This weekend celebrates the end of summer. It is one of those American holidays that is celebrated with backyard BBQs and family gatherings before school starts (or at least that was my norm as a child in the Northeast) without anyone really paying any heed to what Labor Day honors. It seems especially important thisContinue reading “Pandemic Prayers for Labor Sunday”
Tag Archives: assurance
Pandemic Prayers for Proper 14
This gorgeous reflection on 1 Kings 19:9-18 by Richard W. Swanson has got me thinking about silence. Silence feels all consuming right now. There is so much of it. Or, at least, there is for me.
Pandemic Prayers for Easter 5A
I join the circle of preachers who have expressed their familiarity with this text at the graveside. It’s the Gospel Lesson I always choose when the family doesn’t steer me in another direction, not because of the many mansions or rooms but for what it says about grief. I love the repetition that Jesus holdsContinue reading “Pandemic Prayers for Easter 5A”
Pandemic Prayers for Easter 4A
After I posted the prayers last week, I felt awkward. I wondered if these prayers could speak to such a broad audience. I wondered if it was even possible to capture the vastness of this pandemic into a few words. I felt that strange tinge again on Sunday when I gathered again with my sweetContinue reading “Pandemic Prayers for Easter 4A”
Pandemic Prayers for Easter 3A
Our whole lives have been interrupted. We are attempting now to live as people of the resurrection when death tolls continue to rise. Some states are lifting their orders for shelter in place. Businesses will reopen slowly. Some are even bold enough to say that life will go back to normal while the people ofContinue reading “Pandemic Prayers for Easter 3A”
Prayers for Places of Honor
In this week’s gospel, we hear Jesus say, “Friend, move up higher.” It is a call for justice. It is an act of love. It is a reminder to remember how God sees us and offer each other that same honor as I preached in a sermon many years ago. I love that one line: “Friend, move upContinue reading “Prayers for Places of Honor”
Prayers from the Pantry
Sometimes writing liturgy is like staring in the pantry and wondering what the heck you can make without going to the store. I resisted the temptation to go find some really great prayers written by others. (That would be the store in this metaphor.) I am trying to keep with this practice of writing prayersContinue reading “Prayers from the Pantry”
More Ingredients for Worship
Look at that! Two weeks in a row! This is a new feature on my blog — called Ingredients for Worship — that I am hoping to become somewhat regular but I’m still not convinced that will happen. But… wonders never cease! Muses do come! I wrote liturgy again this week. God be praised! It happened again. I feelContinue reading “More Ingredients for Worship”
Speaking to the Soul
I have not yet sat down to write my sermon on this Gospel Lesson but when I sat down to write this liturgy I was still thinking about that prayer that Jesus taught last week. I’m still thinking about the words that we choose and how they impact our relationships and our hopes. Because words matter.Continue reading “Speaking to the Soul”
Liturgical Lights for Sunday July 5, 2015
This Sunday the Narrative Lectionary leads us into the words of Psalm 146 as we continue to focus on the Psalms offered by Working Preacher. There is another reading to pair this one in Luke 7:18-23 but I haven’t used these pairings for the past five weeks. Why would I start now? This wisdom from Rolf Jacobson rings particularly true for me asContinue reading “Liturgical Lights for Sunday July 5, 2015”
Cooking with Elsa 