View From Columbia

  Opening Prayer Truth be told, Jesus, There are lots of tables that need overturning in our lives. Beneath the veneer of respectability, the tidy rows, and neat regulations hide dark addictions and angry judgements, hungry greeds and heartless rejections. We know the pain—and so do those around us— of keeping up the facade. What a relief it would be to have it all upset, smashed, scattered, destroyed. So, perhaps, Jesus, today you could pay us a visit, and help us to radically rearrange the furniture of our lives. Amen.   ~ written by John van de Laar, and posted on Sacredise .   Scripture Mark: 11: 15-18 (CEB) They came into Jerusalem. After entering the temple, he threw out those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves. He didn't allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He taught them, "Hasn't it been written, My house will be called a house of praye...

 By GRAPHIK_INK Opening Prayer Here we are Lord, on our knees, crying mercy. Mercy for our souls, Mercy for one another, Mercy for our churches, Mercy for our nation, mercy for our world. Here we are again Standing in your presence. in awe of you, your holiness, your otherness, your mystery, and your incarnation Lord, pour out your mercy like healing, comforting rain As we worship you this day Amen.   Uses sections of a prayer written by Rev Abi (abridged slightly), and posted on Rev Abi’s Long and Winding Road blog. http://vicarofwadley.blogspot.ca/   Scripture: James 2: 1-17 (CEB) My brothers and sisters, when you show favoritism you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected in glory. Imagine two people coming into your meeting. One has a gold ring and fine clothes, while the other is poor, dressed in filthy rags. Then suppose that you were to take special notice of the one wearing fine clothes, saying, "Here's an...

 Lent Again, In a Pandemic Gathering Prayer:  A Prayer for the Beginning of Lent O Lord, here we are again. The season of Lent. That time of the year to dig deeper To reach wider To love stronger. The season of Lent That time to embrace death To walk towards the cross To humble ourselves To pray, fast, and give our lives in service. The season of Lent A time to give up or to take on A time to contemplate life and death A time to face the realities of our broken world A time to dance with the darkness. The season of Lent. In these days be with us. Walk with us. Inspire us. Call us. Motivate us. In these days be with us. To serve our neighbors. To sing in community. To wrestle with your Word. To sit in the silence. O Lord, here we are again. I pray for your kingdom to come For peace to rule the day For wholeness to emerge I seek this peace for the world and pray I’ll find it in me. I know the days will seem long and...

  I am Convicted   Opening Prayer God creates people from every race, tribe, tongue and ethnic community. God calls us to live in community marked by love, peace, justice, respect, and mutual support. Yet we draw lines between peoples. We raise barriers. We treat one another with prejudice. In every generation, God raises up prophets, speaking forth God’s desire for all people to live together in love. Today we come together to give thanks to God for Martin Luther King, Jr. Today we live into the dream of all people living together in beloved community.   — written by Ron Allen and Linda McKiernan-Allen. Posted on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Worship Resources , on the Disciples of Christ Council on Christian Unity website.  Scripture: Gelatins 3:28 (CEB)   There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.   Musing Over the last couple of weeks, I have be...

  Christmas Music Isaiah 9: 2-3, 6-7 (RSV) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Musing Who hears these words and doesn’t automatically hear Handle’s Messiah playing? I can’t. I was going to use the Common English Bible translation and just couldn’t bring myself to do it. It didn’t sound right even when I was ...