The day almost got away from me, dear God Have I said, “thank you?” Did I love my neighbor? Am I still following Christ to the cross? In these holiest of days, help us to take the time to ask the questions that will bring us closer to transformation. Amen. ************* Rev. Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Holy Week AND Easter Edition
This week’s Preacher Party gets started a day early to help those of you who may be writing for all of the Three Days. So whether you’re struggling to put words together for Maundy Thursday, or you’re putting the finishing touches on your Easter sermon, we are here for you! As Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe reminds… Read More
Tuesday Prayer
God of Peace- In this season of stress, we seek your comfort. In this week of heightened emotions, we look for you to soothe our spirits. Give us the energy needed to endure any challenges this week. Pacify our anxious souls as we care for our congregants and ensure that our worship services engage all… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Palm Sunday
So here we are! Jesus makes his approach to Jerusalem; the crowds go wild! Tree branches are waved and laid; small children run along in excitement… You may be beginning in-person worship after the lockdown – this is very possible in Scotland as our restrictions are lifted a little from Friday. You may already be… Read More
Saturday Prayer: Silence
Holy silence Holy tears Holy questions Holy fears We wait in confusion, We ask our “whys” We do not understand… In the silence We look to You, Holy One, For hope, For endurance, For promises resurrected In hearts and lives. We sit In our vigils and questions Knowing that You Are faithful and You Are… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Use What You’ve Got
Which to choose… the part of the text about the mass protest, or the part of the text about touch… Lord, you do have a sense of humor. I’m sticking with chapter 11 for the majority of this post, but chapter 14 is one of my very favorite texts, in the end, I offer a… Read More
Friday Festival: For now and for later
It’s Friday in the post-Easter lull, which doesn’t mean the week wasn’t busy but only that we pastors may be living lull-ishly regardless. Some of the blog posts I’ll share are current and perhaps pertinent for this Sunday, while the others speak to last week and ideas we may want to bookmark for next year.… Read More
Saturday Prayer – Between
Here we are, Lord, slung between death and resurrection. Suspended in the moment between the blank page and the final word the desperate argument and the forgiving embrace the pink slip and the new offer the last tear and the first smile the diagnosis and the treatment plan the caught breath and the exhale. Here… Read More
Friday Prayer
O Holy One, as Creation holds its breath, we wait we ponder we search our souls. we doubt we step back in fear we fail you. grant us peace give us hope clear our minds as we listen for that first whisper from the tomb, as we watch for that first glimmer of resurrection light.… Read More
Maundy Thursday Prayer: Remember
“Do this to remember me…” However we do this with a loaf, wafers, cubes of bread… However we do the doing in vestments our Sunday best barefoot or high-heeled Dear God, help us to remember not the to-do list or the thing we forgot to write on the to-do list or who is doing what… Read More
