Liturgy Dear Lord,The winds of this worldPull at our faithRooted in your mysterious love.The fire of our anger burns,Our lightning bolt judgements meant to keep us safe,Starve us from each other.The quicker we act,The safer we feel,But the farther we’re swept away from you.Guide us back to your slow and steady Grace,Heal our hearts so we may better serve your […]
Author Archives: caroline
The Embodied Practice of the Way of Christ
If our practice of faith is to be aligned with the way of Christ, what are we invited to embody? practice? On the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Weylin Lee grounds us in a nonreactive posture of engaging with presence and intention toward others. [James 1:22-27] Reflection How might our posture of listening facilitate a healthier practice of faith? What does […]
Whatever Readies For Peace
What comes to mind when you think of Christ’s power? On the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Christopher Mack examines the armor of the oppressive Roman Empire, and how it was reimagined as strength for creative nonviolent resistance in challenging and tumultuous times. [Ephesians 6:10-20] Reflection How might you practice pivoting toward God’s Peace in this season? What does it mean […]
Liturgy, Reflection & Benediction 2024.08.25
Liturgy We enter through these doors with hopes & fearsfrom our daily routines still clinging to our mindsand interwoven with our breath.Thank you God for the gentlenesswith which you carry our burdens,not asking that we discard them behind us,but calling us to place them before you in trust.We are pressed upon by powers and systemsthat feel both too great to […]
The Wildness of Wisdom
When you think of wisdom, what do you usually think of? On the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Lilly Ettinger sees in Wisdom not boredom, over-spiritualizing, or dry asceticism, but joy, celebration, and a way of seeing clearly. Wisdom is an invitation to really live. [Proverbs 9:1-6] Reflection How does the imagery of Wisdom building a house and preparing a feast […]
Liturgy, Reflection & Benediction 2024.08.18
Liturgy Lord, the challenges of this world are very old,but to us, they feel ever-new, and alarming.Washed-up, bone-tired,we are thirsty forthe cool and steady wisdomyou offer from your cup.You walk up and down the streetcalling us to a feast,your very sacrifice the invitation,a foreign, tender mercyfor us to mull over.We enter your home now,to dwell in the place whereconfusion fades […]
Liturgy, Reflection & Benediction 2024.08.11
Liturgy Jesus, friend,we walk through the doors todayheavy with the tolls of the week—its entropies and ecstasies,its griefs and mercies.Jesus, friend,come sit with us today.Some days, we confess,we are overwhelmed by the choices,the chaos that we sweep into our dustpansno sooner emptied than back on the floor.On days like those, our hearts break softlyfor a friend to walk with us.Jesus, […]