Monthly Archives: September 2014

September Lament

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Maren

The frayed end of September is raining out of clouds gray and hung low as urban clothesline near the elevated trains. The traffic on slick pavement is a soft percussive. Dogs come in from walks smelling of wet fur and … Continue reading →

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Liturgy for World Communion Sunday, Aboriginal Canadian Thanksgiving

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Maren

R. Matthew Stevens sends this Aboriginal Canadian Eucharist for Canadian Thanksgiving which is celebrated October 12-13, 2014. The litany of remembering, the blessing of the community, the manner of sharing — all are gifts that well can be used for … Continue reading →

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In the Pit, a Call to Worship

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Maren

Dee Ledger sends this poetic call to worship that she paired with the story of Joseph left in the pit by his brothers to die or to be enslaved. I realized how many other texts would call for such gathering … Continue reading →

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Fracking Exodus (Exodus 17)

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Maren

The people wandered in the wilderness and there was no water, so they cried out for they were thirsty. And they quarreled and they were afraid for their children and the animals for they were very thirsty. Then God sent … Continue reading →

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Looking back at a cool summer from the first day of autumn

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Maren

The thinnest Cheshire smile of September moon hangs in deep blue western sky, or maybe we see a sharp sickle poised above harvest and vee of geese, a curl of pine wood whittled, or a sweet lazy fingernail clipping of … Continue reading →

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Before I was 5 — Poem by Erice Fairbrother

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Maren

Before I was 5 I had heard of Herod and beheading A distant A horror But holy story before breakfast today I heard Of another not distant not a story but an unholy horror and grief unimaginable with no ending … Continue reading →

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Intercessions for our Planet, from Aotearoa / New Zealand and from the Republic of Georgia

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Maren

A gift of congregational prayer from Lynne Frith of Aotearoa/New Zealand One: Let us pray for planet earth and for all living things. We pray that there will be careful use of the earth’s resources, that forests, waters, soil and … Continue reading →

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Reflection on Matthew 14: 1-12 for James Foley, Steven Sotloff, David Haines

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Maren

‘Those who withhold kindness from a friend forsake the fear of the Almighty … “Ransom me from the hand of oppressors” Job 6:14,23b We listen now as parents tell the tale that their children were not to be ransomed while … Continue reading →

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Definitions of Home

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Maren

Here I am not living out of a suitcase, here are my old sweat pants, my dog, my Scrabble board, the ashes of my father. Here I do not need to explain my silence, here I can eat standing up … Continue reading →

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Backpack, poem by Dwight Wolter

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Maren

Dwight Wolter invites us to share with him this experience, his memory, the still-living beauty of his daughter Maya. Sitting on a piano bench talking to the children of the church, bearing a burdensome backpack bulging with school supplies. I … Continue reading →

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