Nothing to Protect …

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Many of us have just experienced Thanksgiving and the joys of togetherness with family and friends! Yet, we know that this time of year can also bring seasons of want for those around us…

The “Nothing to Protect” message HERE from  Franciscan Press’ Minute Meditations is a good one on the heels of this holiday. Especially noteworthy is the opening line:

“Compassion flourishes when we have nothing to protect and everything to share.”

Coming away from Thanksgiving times strengthened and ready for the upcoming Advent season, the Nothing to Protect imagery is fantastic. May we be equipped, energetic and ready to give this language of love to all, with our mouths, eyes, ears, hearts, hands, feet and all…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 26, 2023:

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically. Included now is a grin-inducing New Bible Reading Plan (Pearls Before Swine)

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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“The Hub:” refuse, reuse, recycle …

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This past Sunday, those staying after MWPC worship for The Hub presentation were blessed by the experience.

Their “Triple-R message?”

  • Refuse.
  • Reuse.
  • Recycle.

By limiting our consumption we ultimately require less and possibly influence others, right? And if all world residents could do more of this, there’s less production, less use of natural resources, fewer tons going into landfills, etc.. 

Where can you make such contributions to the Creator’s earth? Perhaps many of us in the Cincinnati area will make use of The Hub. You can check out much more about them HERE

In closing out this post, the song “Will You Come and Follow Me” comes to mind… A nice reminder for us to be examples of such Triple-R efforts!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Buried your Sacrifice Flower yet?

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 19, 2023:

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically. Included now is a grin-inducing New Bible Reading Plan (Pearls Before Swine)

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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Will You Come and Follow Me …

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The song “Will You Come and Follow Me” does a nice job of expressing – in Celtic style – what commitment can truly look like. A version of the song is HERE if you’d like to enjoy a rendition.

Listening – and acting on – the words of The Summons (another naming of this song) allows justice and radical God-centeredness to come through in our lives. The song’s author, John L. Bell (more on him HERE,) said this in an interview in Reformed Worship (March 1993):

“I discovered that seldom did our hymns represent the plight of poor people to God. There was nothing that dealt with unemployment, nothing that dealt with living in a multicultural society and feeling disenfranchised. There was nothing about child abuse…,that reflected concern for the developing world, nothing that helped see ourselves as brothers and sisters to those who are suffering from poverty or persecution.”

Many thanks, John L. Bell (and colleague Graham Maule!) This song and so many others are helping stir the Spirit towards justice, in wonderful ways…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Anyone buried their Sacrifice Flower yet?

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 19, 2023:

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically. Included now is a grin-inducing New Bible Reading Plan (Pearls Before Swine)

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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Veteran’s Day traditional posting …

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On Veteran’s Day, it’s a CP tradition to review pictures of family veterans in uniform…

 

 

 

 

Does one look a little “out of place?”

Brother Andy was stationed in the country of Togo, West Africa in the Peace Corps in the mid/late 1980s. Why make that choice? He and so many other veterans have shared the love of the American people worldwide by “working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation” ~ (taken from the Peace Corps mission statement)

Isaiah 2:4 mentions “beating our swords into plowshares.” In Togo, they did that quite literally by instructing the people to plow with oxen (in addition to teaching them math, English and engaging in many other worthwhile activities!) Whatever the role, it is tough work for the Peace Corps volunteer and the people in-country they work with daily. The result? Even 20+ years later, these Peace Corps volunteers are recognized and welcomed with open arms (I had the pleasure of experiencing these greetings first-hand in 2009 – – many Togolese thought I was my brother! )

We are blessed to have people willing to serve in such ways in the Peace Corps!

Could we say a lot about the blessing of what our military personnel have done for us, including Uncles Fred and Jack (pictured above?) Absolutely; yet it’s likely you’ll get a chance to read a lot more about military folks, so we’ll leave it here for today.

ACTION: Let’s honor and remember our veterans today in one or more ways such as

  • trip to a park or cemetery where a veteran’s memorial exists
  • attending area events honoring veterans – men, women and more (animals in K9 corps and others)
  • watching a show in a war setting
  • watching videos of Peace Corps volunteers sharing experiences HERE

PRAYER: God, we are blessed to have military veterans and currently-serving personnel who hopefully ultimately have made and are making our world a more peaceful place. We are equally blessed to have Peace Corps veterans and volunteers working for a more peaceful world. We remember and honor their efforts and sacrifices for such peaceful long-term priorities. Strengthen and support all of them – and us – in our roles of becoming better peace-makers worldwide! Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 12, 2023:

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically. Included now is a grin-inducing New Bible Reading Plan (Pearls Before Swine)

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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“The BOBBs” …

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Further fueled by the Guideposts article HERE, a new small group ministry is forming in the Cincinnati area. Named “The BOBBs**,” the initial group of 4 guys – two black and two white – have begun meeting for lunch about once a month at one of several local, black-owned businesses.

That Guideposts story – “With God’s Guidance, He Helps Others in Large and Tiny Ways”  – is compelling on numerous fronts:

  • consider the Dwayne figures in your own life – those showing up “Dwayne-on-the-spot,” just when help is needed
  • what a wonderful religious community New Olivet Worship Center is, including making “Bust-a-Move Monday” trips to black-owned places a priority (and letting the proprietors know in advance!) 🙂
  • the history of Orange Mound and efforts to revitalize the area

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Perhaps you will decide to form a similar BOBBs or Bust-a-Move group of your own, or prioritize your spending in this way? If you’re looking for black-owned places to frequent in the Cincinnati area, a website with some options is HERE

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** Black-Owned Business Boosters

P.S. A sad note; one of the first locations the BOBBs visited announced just a few weeks later that they were closing. All the more inspiration for doing this more often and encouraging others to support local black-owned businesses!!!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 12, 2023:

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically. Included now is a grin-inducing New Bible Reading Plan (Pearls Before Swine)

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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Sacrifice Flower …

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Thank you Richard Rohr and Center for Action and Contemplation!

There are many reasons for that thanksgiving. One – the focus of today’s CP attention – is their weekly Saturday posting, summarizing the week of blog posts along with a Practice.

Week 44’s Practice brings with it a fabulous message and reasonably easy effort, should we be so inclined. Franciscan Sister José Hobday (1929–2009) was a Seneca elder and she shares:

A very special [way to pray] was the Sacrifice Flower prayer, which [my mother] adapted from the heritage of her people, the Seneca Iroquois. …

She goes on in the article to share the full prayer and then provides this concluding remark:

In this simple, graphic way my mother taught me how uplifting prayer can be. And, in the process, she taught me about life, too—how basic both dying and rising are to living and how important it is that we become Sacrifice Flowers for each other.

To see the full Practice, click HERE and go towards the bottom of the page.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Maybe we will find time today or in a day upcoming to try the Sacrifice Flower prayer?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 5, 2023:

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically. Included now is a grin-inducing New Bible Reading Plan (Pearls Before Swine)

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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Christ as a Light …

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In this “Searchlights and Penlights” UCC devotional, Martin Copenhaver quotes Sister Helen Prejean:

“I’m always asking God for a searchlight.  But, instead, God gives me a penlight.”

Copenhaver goes on to say that he’s learning to walk by penlight. Many of us can likely relate to that thinking.

How do we allow more illumination in our lives? Maybe one answer is included in the song  “Christ as a Light” (Prayer of St. Patrick,) performed in this link by John Michael Talbot. Hearing or singing this song provides peace, especially considering omnipresence…

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Find time to “brighten/focus the penlight,” especially since brightening the path helps during light and dark times

  • Spend time in silence, allowing yourself to bask in the light.
  • Consider using Copenhaver’s prayer as a breath prayer today: “God, if I can’t have the searchlight, show me how to walk by penlight.”

May we allow ourselves to be surrounded by the light of God, illuminated and illuminating…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 5, 2023:

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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Elements of your spiritual autobiography…

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Have you ever considered writing your spiritual autobiography? That may sound a little too ambitious, but perhaps jotting down a few notes on key events in life might be fruitful, especially with a focus on how our faith helps us in certain mountaintop or valley of darkness times? [As a repeat CP posting item, you may have even started this from the 2020 post?]

The Upper Room article HERE by Richard L. Morgan describes one approach to writing such a document. The author encourages

“Focus on ‘grace moments’—moments when God was present in your life story.”

The horrific events in Israel over the past several weeks have brought some to reflect on a day of particular darkness in 2001. Faith and our communities were important on that day and in the days that followed. We worshiped, wept, listened, wept, prayed, consoled, sang and more. Our pastor gave a “Christians, What Now?” sermon that was inspiring – prompting the writing of this song of the same title (audio HERE.) God’s grace was present even in those moments, especially because of a supportive community…

What “grace moment” dates come immediately to your mind? Take a moment to thank God for being there, on the mountaintop experiences and in the valleys.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Consider selecting an event in your life and jot a few notes using the spiritual autobiography prompts in the Upper Room article. It doesn’t have to become a book! 🙂

PRAYER: Dear Creator God, help us to make time for you. Thank you for being there in all of our days, especially during “grace moments” in our lifetimes. You bless us in so many ways and we ask for the strength, support and wisdom to find outlets for sharing of Christian love to our neighbors – no exceptions! Amen.

May you enjoy this day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 29, 2023:

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically


Click on the cartoon above to visit toonfever.com!

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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“Ripening with Age”…

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This autumn season can bring visual reminders of “ripening changes” galore. Deciduous trees. Ripening apples. Pumpkins patches. More, much more.

The weekly summary of CAC postings HERE provides some wonderful “Ripening with Age” commentaries. Perhaps one of the daily articles by Richard Rohr, Joan Chittister, Kathleen Dowling Singh  or James Finley will capture your attention for some reading?

May you enjoy this day – “ripe for the picking” – while filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 22, 2023:

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items
  • accept a Call to Action item from Season of Peace devotional posting

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically


Click on the cartoon above to visit toonfever.com!

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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SONG: Canticle of Creatures by St. Francis…

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The song Canticle of Creatures seems a valuable follow-up to the CP Climate Caregivers post focusing on Pope Francis**. It’s worth the 5 minute listen HERE, especially with the lyrics on the screen (Umbrian + English).

Curious for more about this, a web search reveals the Canticle of the Creatures description HERE from Franciscan Seculars website including:

For Francis, as God is Our Father, he saw family relationships within all Creation. Birds, fire and wind are brothers. The moon, stars and water are sisters and our planet Earth who nourishes us is Mother. Creation is nature viewed with The Creator in mind, creation is fullness, life and community. Creation becomes fraternity.

Perhaps the Pope’s urgings become even more compelling taken with this Franciscan, family-focused viewpoint?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** CP reader Andy shares the link HERE as follow-up, should you want more on Laudate Deum – thanks Andy!

P.S. A little humor, for those interested Made in God’s Own Image (Calvin & Hobbes)

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 22, 2023:

POTENTIAL ACTIONS – FOOD INSECURITY: This season will likely find increasing numbers of folks looking for food, presenting opportunities to

  • share financial and/or food offerings with a local food pantry
  • check with your faith community about upcoming opportunities to feed community members
  • volunteer to help with a local mobile food pantry or community dinner
  • find a Little Pantry in your area and help stock it with shelf-stable food items

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically


Click on the cartoon above to visit toonfever.com!

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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