Monthly Archives: July 2021

Honoring Juanita Helphrey

Posted on July 30, 2021 by Maren

(In 2022 Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team will have a new name: Guardians. My denomination, the United Church of Christ, has repeatedly asked for the name and branding pictures to change from the “Indians,” since General Synod 1991. The team … Continue reading →

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Beatitudes for this Week

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Maren

Jesus felt the prayers and came out of the clouds, sat down to listen to deep cries of this world, this week.Then Jesus taught us, not to hunt for where we fit into receiving a blessing but for whom and how … Continue reading →

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Benediction

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Maren

God created heavens, oceans and earth –with aardvarks, clown frogfishand everyone’s adolescence.God sent us an ancestor named “Laughter”and a prophet like Jonah.God so loved the world,that God didn’t send a committee … May your tight places be loosened,your heavy burdens … Continue reading →

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Holy Communion Liturgy for August 1, 2021

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Maren

I have been sharing Communion liturgy since April of 2020 (myself or someone who has donated a service to me). This liturgy is shared freely to churches. Please use any pieces of this service helpful to you, and abridge, adapt, … Continue reading →

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Prayer for Indonesia in the midst of Covid

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Maren

God, I pray for my friends in Indonesia,where the Delta strain of the virushas killed so many,it is the most deadly place in the world. I pray for those who grieve,for those who struggle for a vaccine,any vaccine, even Sinovac,for … Continue reading →

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Prayer for Firefighters in the US West

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Maren

God, known and namedby the fire that did not consume,just a bright image of holyin Moses heart, I have reminded myself with parables,lifting up my facein the pouring Northeastern rain,removing the church candlesso today they will not be lit, of … Continue reading →

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Prayers for the flooding in Western Europe

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Maren

God who always walks across water,come to the people of Germany,Luxembourg, Belgium,Switzerland, the Netherlands, Tenderly reach out a handfor those who grieveso that they do not sink. Get into the small boats of fearof those who wait for 1300 missing. … Continue reading →

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Prayer for Penelakut Tribe

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Maren

Creator, we pray for the memoryof one hundred sixty childrenfound in British Columbia’sSouthern Gulf Island,near Kuper Island Residential School, who were not unloved,but whose graves were unmarked, who were not without tender family,proud tradition, and deep history,but whose graves were … Continue reading →

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Guest Post from Mark Saline … “Hugging it out with my Bible”

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Maren

I am so grateful to share this poem which, to my great honor, Mark Saline wrote to respond to my Sunday post, “This is the way I play with the Bible.”  Mark writes this to me: “I intended to show … Continue reading →

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Prayer for Haiti

Posted on July 12, 2021 by Maren

O God, let the world never forget Haiti,home to Taino people,people of Africa, fighters for freedom,and strugglersagainst so many sorrows,on the beautiful island of Hispaniola,where mango and mahogany grow,coconut palms and breadfruit,where the winds carry Twoubadou ballads,hip hop kreyòl, méringue … Continue reading →

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