This piece was originally published at RevGalBlogPals on December 14, 2020. As the Narrative Lectionary moves into the Gospel of Luke, most of the people in the (virtual) pews will find themselves in more familiar territory. Mary, Gabriel, Elizabeth, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Ahhhh. There is, I think, a temptation to relish the familiarity;…
I know it’s a day late, but I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas-in-July. My gift to you is an updated blog site with NO ADS! (Those things are sooo annoying.) Enjoy! While Christmas still seems a long ways away, Advent will be here before we know it! And it’s only six weeks…
Many of you know that I have an Advent devotional, Expecting Emmanuel, coming out in September. It has felt rather awkward to be working on it during Lent, but as we approach Mother’s Day, the exploration of the women in Jesus’ genealogy and early life seems quite fitting. This weekend, I will be sending out…
Opening Prayer Holy One,We gather in the darkness of this nightTo remember the sacred story:The baby that has been born,The child that has been given.We offer our deep gratitude.We look ahead with anticipation.We place our world, our communities, our loved ones, and ourselvesIn your tender care.For the desperate, we pray hope.For the fearful, we pray…
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11-14a) I’ll be honest with you–my life is not exactly the way I want it to be. Like everyone, I have rough spots; times of illness and stress and just plain grumpiness. Times it is difficult to accept life as the gift that it is. I imagine Mary had one of those times…
(Matthew 2:1-12) This “beautiful Star of Bethlehem” has captured the hearts and imaginations of people for hundreds and hundreds of years. Poets, artists, and musicians have explored the mystery of this object—the holy light guiding the enigmatic magi to the Christ child. Actual historians and astronomers—honest to goodness scientists–pour over data and debate what exactly…
It seems that people around the world are drawing harder lines, taking harsher measures to separate people into groups; to establish who is “us” and who is “them”–and to claim security and power for “us” by putting “them” in their place. So it seems a good time for Epiphany. A good time for this familiar…
I forgot to post this yesterday, so you get Monday’s reflection this morning and today’s reflection this afternoon. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! (Luke 2:22-40) Simeon and Anna sit in the temple—looking to, longing for, waiting for the messiah. It is a long hard waiting, with no Advent calendar to mark the…
Here is a simple worship service you can do at home on Christmas day. I pray you all know God’s hope, peace, joy, and love at this holy celebration. Scripture: from Isaiah 9 Lighting of Advent Candles–after lighting each candle, offer a brief prayer. (If you do not have Advent candles at home, you can…
Hold this blessing in your heart, yes.And also in your bones.That the One who spoke into the formless void and created light,On this night was pushed from the dark of mother’s wombAs flesh and blood into this world.No blessing is as glorious,No blessing is as messy,No blessing is as close,No blessing is as powerfulAs this…
Spacious Faith 