Holy One, I started today with the best of intentions. I had grand plans, (ok, just vague ideas) but one by one they crashed, and perfection faded into sunset. But if I’m honest, I know in my heart of hearts that what was left was still pretty amazing! So remind me, Lord, when I fuss… 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
Thursday Prayer: By grace
Sustain me, O God, this day by your grace, and remind me (again, as you so graciously do), that self-reliance is not a Gospel virtue. Amen Jemma Allen is a priest in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. She works as a counsellor and spiritual director in private practice. RevGalBlogPals… Read More
Friday Prayer: Letting Go of Shame
Eternal Divine Love, Shame plays more of a role in my life than I want it to. Shame functioning as the voice saying I “Should Have Already Mastered Everything”, Shame saying that I could do this thing if I tried harder and Shame asking why I’m not as good at the things other people can do, in seemingly effortless,… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Showing Up
You know that phrase, eighty percent of success is showing up? That’s what Sunday’s parable feels like to me. (Who knew that Woody Allen and Jesus shared a philosophy?) The workers who endured the long hours and heat of the day earned exactly the same wages as the people who worked for about an hour before… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Swords and Sparrows
This Sunday’s Gospel texts ranks high on my list of “things I wish Jesus never said.” Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword… and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. This is not the passage to… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Don’t Tell Us How to Dress!
When all is said and done, we might as ask ourselves, will we as women ever stop being criticized for what we wear? Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a strong word. It’s a strong word with psychological triggers for many people, including me. Gaslighting involves the perpetrator trying to convince the target (the one being gaslighted) that what they perceive is not actual reality. By convincing the target to doubt herself, the gaslighter gains power through distortion, lies, and… Read More
