This Sunday (1/8/23) we will receive star words as part of our worship at Peace Mennonite. This has become a tradition for us–to claim a word as a gift from God and a guide in the new year. In the past, I have simply handed out the star words randomly to people. Since we are…
Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! Like so many other people I know, I’ve been sick this week–but thankfully it’s nothing severe. I’m on the mend and looking forward to upcoming times of worship and with family. Also the pumpkin pie. For any of you who don’t have a community to worship with this weekend, you are…
Hello, Spacious Faith friends. I have been providing content on this blog since 2010! Many of you have read my theological ramblings and my snarky denominational commentary; you have used my words for worship and in your own spiritual practices. I am deeply honored that my words have been part of your lives and I…
To the tune of Hyfrydol (“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”); also works with Beach Spring and JeffersonBy Joanna Harader (2022) Through the line of Joseph, Mary,Tamar, Judah, Rahab, Ruth,Comes a savior for the nations,born Messiah of humble birth.God’s eternal presence with usThrough the ages grace imparts.Holy power in fragile infantResting in his parents’ hearts. Mary welcomes…
This is a blessing I wrote for my reflection on “Advent for Every Body,” an aural devotional from Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Portland). While the blessings in Expecting Emmanuel are written in the voices of individual women (and the community of weeping mothers), this blessing is in the voice of the full line of women connected…
This prayer connects to the story of Rahab in Joshua 2. God, We pray for those on the margins,For their safety,For their wisdom,For their power. We pray for those at the centers,For their openness,For their compassion,For their acting toward justice. We pray for ourselves and all the spaces we inhabit.Let us listen well—to others and…
Expecting Emmanuel contains a lot of worship material for those using the book as a basis for Advent worship. The funny thing is, the prayers in the book–a prayer of confession and offertory prayer–aren’t actually the types of prayers we regularly use in worship at Peace Mennonite. So even though I wrote the book, I…
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…
Here is the man! Jesus, accused of being a criminal. Jesus, who threatens the religious establishment.Here is your King!The ruler of a Kingdom that is not from this world.The ruler who threatens the power of empire.Here is the man!Who witnesses to the truth.Who gives no answer.Here is your King!Jesus, son of Mary.Jesus, son of God.Jesus,…
Holy One, God of the valley, God of the wind, God who breathes life into the dry and the dead: Somehow we are part of your audacious and unsettling work of resurrection. We do not understand it. We barely believe it. And yet we hear the rattling. We see the sinews and flesh and skin.…
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