May this bring extra comfort…

Christian Playbook postings will likely be more frequent during the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing music, perspective, prayer and humor. May they bring extra comfort…

HUMOR: Groucho Marx trades jokes/humor with Rev. James Witcomb Brougher on You Bet Your Life  (link HERE)

MUSIC FOR THE DAY: Maybe the Italians are onto something HERE? Singing from balconies is a great idea!

PERSPECTIVE: Benjamin Pratt gives us wonderful perspective of a 17th Century saint in the article “Faith in a Pandemic: ‘Now thank we all our God.’ ” (article HERE.)  We read of Martin Rinkart, a German Lutheran clergyman and author of hymns who endured much over a lifetime. The song “Now Thank We All Our God” is HERE. At the end of the article are these prayerful words that resonate:

“… May we remember those who will lose work and have no monetary cushion. When we cannot embrace our loved ones, let us seek new ways to be the a loving embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES:

  • For People Critically Ill, or Facing Great Uncertainty – from ANZPB (bottom of first page shown HERE)
  • Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 22, 2020:


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COVID-19 – prayer and practices…

WOW. As we continue living in this COVID-19 environment, life seems ever-changing…

Worship? Canceled.

Social gatherings? Minimized.

Faith. Challenged?

Here are a few thoughts/adaptations:

  • consider praying aloud the “For People Critically Ill, or Facing Great Uncertainty” prayer at the link HERE (shared by a Mississippi pastor and dear family friend
  • worship at home (several streaming worship service links are HERE)
  • listen to songs of faith HERE
  • call or email a friend to chat about joyful life experiences you have shared
  • get outside and take a walk, like the folks pictured below

Our community of faith makes a huge difference.  With our new technological world, “where two or more are gathered” doesn’t always have to be in physical proximity!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 15, 2020:


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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!


Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 15, 2020:


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Living our Ways into Answers…

WOW! Don’t you just love how the Spirit can sometimes work in mysterious ways?

While writing a prayer note to a friend this morning, the prose of Rainer Maria Rilke, (link HERE) came to me by way of the Northumbria Community Morning Prayer (link HERE.)

May each of us  “live our way into the answers…”

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

————————————

P.S. Reflecting on the number of wonderful Christian resources, it seems now is a good time to highlight those HERE (https://christianplaybook.longmemories.info/resources).

If you have resources you would suggest we add, please email to salong_now @ yahoo.com with the reference and why you enjoy it. Many thanks!


Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 15, 2020:


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What Might a Prophet Look Like?

The website SimpleLivingWorks looks interesting…they have lots of resources plus articles like this one on “What Might a Prophet Look Like?” That article includes the comment “Although lifestyle ministry is largely prophetic – urging and equipping people of faith to walk their talk – it focuses on two of the five Life Standards** of “Living More with Less” – “Do Justice” (#1) and “Non-conform Freely” (#5).” The author then shares 9 activities they are performing in support of these two Life Standards.

Reading such articles and summaries makes one pause and consider how as Christians we live a lifestyle that promotes justice. There are many actions possible. May the Spirit move each of us to show love with new and “more just” actions this week!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 15, 2020:


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World Day of Prayer…

Today is World Day of Prayer. It’s nice to think of folks world-wide praying today for God’s peace on earth…

“Rise! Take Your Mat and Walk,” said Jesus. Our sisters from Zimbabwe are taking Jesus’ encounter to be a call to act in love for peace and reconciliation. “The action verbs suggest that we should not be afraid to act on the word of God. God is offering us the steps for personal and social transformation.” ~ https://worlddayofprayer.net/index.html

You can see more HERE about the program and Zimbabwe, the country of focus for 2020.

Prayers of strength and support are headed out today for all folks working for a more peaceful, loving, compassionate, non-judgmental world!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen


Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 8, 2020:


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Give me away…

“… So, when all that’s left of me is love, give me away.” ~ Merrit Malloy

The quote above is yet another nice reminder of ways we can be sharing Christ’s life with all. For those interested, the additional verses are HERE .

This week, may we each live out one or more of the efforts Malloy mentions in this piece – – cry for another, put your arms around those walking the street beside you, let hands touch hands, let bodies touch bodies, let go of children needing to be freed…

PRAYER POSSIBILITY: during the season of Lent, below these Christian Playbook posts will be links to a Lenten Prayer written by Rev. Dr. LP Jones – you can experience this prayer by reading or listening to the words…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!


Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen



Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 8, 2020:


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