A year ago I made plans to participate in Nebraska’s Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation which runs April 28 – May 3 this year. Knowing that two beloveds from my Two-Year experience were invited to be presenters was the impetus to register early. In fact, I invited two sisters in the faith to join me … to introduce them to The Academy and so we could grow in faith together.
The timing for Five-Day in Nebraska is typically right after Easter. Accordingly, it is a great way for clergy, especially, to relax and renew after a busy Lenten season and Holy Week. I have personally appreciated that my own Academy experiences … over five days or simply 24 hours … have helped reestablish and/or solidify a spiritual connection and rhythm for reflection and prayer. Yet, as the time draws near, I find myself torn. Do I stay home? Or do I go? To be sure, it was a full Lent. Extra worship services. Usual monthly meetings and weekly ministries. Some unexpected, but important and necessary pastoral care. And it’s appointment season. Undoubtedly, I could use a recharge of my spiritual battery! Earlier this month, Mr. Pat’s scheduled MRI showed new areas of growth. Additional appointments. Multiple phone calls. More chemo delivered to our doorstep Thursday. A new dosage. A new regimen. And some uncertainty. So I have made a call to the registrar in order that another pilgrim may attend Five-Day in my stead. And I’ve contacted the listening circles coordinator so she can make adjustments. In a little while, I will contact others of my siblings in Christ to encourage them in their pilgrimages. Right now, I need to be here. Dear Jesus, sometimes we find ourselves in a tough spot. At times we are uncertain. Sometimes fearful. Not knowing what the future holds. Not knowing what to do. Maybe what we need is for you to come and stand among us. And hear you say, or feel you breathe, “Peace be with you.” And believe it may be so. Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat
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For an Easter Son-Rise Service a few years ago at Rising City UMC, I adapted Robert Ingram’s prayer to be prayed responsively.
An Easter Prayer: (L = Left, R = Right, A= All) L: Lord, can salvation really be so easy? R: Is there not some price to pay, All: some contract to uphold? L: Is confessing you with our lips, R: and believing in our hearts, All: all that is really necessary? L: Is there not some fine print, R: something we have not been told? All: This is too easy. Is it not? L: If we were God, instead of you, R: there would be hell to pay. All: No one would get off so easy. L: But we, thankfully, are not God; R: and you are unlike any of us. All: There is no price tag on your love. L: Though we live like heathens, R: disobeying you at every turn, All: you wrap us in your salvation. L: “Come,” you say to us, “Come. R: Enjoy the miracle of my love.” All: And we come, Lord. We come. Amen. --Robert D. Ingram, 2011 Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God! Blessed are we for we have been created by that same God. Blessed is the sound of our voices, lifted up in praise. Blessed are the hands that clap and strum and pluck, joining together in one glorious Hosanna. Blessed are the bodies that move and wave and march and dance in a tapestry of motion, embodying your love. Blessed is the breath that enlivens us, animates us, and sustains us in singing our ceaseless praise to you, O God. Hosanna! Hosanna! --2009, Laura Jaquith Bartlett From Bethlehem to Nazareth, From Jordan to Jericho, From Bethany to Jerusalem, From then to now, Come, Lord Jesus. To heal the sick, To mend the brokenhearted, To comfort the disturbed, To disturb the comfortable, To cleanse the temple, To liberate faith from convention, Come, Lord Jesus. To carry the cross, To lead the way, To shoulder the sin of the world and take it away, Come, Lord Jesus. To this place, To us, Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. --1998 Wild Goose Group, admin. By GIA Publications, Inc. Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat It appears that Spring is definitely here! How do I know? Let me count the ways …
The snow mountains made from clearing streets all winter have all melted away. My husband was the first in our burg to fire up his lawnmower and mow the lawn. Not just the first on our street. Not just the first in our block. But the first in the Whole Town. I must admit that bagging the leaves and other stuff that have blown in over the winter does make the grass look greener. My husband was likely the first in Denton to till his garden. Or should I say gardens, plural. I’ve been told that the weeds with tiny leaves were trying to invade the strawberries, so it was time to get after them. And then one just keeps tilling. Tulips and grape hyacinths are beginning to emerge. No vivid color yet. But the green clumps are promising! The flower bed are needing spruced up. One of these days, in a couple more weeks, I’ll tend to them. And wash windows. And change the sheets on the beds from flannel to cotton. Maybe I’ll leave the windows for Mr. Pat. Today he is going to town to buy new garden seed for planting. And garden plants if he can find them. And grass seed to reseed some weedy patches in the yard. In the Spring, there is always something to look forward to. Clearing away the old. Or the debris. Freshening up. Making room for the new. Grace and peace … --Pastor Pat |
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