The practice “I Will Sing a New Song” was part of a recent Richard Rohr CAC weekly summary HERE.

Richard invites “readers to join theologian and mystic Howard Thurman (1900–1981) as he prays for the courage and ability to stay renewed over the course of his life:” The full text is towards the bottom of the webpage HERE and is powerful, definitely worth joining Thurman, as Richard suggests.

Selections of the full text results are HERE from a UU website, expressed in a seemingly more poetic style for those who like that. Of particular note from both sources are these key phrases:

“The old song of my spirit has wearied itself out.”…
“I must prepare for new melodies that have never been mine before,
that all that is within me may lift my voice unto God.”
“Therefore, I shall rejoice with each new day and delight my spirit in each fresh unfolding. I will sing, this day, a new song unto the Lord.” 

~ Howard Thurman

Coming down for the next cup of coffee after reading Thurman’s prose, a glimpse out the window revealed this wonderful “new song” image

Grabbing the camera to get a better picture, what should be on the other side of the bush? Was it a nearly perfect visual of Thurman’s prose? (Thanks God, for the wink!)

What are your WOW moments today?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit !

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 16, 2022:

• Jeremiah 31:27-34 and Psalm 119:97-104 
• Genesis 32:22-31 and Psalm 121 
• 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 
• Luke 18:1-8

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The title likely surprised many of our readers. Yet, treasured family up in Canada are enjoying their Thanksgiving today by gathering together. As the Canadian website (HERE) says:

“Although it’s agricultural origin, the theme of the Thanksgiving holiday has changed over the years. It is a day of reflection and to be thankful for an important event.”

Lectionary for this day is filled with joyful praise and thanksgiving, including:

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.” ~ Psalm 100:1

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ~ Philippians 4:6-7

The fact is…every day can be a Happy Thanksgiving day, right? Anne Lamott’s book Help, Thanks, Wow is a nice reminder and reinforcement. 🙂 

What are your WOW moments today?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit !

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 16, 2022:

• Jeremiah 31:27-34 and Psalm 119:97-104 
• Genesis 32:22-31 and Psalm 121 
• 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 
• Luke 18:1-8

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Years ago, Chris Thile showed incredible physical and musical energy racing along the Tall Stacks stage in Cincinnati. He shares spiritual energy and imagery in the song Here and Heaven, co-written with Aoife O’Donovan. The music video HERE is wonderful, especially with its introduction, showing the “tuning up” necessary…

The harmonies, instrumentation plus lyrics (HERE) share a wonderful tale that stirs the soul, including these lines

…With an arrow and bow and some seeds left to sow
we are staking our claim
On ground so fertile we forget who we’ve hurt along
the way and reach out for a strange hand
to hold someone strong but not bold enough to
tear down the wall…

~ lyrics from song Here and Heaven

Each of us will likely take away different meanings from the lyrics and the song. Could this involve the wall between Here and Heaven? Can we reach out to strangers for help and to help? Is the strong, strange hand imagery for the Creator?

May we continue to recognize the fertile ground we encounter each day as we continue in our own winters, springs, summers and falls…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit !

Reminder: FREE Collective Trauma Summit (HERE) is underway

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 2, 2022:

• Lamentations 1:1-6 and Lamentations 3:19-26 or Psalm 137 
• Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 37:1-9 
• 2 Timothy 1:1-14 
• Luke 17:5-10

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…We have so little of each other, now. So far
from tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange.
What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these
fleeting temples we make together when we say, “Here,
have my seat,” “Go ahead—you first,” “I like your hat.”  

~ from the poem, Small Kindnesses, by Danusha Lameris

The full poem called Small Kindnesses is HERE. It is well worth the 2 minutes to click & read (thanks for the reference, Marilyn K.!)

In this world where challenges are seemingly everywhere, isn’t it nice to think of the exchanges Danusha mentions above as “the true dwelling of the holy”? May the Spirit move us to such kindnesses even when the flesh is weak…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit !

P.S. In a “thank you God” moment, visiting Danusha’s website HERE yielded news of a well-timed event from September 28 – October   – FREE Collective Trauma Summit (HERE)

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 2, 2022:

• Lamentations 1:1-6 and Lamentations 3:19-26 or Psalm 137 
• Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 and Psalm 37:1-9 
• 2 Timothy 1:1-14 
• Luke 17:5-10

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Isn’t it pleasing to recognize how much material is available to us as believers and seekers?

After clicking on last week’s CP post HERE and the accompanying Hostetler 10 Bible Verses when Stressed link, what should we find on that page but this video of 6 verses HERE ! The music and visuals in the video provide calming influences to make the biblical text all the more effective.

May such audiovisual materials – engaging more of our senses – positively influence our days, stressful or not!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit… (with a little reckless sowing of love too where possible)

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 25, 2022:

• Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 and Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 
• Amos 6:1a, 4-7 and Psalm 146 
• 1 Timothy 6:6-19 
• Luke 16:19-31

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Today is the U.N. International Day of Peace. May world leaders feel the power of our prayers for peace in the midst of these troubling times.

Such a day is a reminder of the song Let There Be Peace on Earth and its hopeful and empowering message (details on the song HERE). Want to hear it performed by the International Children’s Choir? It is HERE for free listening. 🙂

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Have time to engage intentionally in one or more supportive act?

• Perhaps set your alarm for noon today and observe a minute of silence along with many others around the world
• Include in your prayers our world leaders, that they might find the strength and feel the support for peaceful actions with a goal: “may peace prevail on earth!”
• Many more ideas and/or activities in your area are listed HERE

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit !

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 25, 2022:

• Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 and Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 
• Amos 6:1a, 4-7 and Psalm 146 
• 1 Timothy 6:6-19 
• Luke 16:19-31

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Stress is “baked in” to many roles in society. It’s nice to have some biblical answers when stress comes knocking. Our good friend Bob Hostetler has assembled 10 such biblical verse options HERE. While referencing “work” in the context, these verses work for most situations.

May we remember to periodically reach for our Bibles when stress arrives!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit… (with a little reckless sowing of love too where possible)

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 18, 2022:

• Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 and Psalm 79:1-9 
• Amos 8:4-7 and Psalm 113 
• 1 Timothy 2:1-7 
• Luke 16:1-13

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Check out the description of God HERE from Brother Luke Ditewig. Isn’t it wonderful to think of God sowing those seeds of love without regard to whether we’ve just made another mistake or acted out in generosity on our own?

Brother Ditewig in his 10-minute meditation HERE shares perspective relating to the parable of the sower and also God’s sowing of love for Jacob in spite of his behavior at times. [Should you prefer, you can listen to it HERE] What a wonderful sharing – many thanks Brother Ditewig (and to Joan for the reference!)

That recklessness is also a nice reminder of the – may we be crazy enough to believe we can make a difference – aspect of the Franciscan Blessing. Maybe you want another listening to Heather’s rendition of it today? If so, you can enjoy it HERE

May we follow the example of our Reckless Creator, spreading love and good works, fueled by the Spirit… 

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 11, 2022:

• Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 and Psalm 14 
• Exodus 32:7-14 and Psalm 51:1-10 
• 1 Timothy 1:12-17 
• Luke 15:1-10

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You may recall the CP posting HERE last year about the Franciscan Benediction delivered in a passionate way by Rev. David Montgomery (video HERE.) That benediction ties nicely with Pastor Lisa’s sermon in our last CP posting, providing for convenient sharing of a follow-up story.

Pastor David finished his interim pastorate at BG First Presbyterian and has now taken up his next interim in Michigan. During the concluding worship service in Bowling Green, Ohio, those in attendance were blessed to experience the Franciscan benediction twice:

1. David sharing it in his inimitable style
2. A rendition of the composition, A Franciscan Blessing (Dedicated to Pastor David Montgomery for his service to First Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green, Ohio). The composer Heather McEwen Goldman captures the essence of the Franciscan message beautifully. You can enjoy it HERE with the composer singing all the parts (thanks for blessing us all with this effort, Heather, and allowing its sharing!)

May we live out this Franciscan Blessing, filled with Jesus-like love and good works, fueled by the Spirit… 

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 4, 2022:

• Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 
• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 1 
• Philemon 1:1-21 
• Luke 14:25-33

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One of the blessings of the “COVID winter” is the existence in larger numbers of recorded worship services. Some of these are still going (see listing below) and we get a chance to experience worship for the first time, revisit an excellent message and/or hear wonderful music again.

A couple Sundays back we heard a wonderful scripture reading and accompanying message HERE from dear Pastor Lisa. She reminded us of the various healings in our world and the fact that the answer to prayer isn’t always “yes” in quite the fashion we hope. POWERFUL? Yes.

And then worship became even more energized with the song Give Me Jesus (HERE.)  Excellent job by Ryan, the talented tenor, including this concluding line sung with incredible feeling…

“You may have all this world, give me Jesus!”

May we spur ourselves to all sorts of healings, filled with Jesus-like love and good works, fueled by the Spirit… 

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 4, 2022:

• Jeremiah 18:1-11 and Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 
• Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 1 
• Philemon 1:1-21 
• Luke 14:25-33

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