Working on a New Thing

Hello dear people,

Writing prayers here has sparked some new ideas and plans.  I'm taking some time to plot and to plan and I hope, create something new.  If you found yourself in this little space, I hope you may have read something that connected you with your sense of who God is in your life.

Thank you,

Heather1

Thank you Wendell Berry

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

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The Lectionary this Week

This week's lectionary passages includes Saul's transforming experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20), John's version of the disciples miraculous catch of fish, then their recognition of Jesus as they fry fish together on the beach (John 21: 1-19) and Psalm 30  

Lord,

Today a prayer for those who seek transformation,
for those who pray for a new beginning,
that today's burdens might drop away like the blinding scales from Paul's eyes.

for those who labor anonymously through daily monotonous tasks
we pray that their dedication and hard work
will yield an abundant return.

for those who eat alone
and hunger for your presence.
We pray that like
the psalmist tells us, you will
turn their mourning into dancing,
and take off their sackcloth
and replace it with clothes of joy.

Lord,
Be present to those who must find you in the smallest of gestures,
who seek you in the midst of ongoing suffering, thankless work and isolated existence.
May your spirit surprise them today with
an unexpected reprieve
a moment of delight
a glimpse of the holy
or even 153 fish.

Amen



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Where to start?

Lord,

There are so many things to do today
it is hard to settle and start on anything.
I've made some handy lists,
but instead of moving towards checking things off
I'm making new lists.
I read through the lectionary texts for this week,
searching for a focus,
but instead I am full
of all the different stories:
Saul's transformation to Paul
(and I had forgotten all about Ananias!)
Psalm 30's beautiful reminder, "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning."
On to three verses from the book of Revelation--
Angels!
every creature on earth
and under the earth
and in the sea!
Myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands--singing,
Followed by 19 verses from the gospel of John, a night of no fish, an unrecognized Jesus, heading back out into the water, full nets, breakfast on the beach--Recognition! 
Then, Peter, "Feed my sheep!"
Peter, "Feed my sheep!"
Peter, "Feed my sheep!" 

In the midst of all this, Jesus says, "Follow me."
OK, I will.

amen.1

I Like How He Thinks

Lord,
Bruce Epperly reads Psalm 150 and sees an enchanted universe. 
I love that!  In this enchanted universe, everywhere you look
all you see are people praising God.
With shouts, trumpets, lutes, harp
Tambourine, strings and pipe.
In this enchanted universe
Everywhere you look there are people dancing.
And in this enchanted place, if you can't sing on key, play an instrument with skill,
dance with rhythm--
Clanging and clashing symbols are welcome too.
In this crazy cacophony you can add your praise 
However you like.
Breathe in, breathe out
Everything that breathes praises the Lord!

Amen



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Easter Monday

Lord,

What to make of this new beginning?
How are we to live as resurrection people, with our eyes on the living
and not on what is dead?
Someone said, "What have you left in the cave?"
What remains of the old, the done, the what should be left alone?
The small mistakes, the big mistakes,
will we leave behind these rumpled cloths of worries, regrets and sin
fold it up once and for all, look up and see
The stone has rolled away
Step into the sunlight
step into this new life of redemption.
See your friends running towards you with wonder and laughter
Lord, help us to be your resurrection people.

Amen.1

Holy Week

Lord,
Holy Week is taking my words away.
Flailing attempts to ground myself with tasks
are meeting with constant interruptions,
many of my own making.
I am thankful for your open invitation
to join you for a meal at any time
any place.
For the reminder that simple acts of kindness and welcome
have unexpected power
and are vehicles for your grace.
Lord,
you surround us with your enveloping love
a cape of billowing goodness to wrap ourselves in
or to let soar as we go where we dared not venture before.
During this week of darkness, betrayal, doubt and unknowing
May we lean into the swirling confusion,
Believing that even in the chaos and storm
You are there.

Amen

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