On that day, Holy Friend, before dusty cloaks thrown onto even more dusty earth, before the powers’ posturing, before you washed your friends’ feet and sat at a table even with the one who would betray you and prayed in a darkened olive grove, before torture and death. On that day, Holy Friend, you did what… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Ostriches
On this Lenten way, O God of every life-giving way we pray for a new thing to spring forth: for the path through stormy waters and for those pummeled by the storm until a dry path becomes clear; for the avenues toward peace and for those surrounded by warring chariots until the rage of war… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: taking care of those who are poor…
There’s a sort of synergy between the RCL and NL texts this week, as both offer us reminders of how to take care of people living with great hardship, but from very different angles. Or perhaps not that different? It’s also the last Sunday in Lent, with just Palm Sunday and Holy Week still ahead. In… Read More
Friday Festival: Into the Mess
Do we fear mess? The season of Lent invites us into the messy unknown. By exploring spiritual practices and wrestling with any discord in our hearts, we invest in the Lenten wilderness process as we see in our friend’s blogs. April Fiet dives into a physically space to sort through items – specifically Flip Flops… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Amazing God, On this day in the middle of the week In this moment in the middle of the morning As we journey in the middle of the Lenten season We stop and catch a view of both the sun’s brilliance and the moon’s light in the deep blue sky And we are convicted to… Read More
Friday Festival: Labyrinthine Longings
What are you pondering two weeks into Lent? What are you longing for in the quiet of your heart? Elaine Besthorn unlocks the #lentenlabyrinth~~seek. We arrived. The door was locked. More of our group arrived. They too tried the door. Still locked. I guess they did not trust our findings. Repeat entire sequence one more… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Beyond Understanding
Mother Teresa is frequently credited with the quote, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.” A version of that saying shows up in this week’s epistle reading. “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Holy One, Thank you for a new day with new opportunities to grow, new possibilities to love, new intentions to be more like You in the world; even if it is only within our own small world to start. As we lean into the rest of the week, cause us to lean on You, to… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Business Practices
I’ve heard this parable (here) preached and taught as an economic justice story. And, it is. I’ve also heard it shared in relation to God’s grace, abundance, and generosity. And, it is. But, when I read it this time something new happened for me. Images of an owner whose business practice is to center persons… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Find the Sermon Edition
It’s the first Sunday of Lent, so for Revised Common Lectionary preachers, that means Temptation, every year. Narrative Lectionary preachers are working through forgiveness and reconciliation in Matthew. Maybe you’ve planned a Lent series? Catching up from too many snowy Sundays? Whatever the case, you’re welcome at the 11th Hour Preacher Party! Share ideas, ask… Read More