A prayer from Hebrew Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann:
"You mark us with your water,
You scar us with your name,
You brand us with your vision,
and we ponder our baptism, your water,
your name,
your vision.
While we ponder, we are otherwise branded.
Our imagination is consumed by other brands,
- winning with Nike,
- pausing with Coca-Cola,
- knowing and controlling with Microsoft.
Re-brand us,
transform our minds,
renew our imagination.
that we may be more fully who we are marked
and hoped to be,
we pray with candor and courage. Amen"
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Middle East policy criticized
Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA)--the national body of our denomination--has strongly criticized President Bush's policy in the Middle East in a recent letter.
You can read his message to the president here.
You can read his message to the president here.
Growing up, bit by bit
One of the delights of being a parent is watching your child progress through “developmental stages”—the points at which they develop new skills and abilities.
My son Ben, for example, is learning to draw with a pen he holds by himself, to recognize the letters of the alphabet, and to tell right from wrong. All of those activities reflect the “developmental stage” he’s working through. Psychologists tell us a child has to “master” one stage in order to progress to the next.
Our life with God goes through similar stages—points at which our relationship to the Holy One changes in significant ways. Often described as “stages of the journey,” the “developmental stages” we encounter in our life of faith can be identified in various scriptures.
One of the scriptures that clearly points to various “stages” in our life with God is the beloved Psalm 23. Although this psalm is usually associated with funerals, it also has a lot to say to the living and to those who aren’t grieving.
As you read it in preparation for worship, think about what parts of the psalm speak to you most directly. Why do those parts attract you? What do they have to teach you? How might God be providing care and guidance, given the parts of the psalm that speak to you?
Our other Sunday readings will be Acts 9:36-43, about Peter healing Dorcas; Revelation 7:9-17, in which all the world comes to worship the lamb who is also the shepherd; and John 10:22-30, in which Jesus speaks of himself as the good shepherd.
We’ll sing “Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim,” “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound,” and “Blessed Be the Ties That Bind.” We’ll also celebrate the Lord’s supper—and everyone’s welcome at this table!
My son Ben, for example, is learning to draw with a pen he holds by himself, to recognize the letters of the alphabet, and to tell right from wrong. All of those activities reflect the “developmental stage” he’s working through. Psychologists tell us a child has to “master” one stage in order to progress to the next.
Our life with God goes through similar stages—points at which our relationship to the Holy One changes in significant ways. Often described as “stages of the journey,” the “developmental stages” we encounter in our life of faith can be identified in various scriptures.
One of the scriptures that clearly points to various “stages” in our life with God is the beloved Psalm 23. Although this psalm is usually associated with funerals, it also has a lot to say to the living and to those who aren’t grieving.
As you read it in preparation for worship, think about what parts of the psalm speak to you most directly. Why do those parts attract you? What do they have to teach you? How might God be providing care and guidance, given the parts of the psalm that speak to you?
Our other Sunday readings will be Acts 9:36-43, about Peter healing Dorcas; Revelation 7:9-17, in which all the world comes to worship the lamb who is also the shepherd; and John 10:22-30, in which Jesus speaks of himself as the good shepherd.
We’ll sing “Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim,” “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound,” and “Blessed Be the Ties That Bind.” We’ll also celebrate the Lord’s supper—and everyone’s welcome at this table!
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