This Advent prayer was written by one of my Lamplighters, mentors, and guides - Henri Nouwen. The words shape my morning prayers in this season. May this prayer bless you too. Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day, We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence. We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!' Amen. What advent prayer lights your way right now? PS: Advent is a great time to pause, listen to God, and draw closer to the Creator and Gifter of all things. Many people chose to read a special Advent book during this season, and I will humbly … [Read more...]
Everything is a Gift
“Everything is a gift—one hundred percent pure gift. The reason any of us woke up this morning had very little to do with us and everything to do with God. All twenty-four hours today are total gift. And so, the only real prayer is to say “Thank you!” and to keep saying it. When our prayer is constantly “Thank you,” and we know we deserve nothing, and that everything is a gift, we stop counting. Only when we stop counting and figuring out what we deserve, will we move from the world of merit into the wonderful world of grace. And in the world of grace, everything is free.” These words were written by Richard Rohr in one of his weekly newsletters. What a great reminder and wisdom worth embracing into our lives. Everything is a gift. We are fast approaching the present-giving season. Advent begins November 28 and our church’s Advent theme this year is the Gifts of Advent. We are sharing scripture, messages, and prayer about the gifts of hope, patience, silence and speech, and … [Read more...]
What are Chrismons?
What are Chrismons? Chrismons are Christmas decorations styled with Christian symbols. These ornaments remind us of the true meaning of Christmas - the celebration of Jesus's birthday. Chrismon is a combination of two words Christ and monogram, meaning symbol. This idea was created by Frances Kipps Spencer for her church in Danville Virginia in 1957. The idea quickly spread to other churches and homes. Colors used in their creation are traditionally white and gold. White is the liturgical (or Church) color for Christmas and symbolizes that Jesus was pure and perfect. Gold symbolizes His Majesty and Glory. Ornaments can be made from nearly anything, but paper and embroidered ones are the most widely used. Symbols include various crosses, anchors, crowns, Alpha and Omega Greek letters, fish, and stars. Here are a few found on the tree at my church this year: Here are a few resources for you if you want to make some for your use: Chrismon patterns, Chrismons … [Read more...]
Pentecost Pondering
Pentecost is the coming Sunday, May 23 commemorating the arrival of the Holy Spirit and is often called the birthday of the church. The word Pentecost means “fiftieth day,” as it is celebrated fifty days after Easter. I have been listening to what others have to say about the Trinity– God, Jesus, and Spirit- and how they address them. The words they chose give us a glimpse into their faith. Many people know God and they describe their relationship with familiar names: God the Creator, Lord, Yahweh, the Holy One. One of my favorites is Abba. I love the intimacy of that word. God the Father took me a long time to embrace since my own dad died when I was a teenager and I had to work through abandonment issues. I know God the Father is difficult for many others too, but God can heal those wounds. Next, I hear beautiful names for Jesus: Alpha and Omega, Savior, Morning Light, Emmanuel, Christ, Master, Son of God, the Way, Good Shepherd, and so many more. But … [Read more...]
Living as Easter People in Eastertide
Eastertide is living as Easter people every day, not just on Easter Sunday, but as a way of life. In our local church, we start each worship service these next few weeks with this greeting: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Our traditional Easter greeting. April brings Easter and don't forget Easter isn't celebrating just one day but a full season. In the church calendar, the season of Easter runs for 50 days from sunset on the eve of Easter Day until Pentecost. This year this means we will greet each other from Sunday April 4 until Sunday, May 23. This a seven-week season of the church year is also called Eastertide. Eastertide is the time of new life. We see this reflected as spring bursts with buds, flowers, and nests full of eggs. We hear it in our music. The sun shines longer each day. My spirit lifts in this light and in the Light of New Life. Extending this season gives us time to rejoice and experience what it means when we say Christ is risen. … [Read more...]
What is the Meaning of Holy Saturday?
Holy Saturday waits. During Holy Week, we parade and cheer Jesus onward as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We broke bread and drank wine on Maundy Thursday. We stood at the edges in disbelief and grief as he died on the cross on Friday. According to the gospel writers, Jesus died at three o’clock in the afternoon. The Jewish sabbath began at six. This meant for the family and friends of Jesus, time was not on their side. The clock was ticking, and the body of Jesus needed to be buried quickly. As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:57-60) Time stood still between Jesus' death and his … [Read more...]
Ready or Not: Here Come Ash Wednesday
Ready for Ash Wednesday and Lent? Today is Shrove Tuesday which I featured on the blog last year and tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. This solemn service includes confession and reconciliation and the use of ashes to form a cross on each forehead. “From dust you came and from dust you will return.” Genesis 3: 19 The symbolism of ashes stirs my heart each year and feels like the threshold on our walk to Gethsemane and the Resurrection. I stand in the doorway between the seasons and pause to ponder God's faithfulness and forgiveness and to pray and praise his grace and love. The sign of the cross on our forehead with ashes recalls our baptism, and reminds us that in both life and life beyond life we belong to God; we are “marked as Christ’s own forever.” In our parish and many others, the ashes are made by burning palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday. Throughout the Bible ashes represent repentance and asking God for mercy and forgiveness. For … [Read more...]
Keeping Christmas
Are you willing...To forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you?To ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world?To put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance and your changes to do a little more than your duty in the foreground?To see the that men and women are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy?To own up to the fact that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life?To close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness?Are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. Are you willing..To stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children?To remember the weakness and loneliness of people … [Read more...]