Monthly Archives: December 2018

New Year’s Eve, 2018

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Maren

My youngest grandson always chooses animals from the crèche – walking around with a cow tight in his small hand, or a sheep, a donkey, a dove, the camel with the funny expression. He holds them up for us to … Continue reading →

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Improv on Matthew 2: 16-18

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Maren

We are all herods – none, no, none of us are the innocents, we are those who consider love to be a trickery, we are infuriated by the potential danger of the presence of children, we are the killers of … Continue reading →

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Blessing of the Stars — Guest Post — Benediction from Argentina

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Maren

My joyful thanks to Gerardo Oberman for this blessing which takes me into the New Year with great hope! Bendición de los astros Que la luna que iluminó la noche de los pastores de Belén, abrace tus temores y tus … Continue reading →

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Epiphany: Reflections of Advent Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love — A Guest Post by Judy Brandon

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Maren

  Before Advent I shaped an Advent Wreath ceremony without fire — to do the unexpected in Advent and also to honor the folks who have suffered so much from fire this year (in the autumn that was significantly in … Continue reading →

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Christmas Day — A Guest Post from David Beebe

Posted on December 25, 2018 by Maren

Thanks to David for this gift! Dispatch “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” – Phillips Brooks Held between earth and heaven clouds obscure the sky. A chill wind rises from the Great Sea … Continue reading →

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December 24, 2018 – Christmas Eve — prayer from Go Tell it on the Mountain

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Maren

      “Over the hills and everywhere” “Go Tell It on the Mountain” African-American spiritual song circa 1865, compiled by John Wesley Work, Jr God, I am going to tell it on the mountain, and at the border wall, … Continue reading →

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Prayer from “Comfort, Ye, My People” (Johann Olearius,1671) for Indonesia

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Maren

Comfort, God, your Indonesia, speak peace, and tenderness within comfort ones who are grieve without a grave those washed away by tsunami wave. Speak O God in words of grace bring recovery and hope! Tell them you will stir compassion … Continue reading →

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December 23, 2018 — prayer from “I wonder as I wander …”

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Maren

  “… Jesus the Savior did come for to die for poor on’ry people like you and like I…” “I wonder as I wander” John Jacob Niles, folks song collector — from Annie Morgan in Murphy, North Carolina God, you … Continue reading →

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December 22 — prayer from “Hard Candy Christmas”

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Maren

    Lord it’s like a hard candy Christmas I’m barely getting through tomorrow but still I won’t let sorrow get me way down. “Hard Candy Christmas,” Carol Hall. God, the Savior comes for all the folks who make it … Continue reading →

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December 21 — prayer from “Silver Bells”

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Maren

    December 21, 2018 … Strings of street lights, even stoplights, blinkin’ bright red and green … and above all the bustle we hear …“Silver Bells” Jay Livingston God of the right-here-in-front-of-me Christmas – the child I love trying … Continue reading →

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