Surely, this is the Son of God…

The Good Friday prayer HERE by Carol A. Cook Moore is touching and filled with mercy-seeking pleas. And what a great closing as we look at this day with a glance towards Easter:

“This is the day love wins.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Amen.”

May this Good Friday provide plenty of contemplative moments…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for Good Friday, March 30, 2018:


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“… tributaries angling off from a single waterway”

“Holy Thursday is the day on which the Christian community in a special way celebrates Christ’s maternal nurturance.” ~ Wendy M. Wright (p. 88 in The Rising)

Ms. Wright goes on to describe two ways Christ shows such nurturing qualities – sharing a meal (bread/wine) and washing feet – and quotes this section of today’s Lectionary verses:

 “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” ~ John 13:14

If you’ve experienced the washing of your feet by another, the feeling of being cared for  is usually evident (and sometimes a little embarrassing!) Hmmm…love and care for one another. Ms. Wright makes this point in two wonderful sentences:

“We are lives interconnected at the core. Flowing from the same spring, the waters of divine life pulse through each of our beings, joining us as tributaries angling off from a single waterway.” ~ Wendy M. Wright (p. 89 in The Rising)

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Thinking of our interconnectedness, seek out a stranger today and perform a random act of kindness. Let the Spirit guide you…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for Thursday, March 29, 2018:


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Holy Week Prayer

Have you enjoyed saying the Lenten Prayer during this Lent? The “Holy Week Prayer” – the one altered to make the Lenten Prayer – is HERE for use today and for this upcoming week. When Rev. Dr. LP Jones shared this years ago it was powerful and remains that way to this day.

ACTION: Read the Holy Week Prayer aloud and then consider

  • Listing words or phrases from this prayer that are particularly meaningful to you
  • Replying to this post (at the bottom of the page) with those words and/or phrases
  • Adding this prayer to your daily prayers this week

May your Lenten journey continue towards a most meaningful conclusion, Spirit-fueled throughout!


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 1, 2018:


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Skillfully moving from palms to lilies…

While “waving your palms” on this Palm Sunday take a minute to read the prayer by Rev. Cynthia Langston Kirk HERE. May we face difficult tasks galiantly, be the good friend, cause minimal pain, “stay awake” and avoid skipping right from palms to lilies!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 25, 2018:


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Artwork involving crosses…

Artwork involving Jesus and the cross can be effective for stirring reflective moments, especially as we close in on Holy Week.

If you have an art museum nearby, consider a trip there for a visit to the Renaissance section and some of the paintings and other artwork involving crosses. Spend a few extra minutes staring at Christ’s face in those that really capture your attention.

If you don’t have a museum nearby – or even if you do – it’s worth considering an “internet art tour” Here are a few visuals as starters:

What emotions came to you while staring at Christ’s face? May such images enhance our appreciation for the human-ness of Christ and the Holy Week experience…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 25, 2018:


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Continuing with Krista…

Krista Tippett captures the attention of many listeners. HERE‘s an interview with her as the focus, including commentary on “reverence of  faith” and the “promise and peril” of spiritual being (the YouTube should start at these items and you can “rewind” if you want to listen to the entire interview.)

Isn’t it relaxing to hear her perspective, even in the context of fear?

May our words share that same comforting faith with those around us…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 25, 2018:


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Ready to Wade?

God’s a gonna’ trouble the water…           

Lyrics from Wade in the Water provide quite a visual. “See that band all dressed in _____” … white for Israelites, red for those Moses led, etc.

The concept of wading in the water is not always a positive one or a guarantee of an easy life, is it? Avoiding slave catchers comes to mind in particular. Less negative examples like the Red Sea, Jordan River and baptismal waters still have their share of associated challenges (HERE is a little Wikipedia history if you’re interest in more.)

Two songs with Wade in the Water influences may be worth a listen for you today if you have a few minutes:

  • Sistah Lala’s “Troubled Waters” version is HERE – a really nice rappin’-like, faith-filled message in this one
  • Chapel Folk “Wade in the Water – a Stoned version” is HERE

Want to hear more traditional versions? It’s also been performed by hundreds of groups including these

  • HERE‘s a version by the Jubilee Singers from Fisk University
  • HERE‘s another by Sweet Honey in the Rock

POTENTIAL ACTION: Willing to “wade in the water” today? [at least figuratively, if not literally? 🙂 ]

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, March 18, 2018:


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Becoming Wise (Krista Tippett) …

Our Monday Morning Book Group is reading the book Becoming Wise. Earlier this week many of us were blessed to see/hear that book’s author, Krista Tippett. During our time together, Krista mentioned this usual first question for her interview settings (paraphrased here from p. 22 in Becoming Wise):

could you please describe the religious or spiritual background of your childhood?

How would you answer that question?

Krista gave a really nice talk and impressed many of us even more with her thoughtful answers during the Q&A session, including describing the goal of creating a hospitable space. That certainly applies for our discussions with one another … and maybe also with God!?! 🙂

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: 1) pose Krista’s question to one of your closest friends to see their response; 2) skim/scan this Chapter 1 link of Krista’s book HERE – lots of good quotes, in particular; 3) consider how you might make an even more hospitable space for God in your daily life

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit (and lots of hospitable spaces!)


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, March 18, 2018:


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10 Lenten ideas…

 

Penny Ford in her Lent 101 article for Upper Room shares 10 ideas (condensed here):

  • Try an electronic fast
  • Start a prayer rhythm daily
  • Take an online course as a part of your Lenten discipline
  • Forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it (maybe even yourself)
  • Give up something and give the money you save to help folks in a different part of the world who are in crisis
  • Create a 10 minute daily quiet time
  • Cultivate a life of gratitude
  • Visit Sight Psalms and spend time in visual meditation and prayer
  • Volunteer one hour or more each week
  • Pray for others you see in your daily activities

ACTION: Does one of these capture your attention? Give it a try! You can see details of Penny’s thoughts on these 10 ideas HERE.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, March 11, 2018:


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May Our Moments and Our Days Flow in Ceaseless Praise…

Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Sound familiar? These words from Frances Havergal, poet and hymn writer, are from the song “Take My Life.”

This SongFacts webpage has a link to an audio version of the song and also contains background of why Frances was compelled to write this just a few years prior to her death. She clearly was an evangelistically-minded individual and one can imagine feeling compelled to write a song after the “Lord, give me all in this house” experience she had in converting and refocusing acquaintances (song lyrics are HERE.)

ACTION: May this day find us all letting our moments and our days “flow in ceaseless praise!”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lectionary Texts for this Sunday, March 11, 2018:


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