For Lent this year I am engaging in the spiritual practice of humor. When something makes me incredibly frustrated and/or angry, I am trying to open myself up to the absurdity and humor in the situation. I realized recently that this practice of humor has been a deep grace in my life and I want…
*This reflection is inspired by the Lectionary readings for this week: Genesis 9:8-17 and Mark 1:9-15. The reflection comes from the Lenten Retreat I wrote a few years ago. – – – – – – – The first time I went water skiing–when I was in college–I was a little worried. I’m not particularly athletic,…
With all due respect to the probably good-hearted and most certainly earnest people who have created the various and sundry surveys that have gone out into various portions of the Mennonite Church USA world–ahhhrrrgggghhh! Yet another survey is out today–this one for those who will serve as delegates in Kansas City this summer. It is…
Several people have contacted me asking for more details about the family-friendly Ash Wednesday service we did a few years back. This year I revised the service to go along with the wonderful “Lenten Practices Calendar for Families” that Traci Marie Smith has made available. Ash Wednesday Family Worship Station 1: Introduction Open with prayer.…
You will need: a piece of paper glue or Modge Podge foam brush collage materials (magazines, pictures, patterned paper, etc.) scissors colored pencils The Hebrew Scripture readings for Ash Wednesday have a lot of “heart” language. Joel tells us to rend our hearts and not our clothing. The psalmist writes: “teach me wisdom in my…
Three years ago I developed a creative arts Lenten retreat based on the Revised Common Lectionary passage. And guess what? The Lectionary has cycled back around to those same passages this year! So I will be sharing from that retreat material throughout Lent: scripture reflections, visual art prayer practices and creative writing prayer practices. The…
Have you not known? Our God is the everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth. Have you not heard? God does not faint or grow weary. Have you not known? God’s understanding is unsearchable. Have you not heard? God gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Have you not known? Those…
[This post is excerpted from this full sermon.] The very first sentence of this story tells us that “the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli.” And this sentence tells us right away how things are supposed to work. Samuel is a boy and Eli is a grown-up. Samuel is serving under Eli.…
Based on Psalm 62 Our souls wait in silence; our hope rests in God our rock our salvation our refuge. We will not be shaken. In this time of worship, we pour out our hearts because we trust in God’s steadfast love. Based on Mark 1:14-20 Jesus comes along side us and calls us by…
[This post is excerpted and edited from a sermon I preached a few years ago.] Jonah is a book of biting satire. You have a prophet who does exactly the opposite of what prophets are supposed to do. He runs away from Yahweh and keeps his mouth closed. The fish’s mouth, of course, is wide…
Spacious Faith 