating a routine for the child with autism. The man with broken shoes is still lifting the dumpster lid to look for food. the day laborer… Read More
Ask the Matriarch: A Church Zoom Group’s Level of Inclusion
While we are not gathering in person, are you introducing online platforms for facilitating congregational community? This week’s question reminds us that in-person dynamics can easily migrate to the new venues. Greetings, Matriarchs! In my small congregation are several women who are all good friends, which is fine. There are times, however, that they are… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Healing God, boost our collective immune system, we pray, so that we might fight off thoughtless prejudice, self-centeredness, easy blame, and using old tropes to soothe new fears. Ramp up our spiritual immunity, and defend us from despair. Engage our emotional defenses, building strong hearts and healthy minds. Give us, we ask, antibodies to the… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Mystery Gifts (Acts 3:1-10)
At the big intersection near my home, four gentlemen have divided up the corners. In their system, each of them asks for money on only one corner. Three of the four work their corners most days, but even when someone is missing for a day, no one takes over his corner. Each man works a… Read More
