In the busyness of this day grant me a stillness of seeing, O God. In the conflicting voices of my heart grant me a calmness of hearing. Let my seeing and hearing my words and my actions be rooted in a silent certainty of your presence. Let my passions for life and the longings for justice that stir within me…
I’m excited to you introduce to you today author and pastor Jamie Arpin-Ricci. Jamie and his wife, Kim, are pastors and leaders in the Little Flowers Community – an urban worship space and intentional community with Mennonite Church Manitoba and Youth with A Mission in Winnipeg, Canada. From the Little Flowers Community website: “We are Christians who share life, faith &…
“If we remember that the German word for holy (selig) is the root of our word silly, we may be forced to make some pertinent connections.” — Mary Rose O’Reilly, Radical Presence: Teaching as Contemplative Practice It’s been a long, cold winter. I smile behind my wool scarf as I crunch over the snow and on down the road. It’s…
I’m still learning to embrace the word ‘pleasure’. From childhood, I learned all too quickly that the word immediately referenced sexual touching, and that was meant for a specific time and place in all times and in all places. Anything else was shameful. At least, that’s my limited view of the world interpreted the messages I received. Whispering to myself…
I don’t “birthday” well. Erin Thomas: b. September 08, 1978 Jean Vanier: b. September 10, 1928 We are nearly a perfectly golden fifty years apart. You have spent the majority of your life celebrating people who have been left uncelebrated and unloved. Today, we celebrate you as a wise, humble man who submitted himself to the love of God through…
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. -1 John 4:18 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. -Psalm 23:4 I…
Lughnasadh (Lammas) is coming! Read on about this fragrant breaking of bread for the Celtic summer season. Peace to you all tonight. 🙂
I’m thumbing through my worn copy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Letters and Papers from Prison”. Good book. Classic book. Powerful book. When the world seems way too bleak for my tired heart to comprehend, I can find solace — sorrow and joy — in Bonhoeffer’s words. But it’s not just Bonhoeffer’s words that bring comfort and light. The book had a…
It’s always humbling to be able to preach at Lord of Glory. I was hesitant to share the message that I did, knowing it could touch some raw nerves (mine included). But as we moved through it all, it was clear we all needed a balm… to be reminded: “It is well with our souls”. (oh yeah, the recorder kept…
“Empathy fuels connection. Sympathy drives disconnection.” (Brene Brown) Many of us have seen this short from Brene Brown. Many of us practically screamed at our monitors “YES! This has happened to me!” Long, slow exhale… we are not alone. And yet often we still persist in sympathetic responses rather than empathic responses. Choosing empathy is a difficult road, and sympathy…