For those of us who mourn deeply and sometimes in secret this season, grant comfort For those of us whose history gets forgotten with holiday cheer, grant justice For those of us who are alone and have been banished from community and table, grant love We need you, O God. For those of us who… Read More
RCL: Trusting God’s Promises (for real)
I don’t know about you, but I’m having some difficulty staying focused. There’s the Sunday School plans, the stewardship campaign, the funeral services, the special worship services, the Bible studies, and don’t forget Advent will soon be upon us. And have you completed your review of the draft budget? Oh, and what about sabbatical planning… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
God we come ready to listen waiting to hear Your still speaking voice Send Your Spirit to fall afresh on us To break open those closed places in our hearts And soften those hardened places in our souls And heal those troubled places in our minds So that we might hear You above the noise… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Praying, praying, praying… for peace for joy for healing for justice for love for ALL Trusting, trusting, trusting… that you hear us, Dear God and that you know what we need RIGHT NOW Amen and thank you in advance Rev. Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks (she/her/hers/ella) is a queer womanist freedom fighter, minister, spiritual entrepreneur, teacher, and… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
God, on this day in the middle of the week It becomes clear that You are “both/and” Both merciful and just Both leading and at the same time granting free will Both the ground of our very being and transcendent over all In a time that can seem very complex Help us to know that… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
Bright Star Lead us to love Lead us to promise Lead us to justice Lead us to hope Lead us to joy Love enfleshed Promise realized Justice unfettered Hope boundless Joy divine Bright Star Lead us through the wondrous dark night of possibility, liberation and radical Be-ing all that you have dreamed for us. We… Read More
Wednesday Prayer
God of Breath Remind us to breathe as we move from one season to the next. Some holy and some just wholly exhausting. God of Breath Remind us to breathe as we listen to news that is too often not good. Cause us to hear with hearts determined to beat to the call of love… Read More
Friday Prayer: Walking in the Night
Maybe your week, your month, your decade has felt oppressive and grim. Maybe you are overcome with anger at the continued unjust treatment of racial, cultural and sexual minorities. Or maybe you are facing what feel like insurmountable tasks and responsibilities. This prayer was birthed out of my own need to look to the Light… Read More
Thursday Prayer: like a bird
Dear Holy Spirit, A sacred kingfisher came to sit on the fence today and I was having an Important Conversation about identity and vocation, about solid ground, tūrangawaewae, a place to stand; and I was reminded that birds do not exist only on solidity: they perch on branches that sway, and on telegraph wires; they… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: A Cup of Cold Water
When I read through the texts for this week my first thought was that the whole world needs a cup of cold water. We need to stop worrying about who has the better cup, or who deserves a drink, or who should be first to drink and just hold out a cup for the first… Read More
