Monthly Archives: January 2017

Prayer at a Time of Hateful Violence in Canada

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Maren

(This is the prayer of the Presbyterian Church in Canada — let us all pray it today) God of loving-kindness, creator and sustainer of all, you hold all life and souls in your hands. You sent Christ into the world … Continue reading →

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Prayer for Quebec

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Maren

For those who mourn in Quebec we pray, for the right to pray and the right to pray in safety we pray … and we work and march and stand in vigil. For the great weeping across Canada we pray … Continue reading →

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Confession for the United States based on Matthew 5: 13-16

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Maren

Confession We are the tasteless of the earth, for we have refused the salts and spices of Somalia and Syria and the Sudan. We are the dark of the world for we have blown out candles of longing lit in … Continue reading →

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Prayers for Times of Natural Disaster

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Maren

Rosalie Sugrue of Aotearoa / New Zealand wrote prayers for the Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 and has re-written them for the use of worship leaders everywhere. Note her suggestions to adapt earthquake to flood or fire or hurricane … Continue reading →

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Alternative Opening to Matthew 5

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Maren

(Some people may be preaching on this text next Sunday) God saw women, men and children marching all over the world and hoped their mountain-top experience would sit down into new be-ing and new attitudes because beatitudes always turn things … Continue reading →

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Prayers in a season of disasters

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Maren

Today I pray for Albany, Georgia, where a mobile home is tossed into the woods, for Mississippi, Texas and Florida, where long track tornados blow grief and loss, Auckland, New Zealand, paralyzed by summer snow, Rigagiorno, Italy, where avalanche workers … Continue reading →

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The Blessed’s (Beattitudinal) Response

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Maren

Sharon A. Benton Lead Pastor of First Congregational Church, UCC of Bellingham, Washington sends in a contemplative piece to inspire / agitate / energize reflection on next week’s lectionary scripture which is  a version of the beatitudes.  Blessings you have … Continue reading →

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After the March

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Maren

After six days, God rested and so invented the sabbath. After the sea of pink pussycat hats, and the sensitive knitting of alliances between people united by being vulnerable, after the bus rides and songs, the long planning, the signs … Continue reading →

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Update on Roofs for the Roofless

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Maren

I wanted to send out an update from Roofs for the Roofless whose work I shared last week. Please keep them in prayer as they deal with physical and political storms. Dear Friends, On 12 December2016 cyclonic storm ‘Vardah’ smashed … Continue reading →

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Personal Update, workshops and consulting

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Maren

I was sitting in a pew yesterday after thirty-seven years of parish ministry when the congregation sang this traditional Georgia Sea Island Spiritual … Let your little light shine, shine, shine. Let your little light shine, O my Lord. There … Continue reading →

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