Monthly Archives: January 2025

The Source of Our Joy Forever – Joan C…

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The Source of Our Joy Forever is the title on Joan Chittister’s 1/27/2025 post. Thank you, Joan, for this sharing!
 
Inspiring us, she says:
 

We come to this world from the moment of birth unable to function without the help of others. We grow, then, into that purpose ourselves: to care for those around us so that, caring for one another, we may all live secure in the knowledge that we are safe and wanted, necessary and loved.

And this one, as the answer to the question “What is really important in life?”

the answer is only life itself, living it well, immersing it in beauty, love, and reflection.

“Living it well.” YES!             Perhaps here are a few reflection items that will ignite action:

  • The 2025 MLK, Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service is HERE. Highlights:
    • The beautiful singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing is HERE
    • The keynote speech is HERE, by Bishop William J. Barber, II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign. Noteworthy quote: “800 people die daily from poverty”
  • Check out details on on some wonderful women HERE including
    • Zora Neale Hurston, the African-American author and anthropologist who died on January 27, 1960
    • “I said in my heart, here are my convictions. What shall I do? Shall I be inactive and permit prejudice, the mother of abominations, to remain undisturbed?” wrote Prudence Crandall, the schoolteacher and activist who died on January 28, 1890

May this day and those ahead ignite nonviolent civil disobedience, stirred by the Spirit…

P.S. Want more listening of Joy-themed songs in the Disciple Playbook YouTube playlist?

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, February 2, 2025:

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

DISCIPLE 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 DISCIPLE PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

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Celebrating and Remembering Martin…

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When remembering Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK), a trademark is non-violence. The webpage HERE shares “MLK’S “10 COMMANDMENTS” OF NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.” The fact that Martin made these points so clear to protesters is a tribute to his focus on study, thoughtfulness, prayerfulness, kindness and preparation.

We celebrate the life of a man willing to follow Spirit’s stirrings even when knowing he was placing his life on the line over the years. What a legacy!

POTENTIAL ACTIVITY: find a way to celebrate, whether

  • watching the 2025 MLK, Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service, recorded HERE. If you have time for only part of it…
    • make sure to watch the beautiful singing of Lift Every Voice and Sing at about the 20 minute point of the recording
    • scroll forward to the keynote speaker, Bishop William J. Barber, II, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign – haven’t heard it yet, but it will undoubtedly be inspiring
  • watching audio/video of MLK’s life like the one HERE
  • walking in a parade
  • or in whatever fashion seems fitting

May this day bring opportunities for reflection on nonviolent civil disobedience, stirred by the Spirit…

[NOTE: much of this is from a 2023 posting – seemed like a good one to repeat…]

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 26, 2025:

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

DISCIPLE 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 DISCIPLE PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Prayer for the New Year – Howard Thurman…

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This Advent and Christmastide season has been made even better by reading the book The Mood of Christmas & Other Celebrations by Howard Thurman. Powerful prose!

Thurman’s book includes commentary on the end of a year and the beginning of a new year. It’s well worth the read at some point, and while the title suggests Christmas-time reading, one need not wait until that time of year to appreciate the commentaries! 🙂

We’re further blessed that A Prayer for the New Year by Howard Thurman is available on the internet HERE. It brings with it a Spirit-led “make a suitable number of mistakes” approach which resonates for many Christ-followers, and it includes these lines:

let my spirit be free
so that You may take it
and redeem my moments
in all the ways my needs reveal.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit and those redeeming moments along the way…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 12, 2025:

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

DISCIPLE 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 DISCIPLE PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Following the Star to an Epiphany…

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This explanation of Epiphany (link HERE) provides good context for our Christmastide and beyond, including these compelling sentences:

“But the joy of Christmas isn’t over yet because we can choose to recognize the mercy of God in the everyday stuff. With open hearts and expectant outlooks, believers can have epiphany moments any day.”

On this 2025 Epiphany and in future days,

may we find “aha” moments to energize our ways!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 12, 2025:

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

DISCIPLE 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 DISCIPLE PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Center of My Life…

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WOW – an inspirational and aspirational Henri Nouwen Society post from January 3 is HERE!

Now, to figure out how to TRULY make Jesus the Center of One’s Life… This line is heavy with opportunity:

The thousands of people, events, ideas, and plans that occupy my inner life must become all one in the one and only name: Jesus.

How to do this?

  • Henri Nouwen provides some thought along these lines in his book Finding Our Sacred Center. Perhaps it’ll find its way on the reading list?
  • Short of that, the summary HERE of Nouwen’s book In the Name of Jesus probably provides some key nuggets?

Thanks to Henri Nouwen Society for their continued sharing of inspiration!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit and continuing the experiences of Christmastide season!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, January 5, 2025:

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

DISCIPLE 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 DISCIPLE PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip