Monthly Archives: December 2019

Prayer after the shooting at West Freeway Church of Christ

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Maren

O Holy One, whose house should be a house of prayer and not a place of violence, tenderly gather those who grieve in Texas this day into your loving embrace. Hold in our remembrance those who died protecting others. Be … Continue reading →

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For Epiphany, a psalm, a prayer, stained glass

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Maren

Susan Pratt’s new window for St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Northwood, New Hampshire. Maria Mankin has written this weeks Living Psalm for UCC WorshipWays service. The Living Psalms series brings the weekly lectionary Psalm selections into a contemporary dialogue. … Continue reading →

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Prayer after the stabbing in Monsey, New York

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Maren

God, we pray for those injured seriously celebrating Hanukkah in their rabbi’s house, for those who have felt the desolation of hate crimes against Jews in these last weeks, and for all who fight for freedom, and receive oil enough … Continue reading →

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Prayer after the car bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Maren

God, Counsellor, Prince of Peace, Allah, Ar Raheem, Al Wadud, we join in the terrible tears, the tears of Somalia, the tears of the capital and of those traveling to the south, the tears of mothers and fathers, the tears … Continue reading →

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Guest Post Christmas Greetings from Roofs for the Roofless

Posted on December 26, 2019 by Maren

Savrithri Devanesen was a contributor to Kathy Eddy and my 1995 book Gifts of Many Cultures. By that time, the work that she and her husband Chandran started in Chennai had already changed so many lives. Always she has sent … Continue reading →

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Prayer after the Attacks in Burkina Faso

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Maren

God, we pray for Burkina Faso where today sorrow has overcome the light. Hold in your tenderness those who are weeping for seven soldiers, thirty-five civilians, mostly women murdered at the well. Today Burkina Faso cancelled Christmas celebrations. Today all … Continue reading →

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Jesus is a bottle baby

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Maren

Psalm 56:8, You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your record? God, I know we’ve already checked off — Blue Christmas service for people who are sad, lonely, depressed, and … Continue reading →

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How does this Silent Night change your life? Incarnations of Love Guest Post — Carol Hallman

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Maren

        My many thanks to Carol Hallman for the gift of this poem which needs to be my December 24 prayer  — Incarnations of Love in the animals, in the song, in the prophecy and the reality … Continue reading →

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Monday, December 23, 2019 — Incarnations of Love — Weddings

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Maren

God, of so many incarnations of love, of Word made flesh so dearly, we celebrate elders and children, companion animals who have loved us into being human, dear old friends and the stranger whose face is reflected in a last-minute … Continue reading →

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Sunday, December 22, 2019 — Incarnations of Love — Hanukkah

Posted on December 22, 2019 by Maren

O Holy One, this is love — latkes and dreidels and sufganiyot, (that’s doughnuts to me), gelt and gifts and games, and certainly lighting the menorah in a season dominated by big pine trees. But mostly love is oil for … Continue reading →

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