It seems a long ways off, yet Advent 2020 begins just 3 weeks from this Sunday. No, I’m not trying to hurry along to that season – the retail stores will do that for us!

So why mention it now?

During Advent 2020, the Christian Playbook will be periodically implementing some thoughts from Richard Rohr’s Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent. We have enjoyed many of Rohr’s blog commentaries so this seems appropriate.

No requirement to purchase this little book to be part of the Christian Playbook activities with the related postings. However, it may heighten the experience so letting readers know in advance helps in the preparation.

ACTION: In the days ahead, check your bookshelves for Advent materials you have particularly enjoyed. Or, check out some materials with an internet search in case something seems just right for the upcoming season?

Enjoy the day filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 8, 2020:

• • • • Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 and Psalm 78:1-7
      • Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24 and Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20 or Psalm 70 
      • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 
      • Matthew 25:1-13
•  

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Think you’ve already seen this one? You have – it was inadvertently sent ahead of schedule…  [ Maybe that was to honor the early vote?  🙂  ]

On this Election Day, the Book of Common Worship online edition HERE contains this prayer, “At the Time of an Election:”

Under your law we live, great God, and by your will we govern ourselves. Help us as good citizens to respect neighbors whose views differ from ours, so that without partisan anger, we may work out issues that divide us, and elect candidates to serve the common welfare; through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 

~ Book of Common Worship:  Prayers for the National Life p. 817

Enjoy the day filled with the Spirit!

P.S. Another pertinent prayer HERE – “During a National Crisis” – is on page 818.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 8, 2020:

• • • • Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 and Psalm 78:1-7
      • Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24 and Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20 or Psalm 70 
      • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 
      • Matthew 25:1-13
•  

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The Book of Common Worship online edition HERE contains this prayer, “At the Time of an Election:”

Under your law we live, great God, and by your will we govern ourselves. Help us as good citizens to respect neighbors whose views differ from ours, so that without partisan anger, we may work out issues that divide us, and elect candidates to serve the common welfare; through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 

~ Book of Common Worship:  Prayers for the National Life p. 817

Enjoy the day filled with the Spirit!

P.S. Another pertinent prayer HERE – “During a National Crisis” – is on page 818.

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 8, 2020:

• • • • Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 and Psalm 78:1-7
      • Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24 and Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20 or Psalm 70 
      • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 
      • Matthew 25:1-13
•  

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The song I Sing a Song of the Saint of God is new(er) to many of us. What is particularly nice is the current day reference – – how many saints are with us this day in the mortal world? For instance, the teachers, janitors, doctors, trash collectors, household engineers, bankers, etc. that you might meet on the street, in school, at church, all around!

Several YouTube versions of the song are available, including this one HERE with an 11 year-old singing. Take a listen to this wonderful rendition (song lyrics are HERE.)

POTENTIAL ACTION: As you go about your day, look around. Who are the saints in your midst?

PRAYER: Creator God, the saints in our lives today and those from ages past are precious. Help us to recognize the ways of the saints and to emulate them more each day. Stir in us as we continue each day to be more like Christ in all our actions… Amen

Enjoy the day filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 1, 2020:

• • • Joshua 3:7-17 and Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 
    • Micah 3:5-12 and Psalm 43 
    • 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 
    • Matthew 23:1-12
•  

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“do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” ~ Isaiah 41:10

In this 10/15 blog HERE, Roger Greene shares thoughts on The God Who Draws Close in Challenging Times. Summarizing Roger’s commentary effectively would be difficult – it’s well worth your reading should you find the stirring and the time. The quote towards the end of the piece is worthy of highlighting:

I wonder if on the other side of this pandemic we will realize that we have been given the kind of “manna,” which prior to this we didn’t know about.  

PRAYER: God, we thank you for all moments, including challenging times (hard as that is to do at the time.) Help us to welcome the manna even when we want more familiar food. Amen

Enjoy the day filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 1, 2020:

• • • Joshua 3:7-17 and Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 
    • Micah 3:5-12 and Psalm 43 
    • 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 
    • Matthew 23:1-12
•  

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Mt. Washington is a community on the east-side of Cincinnati, Ohio. COVID-19 prompted formation of the Mt. Washington Family Resource Team, with this group devoting substantial energy to alleviating childhood hunger. Composed of members from Cincinnati Public Schools staff, churches, non-profit organizations and community groups, this team actively uses creativity, selflessness, collaboration and more to provide significant blessings for our guests (and for us.) Hundreds of children and their families have received food, learning activities, household supplies, hygiene products and more.

As one Family Resource Team collaborator said: “This team is certainly my favorite thing that has come out of Covid.” A colleague quickly agreed. Isn’t it the case that so frequently in helping others we help ourselves?

PRAYER: God, we thank you for the opportunities to act as your hands, feet, eyes and ears on this earth. Guide us to new horizons, working with new friends and sharing your love with neighbors all over this earth. Amen

Enjoy the day filled with the Spirit and with recognition of the Silver Linings in your day!

P.S. You can see and hear more about these feeding efforts HERE in this CBS National News story

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 1, 2020:

• • • Joshua 3:7-17 and Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37 
    • Micah 3:5-12 and Psalm 43 
    • 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 
    • Matthew 23:1-12
•  

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Perhaps today’s Silver Linings song would have sprung up anyway, whether in COVID-19 times or not? We’ll never know for sure, though probably it wouldn’t be shared with the CP except for the time and circumstances these days are allowing.

Thanks to reader, Thad, for sharing words and the link to Modern Doxology, a song by Ed Metzger of the Bowling Green, Ohio First United Methodist church. Not only does Ed share the music (song HERE) he also provides a behind-the-scenes explanation of the thinking and voices in the song (explanation HERE)

Work like this is a wonderful augment to the Doxology that we so appreciate. Incorporating different voices for the Trinity, the word selection and their blending, the unison elements, the visual of leaves falling down, etc. Thanks to Ed for sharing his gifts with the local church (and with the larger internet community, including CP readers!)

Enjoy the day filled with the Spirit and recognition of the Silver Linings in your day!

NOTE: Ed’s work and other musical offerings are in the Christian Playbook site at Silver Linings Amidst the Dark Clouds. As you see other potential Silver Linings material, please do share it along!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 25, 2020:

• • Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17  
  • Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 and Psalm 1  
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 
  • Matthew 22:34-46
•  

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BRIGHT moments are substantial even during this incredibly dark season of COVID-19!

To highlight our gratitude, Christian Playbook (CP) has a new page – Silver Linings Amidst the Dark Clouds.  This page will share positives from our world.

CP posts in the weeks ahead will periodically highlight Silver Linings. Ideally, these will include reader-supplied materials – pictures, stories, humour and more. Don’t worry about them being in “final form.” CP will edit entries as necessary and share your own examples. You can supply those in any number of ways, including:

• via email (SALong_now @ yahoo.com) 
• commenting below (don’t worry – this requires moderator approval before just anything shows up)  🙂
• via FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/ChristianPlaybook/)

As you see these Silver Linings features in the days ahead, may they increase your gratitude, joy and loving moments…

Enjoy the day filled with the Spirit and recognition of the Silver Linings in your day!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 25, 2020:

• • Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17  
  • Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 and Psalm 1  
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 
  • Matthew 22:34-46
•  

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Thanks to Steven B. for sharing this prayer from Rev. Dr. Richard Bott, Moderator of the United Church of Canada…

Enjoy the day  [covered with face mask when in public 🙂  ]  filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 25, 2020:

• • Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17  
  • Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 and Psalm 1  
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 
  • Matthew 22:34-46
•  

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HUMOR

• Christian Playbook humor links – NEW UPDATES on 10/4

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Who’d think of a WebMD link making its way to the Christian Playbook (CP)? This is a first – –  How to Prepare Yourself for a Tough Season article has lots of good advice, much of it consistent with CP principles.

In particular, these sections/comments resonate:

• 4: Stay Close to Your Experience. Includes this: “Set a daily practice of reconnection — a few minutes of quiet reflection first thing in the morning, reading sacred scriptures or an inspirational book for a few minutes a day, prayer, or meditation.”
• 6: Decide Who You’ll Be, especially “How can we love others, no matter what?”
• 7: Look for Love

May the example that Jesus has set help us through the tough season to come as we continue to battle the confluence of pandemics: COVID-19, racial injustice, economic inequality and climate destabilization… 

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 25, 2020:

• • Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17  
  • Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 and Psalm 1  
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 
  • Matthew 22:34-46
•  

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HUMOR

• Christian Playbook humor links – NEW UPDATES on 10/4

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