Sunday Prayer: Easter

Gracious God, we give thanks
for all the gifts of this life,
especially in the One through whom
Your love poured out into the world.
For You, who breathes life through Word
and who, against all odds
 restores hope.

Welcome Happy Morning!
This Easter day when
love prevails
and all creation is made new.

You, Oh Holy One cannot be stopped!
And, for that, we give thanks!

Welcome Happy Morning!
May this Easter-tide reveal
to us, more signs of your prodigal peace,
filling our hearts with radiant grace.
May your grace and peace reflect through us
that we may proclaim with JOY the
Paschal Mystery of the resurrection -
of this Easter love divine.

God of Word and flesh
be with those for whom
on this Easter Day
 there lingers still
pain and suffering, and yes, even death.
 Restore all creation to wholeness
of health in mind, body, spirit.
Restore all in your resurrection love.

Welcome Happy Morning!
Welcome blessed Easter!
Rejoice and give thanks
for Jesus Christ is risen!

Thanks be to God.
Amen.

 

 

 

(This is my final prayer for Sunday prayers. It is has been a joy to offer these every other month for the last several years. I am grateful for sharing this with my colleague, RevAbi. Thank you for this opportunity.)

11th Hour Preacher Party: The homestretch

Here we go, Gals and Pals! We're almost there. We're almost to the Alleluias!, the white, the celebration, the joy. We're almost there, but not quite yet. We can do this because it isn't dependent upon us, but upon the Spirit of God. We can do this because we were baptized and called and equipped for this ministry. We can do this because we have experienced (at some point even if not in these exact moments) the overwhelming peace and and comfort that comes with knowing that Jesus lives, new life is here.

We can do this. Come to the party today to be in fellowship with others who carry this same task today. Come to share what you have and what you need. Come gather in our virtual upper room to get ready for what comes next. We're almost there!

Good Friday: At the Cross

How's it going, preachers and pastors?

The charming sanctuary above, framed in palm trees, is actually still devastated inside from Hurricane Katrina damage. That congregation joined with another one after the storm, and that merged congregation is the one I serve as interim pastor here in New Orleans.  The church still owns and uses both of their "legacy" locations in different ways; the sanctuary we use is at the other location.

Today, our congregation and (they say) lots and lots of our neighbors will be outside at this location for the annual Good Friday worship service and fish fry. The menu is extensive and includes boiled crawfish, one of my favorite things.  The worship I have planned is brief, very brief.  We are giving each person a rather large nail as a remembrance.  We will enjoy a sunny day with temperatures in the 70s.  It's a Good Friday atmosphere unlike any I've ever experienced.  

What is on your Friday agenda -- liturgically-speaking or otherwise?

How did Maundy Thursday go?  Links and pictures, please!

Let us know what's coming up today in your churches.  If you are looking toward Sunday already, this can be a pre-Preacher Party for Easter Day.

Take some time today to pause and do something to take care of you.  Breathe. Walk.  Drink water.  You know the drill.

If you need anything, just ask!

Maundy Thursday: Wash, Pray, Love

Lent

Out of ashes 

- an invitation to a holy season -

From which we have journeyed 

over  rough and rugged terrain.

It always is. 

rough. 

rugged. rocky. 

Because life is.

At least life can be. And yet, through the rocky places

Jesus walks with us, God is present, love come down, 

and we journey through.

So here we are. The Holiest of Weeks

and now, an invitation to sit.

To wash feet and be washed

to remember that Jesus did too.

But first, before Jesus washed feet

Mary of Bethany washed Jesus' feet.

She burst into a room full of men eating dinner

and plunged herself to the floor, embracing Jesus' foot

in her hands. She anointed the gnarled toes. 

She gently smoothed the  calloused heels 

and massaged the aching arches.

She held his feet in her hands, 

and rubbed them with an ointment

so fragrant that the residue must have lingered for days.

On his feet. On her hands. 

And so, when he washed the feet of his disciples,

wafts of Mary's fragrant ointment, her symbol of love

would waft through the water, the movement

of hands and towels

and remind them all that Mary

understood then

what they all were just beginning to grasp.

The love of God in Jesus is deep. It is a love

that heals all wounds, a love that does not require suffering 

of anyone. No, this love reaches into the suffering places

and seeks to anoint the wounded with a balm of heavenly grace.

There is tragedy ahead. Jesus knows it. Mary knew it. 

The disciples will see it and run away.

Jesus will face into the violence and the women

will walk with him, all the way. 

They hold his eyes in theirs and love him through his pain.

But that comes later.

Now, for now, Jesus is washing feet

and then sharing a meal,

and talking about 

re-membering

love.

I think I am going to reflect on Mary of Bethany tonight and how her fragrant love permeates the love that Jesus shows to his disciples when he washes their feet. How the fragrance must have lingered for days, the essence of which reminding Jesus of the tenderness of love, the bravery of love, the strength of love, the power of love. 

No doubt that love gave him strength. No doubt God's love in Jesus gives us strength too. 

What are your thoughts for this Holy Week? For this Maundy Thursday? Are you going to have supper? Are you going to wash and be washed? Are you going to sit and pray at an all night vigil?

 Not exactly a preacher party, but a time for us to share ideas, pray, and be present through this day.

Wednesday Festival: Holy Week

In the midst of your Holy Week, amidst all that you are creating and producing to support others' experiences of Holy Week, pause for a moment and let your RGBP friends encourage you:

• Liz is writing about the colors of Holy Week: so far green, red and purple; here is her poetic reflection on red. And Fryer Drew takes a hard look at the humanity evidenced in Holy Week: our weaknesses, our love of power, our call to grace & compassion.
  
• Michelle observes the presence of Christ amidst the chaotic crowds, a helpful reminder in this busy and people-full week . . . while Hilary meets Christ among singing children and recalls that we are all children listening to our Mother's singing.
  
• Milton reflects on NCAA basketball (an excellent Holy Week "escape" for some of us) and shares this encouragement for mindful living.
  
• Questing parson offers a moment of candor that I appreciate; you might too! I hope you'll also take to heart this affirmation from Emma, of love with you and everywhere.
  
• Joanna shares Calls to Worship for Easter, but before you rush to put them to use, stop and read them for your own spirit.
  
• Sister Juliet brings us lessons in friendship & leadership from Mary Magdalene. (She recently preached for a Vespers service in the presence of the relics of St. Mary Magdalene!)
  
• And one more, from here on our own RevGals site in case you missed it last week: stop and breathe.

What other reflections are carrying you through Holy Week? Share your link, share someone else's words or artistry that inspire you, add your thoughts on how you are finding Christ (and letting Christ find you) in these holy days.

Blessings friends!
Rachel

Tuesday Lectionary Leanings--How Many Left?? Edition

As this week continues I suggest we pause for prayer:

God of life and death and life after death,

God of parade and cross and empty tomb,

during this holiest of weeks we re-tell the stories of our faith,

preparing for the great surprise that awaits us on Sunday.

But during this holiest of weeks we admit that the hustle and the bustle fills our lives,

leaving us little time to stop and experience the story for ourselves.

Help us find the time to just BE this week.

Amidst all the bustle of preparing all the worship experiences of the week,

may we feel again the passion of the supper, the trial, the death,

so that we can feel again the shock, the awe, the wonder of the empty tomb.

We pray in the name of the one with whom we walk through the week.

Amen

Well here we are, the Tuesday of Holy Week.  How many services do you have to prepare and participate in this week?  How many sermons or meditations are yet to be written?  Are there services where the ritual and the Scripture will speak for themselves?

The RCL Readings for Holy Week can be found here.

And of course the irony of being involved in worship preparation in the church is that even as we may try to experience the saga of the week we have to be preparing and thinking about the end result.  The worship leader can not have the luxury of experiencing the story and waiting for the surprise of Sunday.

The readings for Easter Sunday Year C can be found here.  ANd we have options.  John or Luke?  Acts or Isaiah? 1 Corinthians or Acts?  What passages best help you explore the surprise, the wonder of Easter?  What new thing is God doing in your midst?  What old thing is being brought back to life in a new form?  Where is resurrection a reality?

Share your ponderings and struggles and possibilities in the comments...

Holy Week Prep Party - Holy Monday Edition

At last! Holy Week. Does that bring you relief that it's finally here after a long journey through Lent? Or does it send you into a panic because you still have too many services unprepared?
I lead a service each evening in Holy Week(except Saturday) and, while I tend to use themes rather than the reading of the day, I try to roughly follow Jesus journey through the week. I love to use the preface of the day found in a 1935 Scottish Prayer Book to set the scene each evening. I usually have a labyrinth set up too, with stations that change each day, for people to explore after the service but, due to refurbishment, there's no space for that this year. That has saved quite a bit of work! But I still have a few reflections to write on the Colours of Passion for the first part of the week.
(I'll share them on the blog)
What about you? Are you on the home straight, sprinting to the finish line or still slogging out a marathon?
Please join us here and on our Facebook Page to share how your Holy Week is shaping up and we'll keep on sharing comments and resources, nourishment and encouragement. We're almost there, so let's help each other "walk the mile and bear the load."
And may we all find space for that personal journey with Jesus in the midst of helping others prepare.

Sunday Prayer: Palms of Passion

God of all hopefulness, God of my life
On this holy day of Palms and Passions 
and through this 
the holiest of weeks,
when our Lenten journey
finds its completion
through pain
sorrow
despair
illness
losses of all kinds,
through fear
anger
hatred
vitriol
and finger pointing.

As we come to recognize
the varied ways we work against you -

Oh God
against your hopes and dreams 
for creation
against your love poured out 
in flesh and blood -
we hang our heads and bow our hearts
seeking your forgiveness
yearning for your guidance
desiring your compassion.

Fill us we pray, with the ability to
turn to you, kneeling before you

may your grace
open our spirit that we may
let you in
receive you
take You in..

Into our hearts and minds and souls 
Let you in
that we might turn and
return to you, 
that we might be

transformed in you, 
through you, by you, 
for you.

Transformed 
once more,
this day, this week,
into a new self, 
me, you.

May we become a new people, 
a gentle people, 
a people of
love and compassion, 
born anew from our
deepest sorrow 
through the breadth of your 
forgiveness
and love.

And then, may we do likewise.
Forgive.
And, love.
Amen.

11th Hour Preacher Party: Shouting (or Singing) Stones Edition

Well, here we are friends: Holy Week is upon us, and RevGalBlogPals will see this thing through together, as always! And for many of us, the central text will be the one Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice placed indelibly in our hearts via the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar." Or maybe that's just me...

For many of us, the question at the heart of our preaching tomorrow will be: Is it the Palms or the Passion that will be the focus of the sermon and the service? Does your church do a cantata? (Raising my hand...) Or will you choose instead to focus on Paul's gorgeous hymn in Philippians? Or perhaps Isaiah's moving "suffering servant" text?

Whatever your theme, whatever the shape of your service, however you are planning to proceed... feel free to pull up a chair. I have some Greek yogurt, pineapple, and fresh granola on offer... plus some vanilla-scented coffee, and a sleeping college girl home for spring break (see me happy-dancing?).

How about you? Where is the Spirit leading you and your people tomorrow, as we enter the most sacred week of the Christian year? We'd love to hear from you.

The texts (and lots and lots of commentary) can be found here....

Friday Five: Deep Breath

There are places and spaces where we all find a deep sense of peace and renewal. When we are busy and in the midst of ministry, sometimes it's a little hard to just leave work and GO there. So I try to keep a practice of stopping and praying, remembering the peace that comes when I sit here on this porch swing:

It's the week before Holy Week. Even if you are the non-preaching type, there's plenty going on in most of our homes religious. I think we all need a collective deep breath. :)

This week's Friday Five is simply a moment to BREATHE. Stop and tell us five ways that you "catch your breath" and then move on in the work God calls you to do.

Are these five things people? places? music? hobbies? chocolate? Or perhaps a memory?

Share with photos or comments. Keep it as short as you need - after all, there's a whole lot left to do, and Sunday's comin'!!

As always, let us know you played in the comments, by linking to your post with the following formula! <a href="the url of your blog post goes here">what you want the link to say goes here</a>

I look forward to BREATHING with you. :)

Ask the Matriarch - Creating a Prayer Vigil

As clergy, it is our privilege to enter into some of the most difficult moments in a person's life and be present with them in grace and hope. Those of us serving congregations have the awesome responsibility of helping congregations move into those moments together as well. Our question this week comes from a minister who has been asked to create a prayer vigil for a dying member.

A long term member of my congregation who has been fighting cancer for the past 6 months has just been told that the cancer has spread and that further treatment will be palliative.  We are a tiny congregation, and very close and some members have asked that we hold a prayer vigil for her.  Of course, I said yes, but being from a strongly liturgical tradition, I have no idea how to put this together.  I don't want to hold out false hope, yet on the other hand, I don't want to make it a pre- funeral.  I'd be grateful for any ideas.

Jennifer responds:

It’s such a hard thing when anyone is given a prognosis that difficult and with a short amount of time attached to it. I feel sure that you, as her sensitive pastor, have asked your church member’s (the patient’s) permission to hold such a prayer vigil for her.

Will she be in attendance at this service? Does she have family who will be in attendance?

What is your theology around such services and the prayers they contain?  Will you be praying for comfort and strength and peace, for a miracle (what might that means?) healing (and if so, what do you mean by healing? What does your tradition say about such?). These are interesting questions and can certainly contribute to how you shape a service.

You’ve asked for an outline for a service, perhaps.   

Would it include music and hymns?

Would it include scripture and a time of prayer for anyone who has a need, in addition to your member around whom this is centered? (This is a good practice, so that you don’t get into a scuffle about a prayer vigil for person x but not person y.  

I think that all are appropriate, along with a time for silent prayer.

It occurs to me that now is the time to have some good conversation with those who are asking for the service to be held. What would provide them and others in the congregation with comfort and peace?  What do they sense is the purpose of the service?

I hope I haven’t made this seem overly complicated. I think the intention of your congregation members is lovely—and a prayer service can be a wonderful well from which to draw strength and assurance at a dreadfully difficult time. Put together with sensitivity toward your patient and toward your congregation, I think you can provide a safe liturgical space in which people can lament, and thoughtfully consider the power of God’s love even (especially) in the midst of suffering.

Best to you as you seek to strengthen and comfort God’s people in your midst.

Heidi offers:

Jennifer's response includes the majority of significant questions around your issue.  I just have one more.  The congregation wants to respond to what has happened to their loved one.  Are the individuals making the request, asking out of their desire to "do" something or are they feeling a need to gather in prayer around this person?  I know that may sound harsh, but so often these kinds of requests happen in part because in the face of pain and brokenness, we want to try and make things better.  Being in conversation with the member will help you honor not only her feelings but those of the congregation.  After discussing it with the person at the center of things, you may find that a prayer vigil isn't what is needed most at this time.

And Muthah+ adds:

I too come from a strongly liturgical tradition.  The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer has a litany for the dying that I have found very helpful over the years.  

--

Thank you, dear matriarchs, for these good responses. Are there others of you who have experience or wisdom to share? Please join our conversation in the comments section. And, as always, please send your questions for us to discuss to askthematriarch[at]gmail[dot]com. The queue is empty; we'd love to have your questions!

This is my last column as co-editor of Ask the Matriarch. I am stepping down due to increasing demands on my time from my own ministry and studies, but I will look forward to continuing to serve as a matriarch. I have so enjoyed these last four years of serving as co-editor. For most of that time, I was working alongside revhoney, to whom I remain grateful; Martha Spong also provided tremendous support and help along the way. The matriarchs themselves are an exceptional group to work with. Thank you, dear women all, for your selfless service to this community of sisters. 

-- earthchick

Wednesday Festival

Happy International Happiness Day!  According to my amazing brother-in-law it is International Happiness Day, I hope you enjoy this happy hump day!

As usual there is a lot of great reading to do in the RGBPsphere.

Sunday's Child invites us to reflect on the often overlooked Luke 22:14-46 as we enter Holy Week.  She asks two important questions--I don't want to steal her thunder so go check it out!

a church for starving artists has an important 2 part post that began with concern regarding pastoral salaries and small churches which evolved into a longer conversation/post about size, finances, and capabilities.  Whether you are preaching or sitting in the pews these two posts and their comments are worth your time and consideration.  Then scroll down for an interesting post on successful (but crazy) women. 

Sally at Eternal Echoes has shared her thoughts on this week's lectionary--it's quite beautiful.  While you're there scroll down for some spiritual nourishment in the form of poetry.  We are blessed that Sally regularly shares her writing with the world.

If you're looking for a good read check out Bonnie's Books as she has two recommendations!

In hopes of posting in a timely manner that's all I have for you today!  I KNOW there are many more insightful good reads, so won't you share your favorites with us? Post what's going on in your neck of the RGBPsphere in the comments!

Tuesday Lectionary Leanings: Palms or Passion, Celebration or Depression? Edition

As we begin to move into the marathon that is the next 2 weeks, let us pray (source)

God we gather on this day to begin a week of contrasts.

From hope to despair to hope again.

As we begin the week, as we join with the crowd

help us cut through the noise to see what is happening, to see what is at stake.

As the story unfolds,

open us to both the hope and the pain.

In this time of worship,

prepare us to celebrate, to weep, and to wait. We pray in the name of the one who leads the parade as we share the words he shared with his closest friends...

SO what do you do on the Sunday that begins Holy Week???

A Palm Parade

Is it Palms only and you stick with readings like these?  Will there be palm branches and a parade in your place this Sunday?  Anyone brave enough to bring in an actual donkey?

Or do you want to make sure the Passion story is heard and so you use readings like these?

Or do you do a combination of them, starting with Palms and then transitioning during the service into Passion?

What sermon is bursting out with the triumphal entry?  Is there something that you have to preach because if you don't the stones (or bricks or lumber, depending on the construction of your worship space) themselves will preach it for you? 

Those Stones????

Or if you go into the telling of the "whole" story with the Passion readings (possibly because some people would otherwise go from Palm celebration to Easter celebration with no dip into the "depressing" part we tell on Thursday and Friday of next week) what do you do with them?  Read and preach?  Reader's theatre to break up the story?  Do you feel the need to point out what makes Luke's telling of the story different from Matthew or Mark or John?  Or just let the story speak for itself?

Nice Summation

And how do you transition folks from Palms to Passion?  (My I am full of questions this week)  I always think of a scene from The Two Towers (the book, not the movie) in these discussions.  As Frodo and Sam are climbing up to Cirith Ungol Sam is talking about if they are successful and what tales the book would tell of their quest.  Then Frodo says that this is the part where the young folk will say to put the book away, this part is too depressing (paraphrasing at will because I am too lazy to go downstairs and get the actual book for the quote).  But sometimes we need to depressing/scary/dark parts of the great stories to fully appreciate the joy and the light.

As we move into the marathon that is coming up, share in the comments how your worship planning is going....

Sunday Prayer: Lent 5C

Gracious God
We come to you
broken
seeking 
to be made whole.

On this night/day
we pray for those
who weep,
who have died
who are struggling.

Compassionate God
We come to you
tired
yearning
for peace and harmony.

Loving God
We offer our
suffering
looking
for solace and comfort.

Holy God
Take our fears
tears
losses
and heal us.

In our despair
be with us
hold us
contain
and sustain us.

Gentle God
anoint us
with your 
peace
and love.
Amen.

11th Hour Preacher Party: "Pour It On" Edition

Hello, preachers and friends of preachers!

This week a new pope was recognized, and this week the gospel tells the story of a woman who recognizes Jesus as worthy of an extravagant gift.  My 13 year old niece was shocked to find out today that there has never been a woman pope.

Are you using oil this Sunday?  Do tell.

Sunday is St. Patrick's Day.  Will that make a difference in your worship service?  How about in your plans after worship?

Spring is coming.  Spring fever, anyone?

Is your Lenten season coming together in Week 5, or are things falling apart?

It's the 11th Hour Preacher Party once again, and another sermon deadline approaches.  Here we are, with gifts to pour out and soak up as we get our sermons preachable.  (Really, Spellcheck?  That's not a word?  I beg to differ.)

So glad you all are here!

If you are one of the quiet ones who have been hanging out at the edges of the party, please introduce yourself and let us know a little bit about you and how you got here.

Please share a snack, a sermon illustration, a story, a prayer concern, or anything that is on your mind today.  If you don't see what you need, just ask.  It's your party!

Welcome, everyone!

Friday Five: Technology

Although you won't know this, I am pre-posting this ten days ahead of schedule, because my husband and I are going to be in Washington State during his spring break (from teaching at a local community college). His parents have very recently moved into a senior living facility. We will be staying at their home, which will not have some of the furniture and supplies like we are used to. What I am dreading is no computer, tv or telephone, which also means no wifi connection. This is showing my dependence upon these technologies.

For this Friday Five, let us explore our use of and desire for such items.

1. What types of technologies, like cell phones, computers, tvs, etc., do you routinely use? How frequently?

2. What social media and/or games do you like to play? How often? On which device do you occupy yourself? Which method of social media do you prefer?

3. Do you separate online activities between home and work? Or is it all the same everywhere?

4. Do you have a smart (or I-) phone?

5. What do you wish you had--or do not have--in relation to these devices?

Bonus: What is the difference between your attitude towards these means of technology and a generation older or younger than you?

Ask the Matriarch: Handling Communication

There may be no area of ministry that is more fraught with challenges and potential pitfalls than "communication" - it threads through everything we do, and the possibilities for messing it up are endless! It can be difficult to discern when we are in the thick of things how we are actually doing with communicating in appropriate ways. Our question this week comes from a colleague who is second-guessing how she handled what could've been a tricky communication issue. 

In a small church like ours, everyone has multiple roles, including me and the two other (part time) staff.     Recently, someone shared with me a small concern about something the custodian does.  As I usually do, I made a note of it, and said I would pass it on, which I did.  It seemed small to me, but when I called he had a question about the request I could not answer, so I told him to call the parishioner directly.  Now I'm wondering if I should have just encouraged direct communication when the concern came to me originally.  I'm trying to discern between me being helpful, me fulfilling my role as "head of staff" (albeit a very small staff), and me triangulating.  Thoughts?

Jennifer writes:

I think you did just the right thing. You’re the head of staff and you conveyed the concern to your staff member. Then you encouraged the staff person to deal directly with the church member and the needed follow-up information. Good job, I say. I think so much of ministry is about expressing warm regard and concern for people and their needs, while setting good boundaries and modeling direct communication whenever possible.

Terri, blogging at Seeking Authentic Voice, offers:

Triangulation always happens. The effort is not to avoid triangulation, but to minimize destructive triangulation. In other words, anytime more than two people are working together triangles of communication are formed. If the communication process is just simply communicating around, then that is fine.

If the communication process is avoiding conflict, gossiping, or in any other being destructive, then you have a problem triangle.

If the communication process is causing you stress because you are carrying messages back and forth that you don't need to carry then the triangle needs to be moved to a twosome. 

But sometimes triangles just are - particularly between a head of staff and other people who work for the church that may not be staff - such as the Head of Staff asking a secretary to pass on instruction or information to a custodian. 

It seems to me that you handled this just fine. You attempted to address the situation as the Head of Staff, but when it became more than you could address you had the two other people speak to one another. 

--

Our matriarchs agree, and I do, too - it sounds like you handled things just right! What might the rest of you add? How do you handle potentially tricky communication issues on a multiple staff or otherwise? What are some of your "best practices" for clean, clear communication? Please share in the comments section!

As always, you can send questions you'd like us to discuss to askthematriarch[at]gmail[dot]com.

-- earthchick

Wednesday Festival - Papal Election Edition

Yikes!  Last week, I wanted to play the Friday Five on Thursday.  This week I thought Wednesday was tomorrow, almost missed my own church's Lenten service, and then got all caught up in the Papal election!  Well, there's almost an hour of the day left here, which gives some of you a bit longer.  So let's start with . . .

Liz is blogging about the Jesuits and the Pope at journalling.

Jeff at Philosophy Over Coffee tells us about learning about discernment, Ignatian style, from Brian McDermott, S.J., one of my favorite teachers ever.

Follow Michelle's link at Quantum Theology for part of her series on the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.

Chris Ayers at Liberal Rev prays for the "here comes everyone" of the church described by James Joyce ~ as we all well know, there's a lot more to it than today's history and excitement.

And sure, I'm thinking about my experience with Jesuits as well.  I'm sure that's terrible form, to include my own blog, but I'm really getting in just under the wire here.  And Windows 8 keeps exiting the internet.  So: Post!

What are you all thinking and writing about the new Pope?

Tuesday Lectionary Leanings: Smelly Feet Edition

It is Sensual isn't it?

One day a Bible Study was working through the book of Ruth.  They came to the discussion of Ruth and Boaz and what was actually happening when Ruth uncovered Boaz's feet.  There was a moment of deep silence.  Then one of the men in the group said: "so Pastor, about that story where the woman washes Jesus feet with her hair....."
The Pastor hurriedly suggested that the group close with prayer.

And on that note, let us prepare for worship this week.

The RCL readings for Lent 5C can be found here.  And what do we have this week???

Isaiah talks about God doing a new thing.  If Lent is a time of preparation maybe that is what we are preparing for.  What new thing is happening in your corner of the world???? (Or maybe God is doing a new thing that nobody has noticed yet???)

Those silly lambs...

You could preach on the Psalm--which would give a great excuse to sing "Bringing in the Sheaves"

Or there is the Philippians passage where I am sure Paul is trying to make a point of some kind.  But I am not entirely sure what it is.

I am with Mandela!

And then there is the Gospel.  Telling a story where I am always rooting for (and agreeing with) Judas.  And that oh so troubling line "You always have the poor with you" -- is that an excuse to just accept this reality or a challenge to change it?  I spent today at a community consultation regarding homelessness (another category we as a culture seem to have decided we will always have with us) and came away with some nice sermonic thoughts as well as this great quote "Poverty is what happens when people stop caring for one another"

Where are you going with your worship prep this fine Tuesday?  Is your thinking about the marathon from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday falling into place?  Let us know in the comments.

And maybe we should pray (prayer source):

Creator God,
you prepare a new way in the wilderness
and your grace waters the desert.
Help us to recognize your hand
working miracles beyond our imagining.
Open our hearts to be transformed
by the new thing you are doing,
so that our lives may proclaim
the extravagance of your love for all,
and its presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday Exra: How far have you gotten in Lent?

Laetare Sunday, that magical mid-point of Lent has come and gone. As if the season hasn't gone fast enough already, we are now on the downward slide (!) to Holy Week and Easter. Important solemn and joyful times for the church but a lot of work on the part of preachers and teachers, pastors. musicians et al. Normally, by this point in Lent, Holy Week is at least planned if not entirely written. But this year, I'm way behind. And, the strange thing is, I'm not anxious about that. I'm not sure whether I'm living in a bubble that is about to burst or whether, this year, calmness is in order.
How is your Lent playing out this year? The Wednesday Festival has drawn our attention to many and varied disciplines being followed during Lent, But what about the remainder of the journey. Will it be, for you, a last minute dash - or a calm walk? Will you be rolling down the hill with mirth along with the Easter eggs or will you be collapsing in a heap, sobbing with relief that He is risen? Please share your journey with us. And, if you have resources to offer, they will be gratefully received. We're halfway there. No point in turning back now. Let's journey on together!

Sunday Prayer: Lent 4C - Prodigal Grace

Holy and Gracious God

You, the one of prodigal grace
We give you thanks for the gift of life
and for the blessings of this life,

for family and friends and

love abundant.

 
 

Lead us through the trials
the suffering and sorrow
the challenges and struggles
the tired time, despair and bleak places,

back to you, and

love abundant.

Be with those who weep
or cannot sleep
who have no peace
who seek release

and comfort them with

love abundant.

Fill us with hope, 

sustained in your mercy,
with patience and stamina

upheld by your Holy Spirit

in your prodigal grace.

Transform us and all our broken ways 

transforms us that we can be
made whole

And in wholeness
may we
be
the hands and heart of Christ.

Amen.

11th Hour Preacher Party - The inexhaustible parable

This fourth Sunday in Lent, we are presented with a veritable feast of readings. Laetare Sunday is an excuse to break our Lenten fasts. So will you be killing the fatted calf or breaking out the treats, relieved to have an excuse to eat something other than manna? Have you stumbled across or perhaps even written, a re-telling of the "Prodigal Parable" - the gift that keeps on giving? Here in the UK, Mothering Sunday is also thrown into the mix for good measure so an option rich Sunday. Whatever stage your worship preparation is at, even and maybe especially, if it is done and dusted, welcome to the party where we pool our resources and help each other. And if you are still "a long way off" love meets you here. May all that we've lost be found as we party together.
(Picture is a wee reminder of BE5!)