Shrove Tuesday…

If you’re like me, “Shrove Tuesday” may not have significance. After reading this description from Wikipedia where self-examination is involved, maybe now I know why I don’t remember this as a child…  🙂

The expression “Shrove Tuesday” comes from the word shrive, meaning “absolve“.[1] Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics,[2] who “make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God’s help in dealing with.”[3]

PRAYER: Dear God, on this Shrove Tuesday, please help me to seek and heed your guidance on ways to advance my spiritual growth, that I might more closely be like Christ Jesus in all I do and say. Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 5, 2017:


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Visuals Help – Prayer Photos

Viewing pictures of those for whom we’re praying can enhance prayer. If you haven’t done this before, maybe this is the day to try it out?

At first, find a few pictures of loved ones. Place those photos in an area(s) where you’ll see them regularly while praying.

As time goes on, this practice can stay relevant by adding more hard copy photographs around the house and/or by adding photos using technology. Locating hard copy photos all around may even help prompt prayer? 🙂

Technologically, you might also create a Word/PowerPoint document and copy/paste photo images of people who are on your prayer list. This electronic file of pictures can be on your computer and also “on the cloud” for viewing the photos on smart phones, tablets or other computers even when away from the house.**

As a small example, HERE is such a prayer photo collage for world leaders and families.

Have fun with pictures and prayer, and enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** NOTE: please don’t let this technological option become a burden – it’s just an additional way to make prayer visual and impactful. If it’s not adding joy, it’s not worth considering!


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 5, 2017:


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Ready for the mysteries of Lent for another year?

Are you ready for Ash Wednesday and Lent 2017? Hard to believe but we’re just one week away…

One resource that I’ve really enjoyed during this season is The Rising: Living the Mysteries of Lent, Easter and Pentecost by Wendy M. Wright. In the book’s introduction she says…

The liturgical year roots our faith. It grounds the invisible, animating our lives in the visible, tactile world. It is elemental. It drapes flesh on the skeletons of our too-ghostly religiosity. It connects heaven with earth, divine with human. It allows us access to the mysteries of our faith. In its feasts and fasts we taste and see God.” (pages 13-14)

I like the thought of grounding the invisible and animating our lives as many of us spend more time in church and community while living the mysteries. Perhaps you’ll want to purchase Wendy’s book or pull another resource off of the church library shelves or your personal bookshelf to help uncover some clues to solving the mysteries? 🙂

May the spirit move through you vibrantly during this upcoming Lenten season!


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 26, 2017:


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Moving While Praying – the whirling dervish approach

Moving while praying can frequently enhance the experience for me. Tailored from the practices of “the whirling dervish” approach, here’s a new one for me – and maybe for you? (http://bit.ly/CPPolishTheHeart)

Don’t get too dizzy with the effort! 🙂

*** Time for a “thanks be to God” moment! Discussion and reading with the Monday Morning Book Group at MWPC has been providing great insight for me. I’m so appreciative of their friendliness, knowledge, spirit, sharing, perspectives, humor and grace. Why mention that now? We read the book Spiritual Gems of Islam and the “Polish the Heart” action above is taken from Gem 12!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 19, 2017:


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Love, Love, Love

Love is one of the Christian Playbook actions and is symbolized by the mobius band image [far right at the bottom of this page.]

On this Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking this day is only for lovers of a certain type (and maybe that’s what the retailers want us to believe?) The diverse Greek system of loves can provide consolation as it relates to love. A nice article on this is highlighted on the CP Love tab, and included as a link HERE.

So… let’s think of this day as celebrating all types of love. By mapping out – and then performing – some loving actions, we can be an example to all around us of what the world can be.

After all, as the song says – and this YouTube helps describewhat the world needs now, is love sweet love!”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 19, 2017:


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Praying – using “audio prompts”

During a visit with some friends in their home this week, we discussed the influence of physical movements while praying and how those are employed in the Audio Daily Prayer. Hugging oneself as those song lyrics “in his arms he’ll take and shield thee” are sung/said provides just that much more comfort.

When you have 5-10 minutes today, why not CLICK HERE and listen (and move!) to the prayer audio for the day?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 12, 2017:


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Kissing the Boats Goodbye!

Today’s devotional from the Center for Action and Contemplation is a really good one! In it, Fr. Richard Rohr uses a well-known stream analogy with a nice twist. He talks about the stream of our lives and boats containing challenges that pass along. What I like the most “…you must not attack, hate, or condemn any idea or thought…”

When you have time, please take a read of the devotional. Maybe you can add a to-do item to spend some time in silence imagining the boats in your life and how you can address each in a more God-like, caring manner so that even when you temporarily board the boat you can disembark quickly. [In fact, with that type of approach, we’ll likely be using this meditation during Sunday’s jail ministry worship, helping them understand the opportunity to “kiss those boats good-bye.”]

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 12, 2017:


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Lay Down Your Burden

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Maybe someone you know is carrying a heavy burden. If so, perhaps today is the day to send him/her a note of encouragement (and also send prayers of strength/support?)

This Amy Grant song is a great one on the topic. Let the words and music fill your heart as you allow the burdens to lift a little from your own life and see God lifting those burdens from your loved ones too.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 12, 2017:


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Resting in God

Ready to enact some new “all in” behaviors for God?

As we begin the weekend, maybe Resting in God (RiG) can be one of those ideas? Here’s a RiG summary, heavily leaning on Richard Foster’s book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home.

Maybe the weekend will afford Resting in God via a long walk, walking a labyrinth, light stretching, prayer with a candle lit or ???

Enjoy the weekend, resting in God and filled with the Spirit!

P.S. If you’re looking into buying a new book for your Christian practices library, Foster’s book is a good one if you don’t have it already.


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Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 5, 2017:


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