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easter sunday
The jumping off point for this sermon was a piece in an article about sermons (Celebrating the Incarnation, C. Morse) which asked the question: "To what extent is the sermon saying to the world what the world is already capable of saying to itself?" And then it went in an odd direction.
( Did anyone other than me think there were a lot of zombies on tv this weekend? ) -
Good Friday
Although I think it is customary to always read the passion narrative in John, I didn't have the energy to deal with his particular brand of anti-Semitism this year, and so read Mark instead: chapter 14, verse26 through to chapter 15, verse 47. Sections of the following reflection are direct quotes or paraphrases from Rebecca Parker/Rita Nakashima- ( Read more... ) -
Maundy Thursday
At our Maundy Thurday service, we handed out a smallish piece of paper and coloured marker as well as the order of service. The scripture reading was selected verses from John 13, including verses 34, 35 "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I hve loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know ( Read more... ) -
prinkle
When I was a very little girl, I had a pink gingham dress that I loved. I loved it so much that when I outgrew it that my mum turned it into a pillow. I couldn't say gingham, and somehow it became known as my prinkle dress and then prinkle pillow. I slept with it every night, wherever we went ( Read more... ) -
hoarding
I've started watching the A&E show Hoarders on Monday nights. My daughter stood riveted in the room for about five minutes before going upstairs, agitated, because she couldn't stand it anymore. And then she came down twice with huge arm loads of paper clutter from her room - old school work and fashion magazines.
I think what set her off last ( Read more... ) -
One Thing Every Day
I've decided to try again this year to work at letting go of some of the stuff in my house. I appreciated the discpline and reflection space at unclutter_2009 , and so am doing unclutter_2010 .
The goal is to get rid of one thing every day, and an extra thing for each new one I bring into the house. I did it for the first few months of last year, and appreciated most of all ( Read more... ) -
New Year's Blessing
I wish you not a path devoid of clouds,
Nor a life on a bed of roses,
not that you might never need regret,
nor that you should never feel pain.
No, that is not my wish for you.
My wish for you is:
That you might be brave in times of trial,
when others lay crosses upon your shoulders.
When mountains must be climbed,
and chasms are to be crossed.
When hope ( Read more... ) -
reading
I was planning on going into my office this morning, turning up the heat and holing myself up to catch up on some reading. But once I actually looked at the bookshelf in the kitchen where I keep my church books, I realized I had enough catch-up reading at home to keep me busy for a few days. And this way I don't have to change out of my yoga pants ( Read more... ) -
poem - by Wei Ying Wu
The moon is full, the autumn nights grow longer,
In the north forests startled crows cry out.
Still high overhead, the star river stretches,
The Dipper's handle set to southwest.
The cold cricket grieves deep in the chambers,
Of the notes of sweet birds, none remain.
The one evening gusts of autumn come,
One who sleeps alone thinks fondly on thick ( Read more... )