Monday Prayer

Before our Zoom screens, we sat and wept when we remembered the Before Times.There on our ring lights, we hung our scripts,And there our parishioners asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs unmasked; they said, “This isn’t real and you are causing suffering for no reason!” How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pandemic of illness, of… Read More

Thursday Prayer: for the Covid-weary

Dear God, We are Covid-weary.We are still being vigilant,abiding by guidelines,making careful decisions,queuing for tests,waiting for vaccine appointments,washing our handswearing our masks. Today we pray for thosewho must persevere.For the public health officialsmanaging and evaluation and synthesising all the information,for the scientists still researching,the medical staff still treating,the supply chain staff still managing,the supermarket workers,and… Read More

The Pastoral Is Political: Anger in the Time of Covid-19

These days, I’m filled with anger. As someone who is dealing with an autoimmune illness and trying to function in a Covid-infested world, I struggle. I’m embarrassed to say that my greatest struggle is the anger I have towards the people who have chosen not to get the vaccine and the ones who refuse to… Read More

Friday prayer: back to school

I hoped – Lord, how hard I hoped – that the start to this school year would feel different than the last one. It does. But instead of knowing I’m doing the right thing for me and my house by keeping my kid at home, I’m so scared that I’ve shipped him off to get… Read More

The pastor is political: global citizens

I had just started taking a weekly training online when Covid-19 shut down the entire world. It was a small group of people who gathered on Thursdays to learn to mentor coach, and I was the only student born in the United States. My classmates dialed in from China, India, Belgium, and Atlanta, Georgia. As… Read More

Wednesday Prayer

As we begin to settle in for the night We give thanks for this day smiles along the way, steps towards justice on the journey We ask for forgiveness for love withheld or moments of othering allowing fear to lead and insecurities to distract As we surrender for the night We pray for those without… Read More

The Pastoral Is Political: playground politics

In this Advent season of waiting, preparation and anticipation, the world has waited in eager anticipation for a cure, or at least a vaccine for Covid-19. It has taken global efforts and the co-operation of scientists to produce a vaccine. In the last week, people in the UK have received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This should… Read More

Wit’s End Day: What Pastors have learned during COVID

Sure, 2020 has been a rough year with lots of adjustments and some difficult losses. But just think of all the stuff we’ve learned along the way! Talk about “things they didn’t teach us in seminary”! (Except #5. Dr. Graves tried very hard to teach me #5.) So here are The Top 10 Things I’ve… Read More

Wits’ End Day: COVID Hymns

In these days of COVID, I find that some of our beloved hymns are troubling–all of that breathing and touching and singing. So I’ve re-written a few favorites to be more appropriate for our physically-distanced, virus-conscious lives. (You really should sing them to get the full effect.) (But don’t sing them while you’re in a… Read More

Pastoral Care and Health Care

O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You are acquainted with all my ways. For it was you who formed my inward parts; I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. – Psalm 139:1-14… Read More