A couple years back, several from our church were blessed to see/hear the author of Becoming Wise, 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) 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!)

HUMOR: Check out these “Baby Gorillas Being Naughty” videos

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
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 22, 2020:

• 1 Samuel 16:1-13 
• Psalm 23 
• Ephesians 5:8-14 
• John 9:1-41

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“For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light- 5:9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.” ~ Ephesians 5:8-9

North America is experiencing plants and creatures growin’ and movin’. Perhaps we’ll be doing our own movin’ and prayin’ this day and in the light of the days ahead?

POSSIBLE ACTION: Click on the video below about movement involving light weightlifting while lifting prayers

ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Check out the “Movin’ and Prayin’ CP webpage and actions based on the Peace Prayer of St. Francis or Polishing the Heart

HUMOR: Lots of good material on the Christian Playbook HUMOR site HERE, including this picture about consequences of hoarding toilet paper

MUSIC: Then sings our souls this spring season…How Great Thou Art by GQ (female quartet) – – WOW!!

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
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 22, 2020:

• 1 Samuel 16:1-13 
• Psalm 23 
• Ephesians 5:8-14 
• John 9:1-41

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“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;” Psalm 23:1-2

Some of us feel like “lost sheep” in the midst of COVID-19 turmoil. Make sure you’re experiencing some green pastures and enjoying the still waters! Maybe some humor and music are just what you’re seeking?

HUMOR: Social distancing video with Mel Brooks and his son is HERE Additional “clean humor “suggestions will be showing up HERE.

MUSIC FOR THE DAY: How Great Thou Art by Elvis Presley and friends is HERE with more gospel music by Elvis HERE. Variety of music is in the Christian Playbook “all year round playlist” HERE.

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
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

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
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 22, 2020:

• 1 Samuel 16:1-13 
• Psalm 23 
• Ephesians 5:8-14 
• John 9:1-41

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

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
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 22, 2020:

• 1 Samuel 16:1-13 
• Psalm 23 
• Ephesians 5:8-14 
• John 9:1-41

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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

• read HERE
• listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 15, 2020:

• Exodus 17:1-7 
• Psalm 95 
• Romans 5:1-11 
• John 4:5-42

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“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

• read HERE
• listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 15, 2020:

• Exodus 17:1-7 
• Psalm 95 
• Romans 5:1-11 
• John 4:5-42

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

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

• read HERE
• listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 15, 2020:

• Exodus 17:1-7 
• Psalm 95 
• Romans 5:1-11 
• John 4:5-42

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

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

• read HERE
• listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 15, 2020:

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Psalm 95 
• Romans 5:1-11
• John 4:5-42

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

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

• read HERE
• listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 8, 2020:

• Genesis 12:1-4a 
• Psalm 121 
• Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 
• John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9

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“… 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

• read HERE
• listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, March 8, 2020:

• Genesis 12:1-4a 
• Psalm 121 
• Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 
• John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE