Thank you for this wonderful reflection and insight, John ❤️
“To claim that the Bible is inspired by God is not to claim that it was dictated by God to humans who simply wrote down what they were told. To claim the Bible is inspired by God is to claim that humans were inspired, compelled, by their interactions with the divine presence or experience to write down their stories.”
— John Valters Paintner, MTS, Watershed Moments in the Hebrew & Christian Scriptures: An Online, Self-Study Retreat
I took this picture of St Francis of Assisi Anglican Church in February, 2018. It was a beautiful day and it was also a time for reflection and introspection. When Saint Francis was “called to his ministry” he distinctly heard God say, “Francis, rebuild my church.” He thought God was talking about the little ruined chapel where he would go to pray. Actually, God was talking about the Church in general and not a specific building.
First Reading – Isaiah 12
Second Reading – Luke 21:5-19
Sermon – What Is the Body of Christ?
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been a wonderful day with friends who are family
Relaxing and enjoying
Laughing and sharing stories
Tomorrow is the Lord’s Day
Tomorrow we will worship together
Tonight, much needed sleep
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Can it already be the halfway point?
Are we racing through November?
Lord, help us to slow down in the midst of it all
Thank you for a wonderful day with friends who are family
Thank you for this time of respite
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
This picture is of Glastonbury Tor in England… a holy and thin place ❤️❤️
“Lament opens us up to a new vision of how God is present to our suffering. We call on the God who weeps with us, whose groans are our own, and we express our hope in God’s tender care.”
— Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, The Online Self-Study Retreat ~ A Midwinter God: Making a Conscious Underworld Journey
Another wonderful reflection from the heart of Jake Owensby!
A pair of dogs showed up on our street toward the end of October. They were clearly bonded and traveling together. Their humans has abandoned them. Or maybe together they had somehow managed to escape cruel treatment…. read more on–
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been a wonderful day of respite
It has been a wonderful time with friends
It has been a wonderful time of refreshment
It has been a wonderful day with my sweetheart and our friends
Thank you, Lord, for such a precious gift
Now as my eyelids grow heavy I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
“The word ‘obedience’ comes from the root word audire, meaning ‘to hear.’ Obedience is about listening deeply to the ways God calls you in everyday life and how you respond. Listening is not an activity so much as an invitation to intimacy.”
— Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It was a day filled with ministry
Time spent with committees
Time spent with dear parishioners
Time for stories and prayers
As we walk through the Valley of the Shadows
An evening with dear friends who have come to visit
For all of these gifts, I thank you
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
“Spirituality is primarily about process, about the journey itself rather than the end goal. We are invited to tend to and celebrate the process of our becoming. The tides teach us to witness our own rising and falling, just like the sun’s rising and setting does, and to make space for the movement of both in our lives.”
— Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, Water, Wind, Earth, & Fire: The Practice of Praying with the Elements
