Monthly Archives: August 2021

About age

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Maren

I am as old as … light,I am light yearsfull of thingsthat cannot pauseon their way from the stars. Dirt? That, too, I suppose.After all, idiomscome from somewhere,and I welcomeany young colleaguein the making of mud pies. Funny thing.The only … Continue reading →

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Prayer as Hurricane Ida approaches landfall

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Maren

O God, your eye is not the hurricane’s eye.Your eye is on all our fragile,sparrowlike efforts to escape danger,prepare for winds,notice those who need help,and get help to them. On this day, so sadly rememberedfor hurricane Katrina,we pray for everyonein … Continue reading →

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Prayer after the bombing in Kabul

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Maren

All Compassionate, Light, Everlasting,Source of Peace,we pray for comfort in lossfor family and friendsof eighty-five people who diedat Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Word from the Beginning,Christ, Redeemer, Risen One,tenderly hold each onein a dimension we do not yet … Continue reading →

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Holy Communion Liturgy for September 5, 2021

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Maren

I have been sharing Communion liturgy since April of 2020. This liturgy is shared freely to churches. Please use any piece/s of this service helpful to you, and abridge, adapt, or add language, music, gestures, and practices familiar to your … Continue reading →

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O Say Can You See?*

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Maren

I do not often post twice in a day! This is something I learned today and the opening ceremony is taking place today. Thanks for your patience. The Paralympics begin,my favorite athletics to cheer on,every four years,and, though Afghan participantswill … Continue reading →

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Breakthrough

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Maren

Do you rememberwhen breakthrough meant aha!epiphany and eureka!a discovery in science,broken relationship mended,child’s first page read, the moment of understandingwhen a ray of sunlightbreaks into a hurricane-watch day,or the same thing happens,only in the heart? Now it is when,in spite … Continue reading →

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Memory from 1991

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Maren

The last landfall in Bostonwas Hurricane Bob.My father was seventy-sixand had a retirement jobchecking ID’s at the front deskat New England Telephone and Telegraph,art deco building with twenty-floorson Franklin Street. Both parents planned to hunker downin our rickety old parsonagein … Continue reading →

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And Paul’s metaphors still speak to every Ephesus, even in 2021

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Maren

(Ephesians 6: 13-18. And this is perhaps the translation I will actually preach.) Therefore put on the sunscreen of God,for there is no armor, money, last minute plan,to assure wealthy nationsthey will withstand the evil of global warming,but do everything … Continue reading →

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Ephesians 6: 10-17 – a recently discovered version

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Maren

August 31 is International Overdose Day but this is a lectionary look-ahead from August 22. I wrote this three years ago and I apologize to those of you who read it then, but I, as a person in recovery from … Continue reading →

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Prayer for Afghanistan

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Maren

God of many names, the Generous,the All-Merciful, the Source of Peace, we pray in thanks for Afghanistanland of pomegranates and grapes,birthplace of Rumi,and ‘I am the beggar of the world,’landays of contemporary Afghan women. We celebrate people –Tajik and Hazaras, … Continue reading →

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