Monthly Archives: April 2019

Liquid, fragile, perishable or potentially hazardous *

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Maren

I wanted to send you Jesus in the mail, because, though he is sweat and tears and blood and blood to give away, he isn’t all liquid and there was that absolutely buoyant incident on the sea. And fragile? Well … Continue reading →

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Prayer of Lament for Chabad of Poway Synagogue

Posted on April 27, 2019 by Maren

(with some words from Psalm 80) Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who gather your people tenderly, and shine the light of your face on faces wet with tears of grieving. Guide those who care for the wounded and … Continue reading →

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Affirmation / Blessing for Bright Sunday

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Maren

I’m getting ready for Bright Sunday / Holy Humor Sunday (Risus Pascalis — the resurrection is God’s joke on the devil) this second Sunday of Easter. Here is an affirmation and a blessing. If your congregation does not practice this, … Continue reading →

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After Easter — Guest Post, William A. Deans

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Maren

William A. Deans shared this photograph and message in the long days of Lent. For me it is what “after Easter” means: The meditation of the day led to a single raindrop clinging to a stem in a nearby Maple … Continue reading →

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Improv on Psalm 1 for Earth Day, 2019

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Maren

Happy are those who do not ravage fossil fuels, ignore the warming of oceans, or scoff at the value of wild public lands, but their delight is in care for creation, and on climate change they meditate day and night. … Continue reading →

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Improv on Psalm 150 for next Sunday’s worship (reading or responsive reading)

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Maren

The Living Psalms Project is a part of the UCC Worship Ways, which gives worship resources tied to the lectionary for each week. Living Psalms tries to re-shape or re-imagine each week’s lectionary psalm. Since I wrote this coming week’s … Continue reading →

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Prayer for Sri Lanka

Posted on April 21, 2019 by Maren

Christ, risen with holes in hands and feet and side, this Easter comes to us with a hole in all of our hearts. We pray for all the people of Sri Lanka torn from holiness to violence, for those who … Continue reading →

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Holy Week — The harrowing

Posted on April 20, 2019 by Maren

Joseph saw him first, the man who was an unexpected baby, boy in a carpenter’s shop, John, recently passed, recognized his cousin, playmate, friend rising from the Jordan with a dove in his hair. Then perhaps Abel, dead since the … Continue reading →

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Holy Week — Magi’s return

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Maren

It was so long ago — a camel’s life. Balthazar, Melchior and I saw the star, met near the Euphrates gardens then month after month we rode, traveling all night to Roman territory, Judea. We stopped in Jerusalem to see … Continue reading →

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Holy Week: Passover pilgrim

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Maren

Only men need to go to Jerusalem for Passover, but Mary went as often as she could, usually for safety with other Nazarenes since her Joseph died. She was there all this week — saw the parade, heard about the … Continue reading →

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