Spacious Lent: Week 1-Dot Meditation

Our creative arts prayer practice for the first week of Lent is a wilderness dot meditation. When Jesus is tempted, he is in a sacred space–the space where the Spirit has brought him. But it is not only the physical space that is sacred. I believe that times of decision and discernment are sacred spaces…

Spacious Lent: Ash Wednesday Prayer Practice

The first Spacious Lent creative arts prayer practice is now available! For Ash Wednesday, you are invited to create a heart offering–to bring all of yourself to God as we begin this holy season. For this practice, I give a couple of options, the simplest of which requires only pen and paper, with optional colored…

Whom Shall We Fear? Thoughts on Luke 13

Since the full Lenten devotional is available here, I won’t be posting the entry for each day on my blog. But I thought this reflection on this week’s Narrative Lectionary scripture might be helpful for some of you preachers. At the end of today’s scripture reading, there are two brief, distinct passages. In the first,…

Entering Lent

As we prepare to begin Lent next week, I want to share with you all some resources that might be helpful as you plan for spiritual formation and worship. (If, that is, you don’t already have everything planned. Which I know some of you don’t.) I just finished this devotional booklet! It contains daily reflections…

Lenten Daily Prayers: April 15-20

Please see this previous post for an introduction to this prayer series. Suggested Spiritual Practice: Silence Read this meditation on “Dying with Christ” by Father Richard Rohr and practice silent/contemplative prayer in whatever manner you prefer. Music Links: ·         “Were you there” from Three Mo’ Tenors ·         “Beneath the cross of Jesus” acapella ·          “Stay with me”…

Lenten Daily Prayers: April 8-16

*Please see this previous post for an introduction to this prayer series. Suggested Spiritual Practice: Traced Hand Prayer (For a description of this practice with a different scripture, and with a picture, see this previous post.) This practice is a prayerful reflection on Psalm 22:1-21. You will need a piece of paper and a pen or pencil.…

Lenten Daily Prayers: March 25-30

*Please see this previous post for an introduction to this prayer series. Suggested Spiritual Practice: Colored pencil prayer: Offering and Receiving  Music Links: ·         Wait for the Lord (Taize) ·         You will be found (from Dear Evan Hansen) Call to Worship: (from Psalm 34) I will bless you, God, at all times; I will praise you with my…

Lenten Daily Prayers: March 11-16

Please see the previous post for an introduction to this prayer series. Suggested Spiritual Practice: Visual Lectio Divina You can find a description and example of this practice here. Music Links: All will be well (contemporary song) The 23rd Psalm (Bobby McFerrin)  Call to Worship: Christ, you long to gather me under your wings. I…

Lenten Daily Prayers: March 6-9

Each week during Lent, I will post Lenten prayers. There are some suggested spiritual practices and music links for the week. Beginning with the call to worship, there is a daily prayer liturgy that you can follow on your own or with a group. The basic outline and prayers are the same throughout the week,…