God of many names We lift up those facing the ravages of storms that go by many names Present storms and storms that have passed, leaving stark reminders of just how small and vulnerable we are The fear is real The loss is real The trauma is real Bring peace and restoration to every person,… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Gracious God, in these times of remembering, help us to recall Your grace towards us that we might extend grace to one another. Loving God, in the midst of hateful rhetoric and fearful behavior, help us to feel Your love in our very flesh in ways that cannot be contained and held back from one… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Called to Decolonize (Genesis 12:1-9)
Later this month will mark the one year anniversary of Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico as its 3.3 million residents still reeled from the impact of the often forgotten Hurricane Irma which hit the island just two weeks before. As I type these words, I whisper the name Raúl Pagán, my father’s cousin—que en… Read More
Friday Festival: Summer Companions
Our bloggers are finding interesting company this August, as summer begins to wind down. Their companions, human and otherwise, reveal places where God is at work, re-shaping us even more fully into the divine image within us. Susan K. Smith is considering the company we keep when we are silent about white supremacy. She recalls… Read More
Friday Festival: Numbers
It’s time for a weekly round-up from our blogging community! As a word junkie, typically I highlight words & phrases when I post the Friday Festival, but today it’s all about the numbers! 13. Michelle Henrichs observes that “unlucky” is really just 12+1, it’s really just about making room for one more. “We don’t limit who… Read More
Friday Prayer
Holy One of Perfect Love- Your servants have written: perfect love casts out fear. Yet I see so much fear everywhere. Our imperfect love creates fear. Crooked, off-balance love stirs fear. Flawed, self-seeking, other-shaming “love” feeds fear. How do we regain trust in your perfect love? How do we remember that your perfect love is perfecting us? What will it… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Resurrection Courage
Last Wednesday, April 4th, I had the privilege of taking part in a silent prayer walk through the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. It was my first time there. I was filled with mixed yet deep emotion being there on that day, especially. This silent sojourn was both a commemoration of Dr. King’s… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Leaving Home
I’ve long believed that you can’t be truly effective in a call until you know you have the power to leave it. When you know you are willing to leave, you can tell the truth and follow where Christ calls. Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Foreigners and Refugees
Dear preachers, if you have the option in your setting, I highly recommend adding in the optional verses to the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel this Sunday. In a week when hate speech and crimes are making international headlines, this is a poignant time to hear Jesus’ words: It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a… Read More
