John 12:27-36 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say– `Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing […]
John 12:12-16 “The great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord– the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and […]
Deep in the Quiet Wood by: James Weldon Johnson Are you bowed down in heart? Do you but hear the clashing discords and the din of life? Then come away, come to the peaceful wood, Here bathe your soul in silence. Listen! Now, From out the palpitating solitude Do you not catch, yet faint, elusive […]
Before I compose any of these virtual faith formation blog posts, there is a period of time where I sit with each week’s theme. Sometimes, I go back to the Lectionary and read the verses where the theme first materialized. Sometimes, I let my mind drift off and wander wherever the word leads. Sometimes, I […]
One of the things that I hear all too often is “…I know you’re busy, but…” I might hide it on the outside, but inside I let out a huge sigh whenever I hear it. I’m not angry at the person speaking; I’m disappointed with myself. To me, hearing that means that I’m sending off the […]
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ― Desmond Tutu Here in Virginia, it has been a snowy week with a lot of voiced frustrations about snow, school cancellations, and freezing cold temperatures. It’s easy to get grouchy when you feel […]
What would you do if you had forty days to live? Would you give something up? Would you add something to enrich your spiritual life? Would you change how you spent your time? Would you reach out to people you love, sharing yourself and your time? This season that we call Lent is a symbolic […]
Lectionary Reading for Palm Sunday The week begins: the palm branches are waving and the cries of “Hosanna!” can be heard resounding. We can get caught up in the crowds, the celebration, the hope of glorious salvation. But the triumphant entry is only the first step of this journey that we begin together through Holy […]
Fifth Sunday in Lent: April 6, 2014 Weekly Lectionary Readings This week’s readings give us two poignant images to consider: a prophetic dream of Ezekiel where dry bones rise into life; then, the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from death into life. In the middle of these stories, the Psalmist urges us to wait on the Lord […]
Fourth Sunday in Lent: March 30, 2014 Weekly Lectionary Readings This week as we continue on our Lenten journey of “Cultivating Sacred Space” we are invited to see the light in new and inspiring ways. We begin in the Old Testament reading with Samuel grieving over Saul; surely, the darkness that can accompany grief and […]
Sacred Space 