Monthly Archives: November 2012

In Honor of the UN Vote

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Maren

God who sends silent stars above all the peoples in the world shine your everlasting light on Bethlehem. Tonight the hopes and fears are not just meeting, they are dancing with flags in those dark streets. Yet how we see … Continue reading →

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Another character in the story — a poem for Advent from South Africa

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Maren

This poem that presents to us all another character of Advent, one whose name we do not know, one whom we do not wish to be. It is found in Gifts in Open Hands and is written by Isobel De … Continue reading →

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Advent Candlelighting — First Sunday, the Sunday of Hope

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Maren

Advent begins next Sunday. Throughout this season I will post on the preceding Monday resources for Advent that can be turned into an Advent Wreath Candlelighting liturgy. First I will share the original pieces. Then I will prepare them for … Continue reading →

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Two prayers

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Maren

Prayer for Gaza God of ninety-nine names all of which begin with peace, dry the long tear-streak on the face of the holy Land that is Gaza, comfort the families of the one hundred-thirty-nine Palestinians and of the five Israelis … Continue reading →

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A US Thanksgiving Prayer by Todd Jenkins of Fayetteville, Tennessee

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Maren

Todd Jenkins, one of the writers for Gifts in Open Hands from the United States maintains the wonderful Tuesday’s Muse with his poetry. This piece from last week speaks to the odd juxtaposition of the US holiday of Thanksgiving and … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving for the colors — of nature and of people from Aotearoa

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Maren

Beverley L. Osborn of Aotearoa/New Zealand offers a prayer of thanks … God of brilliant sunsets and shining rainbows, God of golden daffodils and glowing Autumn leaves, God of all the blues of sunlit seas, God of all the shades of … Continue reading →

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Improv on Isaiah 40: 1-11 for Thanksgiving in US

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Maren

The Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is a strange celebration, made legal in the midst of the war called by some the Civil War and by others the War between the States and referencing the two hundred years earlier … Continue reading →

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Words of thanks from Mexico and from China

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Maren

Words of thanks from a resident at Casa San José de los Huérfanos (Orphans), Colima, México Señor  yo te quiero dar gracias por ser cariñosa, bondadosa, afortunada porque puedo sentir, soñar, comer, reír, querer, escribir, dormir, hablar, escuchar, comprender, entender, … Continue reading →

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Sending Forth and Benediction for the Road, El Camino

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Maren

Sometimes in the publishing of books there are some losses. Because Gifts in Open Hands was a book primarily for an English-speaking readership, when there was a need of space some of the other languages were eliminated. I have always … Continue reading →

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Prayer from Elijah for storm victims, for veterans

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Maren

God of Elijah, you are not heard in hurricanes — Sandy or Bolaven or Isaac or Katrina. You are not heard in earthquakes in Japan or Christchurch or Haiti. You are not heard in tsunamis, tornadoes, nor’easters. You are not … Continue reading →

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