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
Wednesday Prayer
I feel like we are always asking for something when we pray, O God We have our lists…we need so much – especially right now… Healing… Justice… Transformation… Courage… Faith… Release… So instead of asking, today we come offering to you, Gracious God our renewed commitment to you our renewed commitment to humanity our renewed… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Source of Love
It’s the infamous LOVE text! Read it (maybe for the umpteenth time) here. It is not unfamiliar. This text is often used in wedding and union ceremonies; sometimes ordinations and installations, too. In the Working Preacher Commentary, you can find a historical and contextual glimpse into what might have prompted the Apostle Paul to write these… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
God, we can’t even remember what day it is These times still seem so surreal A pandemic Constant political unrest A Black man shot down while jogging Babies in cages Yet we still sing, “It is well with my soul…” Willing it. Believing it. Working to make it so. But how can it be? How… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Elections Illnesses [Un]natural disasters Policing Racism Transphobia Anti-Blackness Patriarchy Anti-Immigrant …this and more … …has me playing the theme song from “Harriet” on repeat this Wednesday, O God. And praying, praying, praying… But I know that this is not enough So I am asking for energy to keep standing up I am asking for courage… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Taste and See
Be Salty, find the light that shines Jesus urges his followers. After the most famous sermon ever spoken, Jesus does not hold back. He elaborates on the commandments as an illustration of the Blessings he has just preached on the Mount. Jesus tells us not to lose our flavor, not to hold back. Jesus urges… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Time to breathe Time to reflect Time to connect Time to expand Time to live For this time we give you thanks We offer our time, our hearts, our hands and our vision to you, God Have your way May it all be for a blessing Amen. Rev. Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks (she/her/hers/ella) is a queer… Read More
RCL: Simple (and nearly impossible) Requirements
I have been thinking a lot about discipleship these days. It’s not a word that progressive, predominantly white churches are all that comfortable with. Yet, with the lectionary moving from the Magi showing up to pay homage to Jesus to Jesus’ baptism, and to the calling of the first disciples… Discipleship seems a reasonable thing… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
In the stillness of the morning, before the rising of the sun, I seek the movement of your Holy Spirit Cover me Move me Stir up love Compel me to action Draw me closer To love To joy To possibility To justice To my siblings To the beauty around me Within me To You Back… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Code-Switching (Mark 4:1-34)
The parables found in Mark 4:1-34 are familiar, but I must admit that I got a bit annoyed when I read the text this time. Why the word games? Why do some get to understand and others don’t? Given the oh, so many political and religious pundits, media outlets that have been co-opted by corporate… Read More
