Will You Come and Follow Me …

Posted on by

The song “Will You Come and Follow Me” does a nice job of expressing – in Celtic style – what commitment can truly look like. A version of the song is HERE if you’d like to enjoy a rendition.

Listening – and acting on – the words of The Summons (another naming of this song) allows justice and radical God-centeredness to come through in our lives. The song’s author, John L. Bell (more on him HERE,) said this in an interview in Reformed Worship (March 1993):

“I discovered that seldom did our hymns represent the plight of poor people to God. There was nothing that dealt with unemployment, nothing that dealt with living in a multicultural society and feeling disenfranchised. There was nothing about child abuse…,that reflected concern for the developing world, nothing that helped see ourselves as brothers and sisters to those who are suffering from poverty or persecution.”

Many thanks, John L. Bell (and colleague Graham Maule!) This song and so many others are helping stir the Spirit towards justice, in wonderful ways…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Anyone buried their Sacrifice Flower yet?

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 19, 2023:

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

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

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Veteran’s Day traditional posting …

Posted on by

On Veteran’s Day, it’s a CP tradition to review pictures of family veterans in uniform…

 

 

 

 

Does one look a little “out of place?”

Brother Andy was stationed in the country of Togo, West Africa in the Peace Corps in the mid/late 1980s. Why make that choice? He and so many other veterans have shared the love of the American people worldwide by “working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation” ~ (taken from the Peace Corps mission statement)

Isaiah 2:4 mentions “beating our swords into plowshares.” In Togo, they did that quite literally by instructing the people to plow with oxen (in addition to teaching them math, English and engaging in many other worthwhile activities!) Whatever the role, it is tough work for the Peace Corps volunteer and the people in-country they work with daily. The result? Even 20+ years later, these Peace Corps volunteers are recognized and welcomed with open arms (I had the pleasure of experiencing these greetings first-hand in 2009 – – many Togolese thought I was my brother! )

We are blessed to have people willing to serve in such ways in the Peace Corps!

Could we say a lot about the blessing of what our military personnel have done for us, including Uncles Fred and Jack (pictured above?) Absolutely; yet it’s likely you’ll get a chance to read a lot more about military folks, so we’ll leave it here for today.

ACTION: Let’s honor and remember our veterans today in one or more ways such as

  • trip to a park or cemetery where a veteran’s memorial exists
  • attending area events honoring veterans – men, women and more (animals in K9 corps and others)
  • watching a show in a war setting
  • watching videos of Peace Corps volunteers sharing experiences HERE

PRAYER: God, we are blessed to have military veterans and currently-serving personnel who hopefully ultimately have made and are making our world a more peaceful place. We are equally blessed to have Peace Corps veterans and volunteers working for a more peaceful world. We remember and honor their efforts and sacrifices for such peaceful long-term priorities. Strengthen and support all of them – and us – in our roles of becoming better peace-makers worldwide! Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 12, 2023:

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

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

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

“The BOBBs” …

Posted on by

Further fueled by the Guideposts article HERE, a new small group ministry is forming in the Cincinnati area. Named “The BOBBs**,” the initial group of 4 guys – two black and two white – have begun meeting for lunch about once a month at one of several local, black-owned businesses.

That Guideposts story – “With God’s Guidance, He Helps Others in Large and Tiny Ways”  – is compelling on numerous fronts:

  • consider the Dwayne figures in your own life – those showing up “Dwayne-on-the-spot,” just when help is needed
  • what a wonderful religious community New Olivet Worship Center is, including making “Bust-a-Move Monday” trips to black-owned places a priority (and letting the proprietors know in advance!) 🙂
  • the history of Orange Mound and efforts to revitalize the area

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Perhaps you will decide to form a similar BOBBs or Bust-a-Move group of your own, or prioritize your spending in this way? If you’re looking for black-owned places to frequent in the Cincinnati area, a website with some options is HERE

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** Black-Owned Business Boosters

P.S. A sad note; one of the first locations the BOBBs visited announced just a few weeks later that they were closing. All the more inspiration for doing this more often and encouraging others to support local black-owned businesses!!!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 12, 2023:

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

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

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Sacrifice Flower …

Posted on by

Thank you Richard Rohr and Center for Action and Contemplation!

There are many reasons for that thanksgiving. One – the focus of today’s CP attention – is their weekly Saturday posting, summarizing the week of blog posts along with a Practice.

Week 44’s Practice brings with it a fabulous message and reasonably easy effort, should we be so inclined. Franciscan Sister José Hobday (1929–2009) was a Seneca elder and she shares:

A very special [way to pray] was the Sacrifice Flower prayer, which [my mother] adapted from the heritage of her people, the Seneca Iroquois. …

She goes on in the article to share the full prayer and then provides this concluding remark:

In this simple, graphic way my mother taught me how uplifting prayer can be. And, in the process, she taught me about life, too—how basic both dying and rising are to living and how important it is that we become Sacrifice Flowers for each other.

To see the full Practice, click HERE and go towards the bottom of the page.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Maybe we will find time today or in a day upcoming to try the Sacrifice Flower prayer?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 5, 2023:

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

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

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Christ as a Light …

Posted on by

In this “Searchlights and Penlights” UCC devotional, Martin Copenhaver quotes Sister Helen Prejean:

“I’m always asking God for a searchlight.  But, instead, God gives me a penlight.”

Copenhaver goes on to say that he’s learning to walk by penlight. Many of us can likely relate to that thinking.

How do we allow more illumination in our lives? Maybe one answer is included in the song  “Christ as a Light” (Prayer of St. Patrick,) performed in this link by John Michael Talbot. Hearing or singing this song provides peace, especially considering omnipresence…

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Find time to “brighten/focus the penlight,” especially since brightening the path helps during light and dark times

  • Spend time in silence, allowing yourself to bask in the light.
  • Consider using Copenhaver’s prayer as a breath prayer today: “God, if I can’t have the searchlight, show me how to walk by penlight.”

May we allow ourselves to be surrounded by the light of God, illuminated and illuminating…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, November 5, 2023:

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

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Elements of your spiritual autobiography…

Posted on by

Have you ever considered writing your spiritual autobiography? That may sound a little too ambitious, but perhaps jotting down a few notes on key events in life might be fruitful, especially with a focus on how our faith helps us in certain mountaintop or valley of darkness times? [As a repeat CP posting item, you may have even started this from the 2020 post?]

The Upper Room article HERE by Richard L. Morgan describes one approach to writing such a document. The author encourages

“Focus on ‘grace moments’—moments when God was present in your life story.”

The horrific events in Israel over the past several weeks have brought some to reflect on a day of particular darkness in 2001. Faith and our communities were important on that day and in the days that followed. We worshiped, wept, listened, wept, prayed, consoled, sang and more. Our pastor gave a “Christians, What Now?” sermon that was inspiring – prompting the writing of this song of the same title (audio HERE.) God’s grace was present even in those moments, especially because of a supportive community…

What “grace moment” dates come immediately to your mind? Take a moment to thank God for being there, on the mountaintop experiences and in the valleys.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS: Consider selecting an event in your life and jot a few notes using the spiritual autobiography prompts in the Upper Room article. It doesn’t have to become a book! 🙂

PRAYER: Dear Creator God, help us to make time for you. Thank you for being there in all of our days, especially during “grace moments” in our lifetimes. You bless us in so many ways and we ask for the strength, support and wisdom to find outlets for sharing of Christian love to our neighbors – no exceptions! Amen.

May you enjoy this day, filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 29, 2023:

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

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically


Click on the cartoon above to visit toonfever.com!

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

“Ripening with Age”…

Posted on by

This autumn season can bring visual reminders of “ripening changes” galore. Deciduous trees. Ripening apples. Pumpkins patches. More, much more.

The weekly summary of CAC postings HERE provides some wonderful “Ripening with Age” commentaries. Perhaps one of the daily articles by Richard Rohr, Joan Chittister, Kathleen Dowling Singh  or James Finley will capture your attention for some reading?

May you enjoy this day – “ripe for the picking” – while filled with the Spirit

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 22, 2023:

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

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically


Click on the cartoon above to visit toonfever.com!

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

SONG: Canticle of Creatures by St. Francis…

Posted on by

The song Canticle of Creatures seems a valuable follow-up to the CP Climate Caregivers post focusing on Pope Francis**. It’s worth the 5 minute listen HERE, especially with the lyrics on the screen (Umbrian + English).

Curious for more about this, a web search reveals the Canticle of the Creatures description HERE from Franciscan Seculars website including:

For Francis, as God is Our Father, he saw family relationships within all Creation. Birds, fire and wind are brothers. The moon, stars and water are sisters and our planet Earth who nourishes us is Mother. Creation is nature viewed with The Creator in mind, creation is fullness, life and community. Creation becomes fraternity.

Perhaps the Pope’s urgings become even more compelling taken with this Franciscan, family-focused viewpoint?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** CP reader Andy shares the link HERE as follow-up, should you want more on Laudate Deum – thanks Andy!

P.S. A little humor, for those interested Made in God’s Own Image (Calvin & Hobbes)

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 22, 2023:

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

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically


Click on the cartoon above to visit toonfever.com!

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Climate Caregivers – warning and inspiration from Pope Francis…

Posted on by

Pope Francis helps us build on the “A Healthy Church Needs a Healthy Planet…” theme. As highlighted by David Gelles in the New York Times on October 5, 2023, the Pope has issued “Laudate Deum” and it’s quite a warning.

That NYT article quotes various aspects of the Pope’s commentary, including his taking aim at several groups:

“If we consider that emissions per individual in the United States are about two times greater than those of individuals living in China, and about seven times greater than the average of the poorest countries, we can state that a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model would have a significant long-term impact.” ~ Pope Francis in Laudate Deum

Gelles mentions:

“In clear, precise language, the pope identifies the burning of fossil fuels as the primary driver of climate change, details the effect on the planet and people, dismisses those who deny the crisis, and accuses wealthy individuals, corporations and countries of selfishly turning a blind eye.” ~ 10/5/2023 NYT article by David Gelles

Pope Francis then shares a positive note about our individual opportunities

Efforts by households to reduce pollution and waste, and to consume with prudence, are creating a new culture. The mere fact that personal, family and community habits are changing is contributing to greater concern about the unfulfilled responsibilities of the political sectors and indignation at the lack of interest shown by the powerful. Let us realize, then, that even though this does not immediately produce a notable effect from the quantitative standpoint, we are helping to bring about large processes of transformation rising from deep within society.~ Pope Francis in Laudate Deum (71.)

PROSPECTIVE ACTIVITIES

  • The Pope encourages leaders of all faiths to make similar requests of households in their faith communities. Do the Pope’s words resonate with you?
  • As follow-up to previous posts on this topic area…
    • Any success with “consider alternatives to individual gas-powered vehicles like public transportation, walking, biking, or carpooling?”
    • Any “Actions You Can Take Towards Sustainability” from the last page of THIS?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 15, 2023:

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

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically


Click on the cartoon above to visit toonfever.com!

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on by
Happy Thanksgiving to all celebrating in Canada this fine day!
 
The verses from the Lectionary seem a fitting CP posting:
 
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
9:6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

9:7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

9:8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

9:9 As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

9:10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

9:11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;

9:12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.

9:13 Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others,

9:14 while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.

9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Thanks be to God…enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 15, 2023:

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

NOTE: for those in the Cinci region, some food organizations are listed HERE

Know someone who might like receiving Christian Playbook messages like this?  If so, please forward this message and they can sign up WITH THIS LINK

CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK HUMOR – click HERE for MORE humor, updated periodically


Click on the cartoon above to visit toonfever.com!

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES – Cincinnati, Bowling Green and more!

CLICK ON ICONS BELOW FOR LINKS TO CHRISTIAN PLAYBOOK PAGES ON DEVOTIONALS, PRAYERS, MUSIC, STUDY AND LOVE

DevotionalPraying handsSingendes Quartett3StudyMobius strip