Friends, I am posting this as I sit in my father’s ICU room, grateful that he is getting some much needed rest. Grateful for medical technology and medical staff; grateful for caring friends and hospitable strangers; grateful for ancient words that ring notes of truth and comfort in my heart. I am also scared. Scared…
Our preacher this week is using both of the lament over Jerusalem texts from Luke: 13:31-35 and 19:41-44. Here is the call to worship I wrote. (You can find our Lenten offertory prayer here.) Jesus weeps for us, because we do not know the things that make for peace. The Holy Spirit blows among us,…
What can I say? Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. So the Wednesday Worship Pieces got moved to Friday. And that’s how life goes sometimes. Both of these pieces will work well with general Lenten themes, I think. So they wouldn’t necessarily have to be used this first week of Lent. First, an offertory prayer: God of…
This call to worship is based on Isaiah 61:1-3. This is our Old Testament reading this coming Sunday paired with our final beatitude of the series: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Oh yeah, it’s communion Sunday for us too.) You who are poor, why have you come? To hear good…
Here is a simple blessing based on this week’s Gospel reading: May the Spirit be upon you as you proclaim good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. Go with power and go in peace. Earlier today I read over a sermon I wrote based…
I realize some people count shopping days until Christmas, but we pastors are more likely to count preparation days until Lent. (That would be 20!) So as we look ahead, I offer some links to resources from years past. But first, an invitation! You are invited to join me and others from Peace Mennonite for…
Who do people say that I am?, Jesus wants to know. “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others one of the prophets.” And the disciples here are obviously just talking about the people who more or less liked Jesus. Nobody wants to say, “Well, Lord, people are calling you a drunkard,…
This Sunday we are celebrating the work of our little church and encouraging people to step forward and serve according to their gifts and passions. Here are some of the worship pieces we will be using: –One of my favorite calls to worship from Ann B. Day, which you can find here. –A hymn I…
Hear is a call to worship based on two of the lectionary readings for this coming Sunday: Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12. People of God, arise, shine, for your light has come! The light of Christ has come into the world. Immanuel. God with us. So arise, shine, for your light has come! And we…
Here is a worship service designed for families with children to do together on Christmas morning. A brief time to acknowledge the incredible gift of Jesus before we start tearing into all the gifts under the tree. This worship service is my Christmas gift to you! Along with this blessing (adapted from Sunday’s sermon): May…
Spacious Faith 