The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Lifting many in prayer tonight
For those recovering from surgery
For those who don’t know where their next meal will come from
For those who wonder where they will lay their head down tonight
For those who live in constant fear
For those at the border who face tear gas and hatred
For those who fear change and lash out in hatred
For all of your children, I lift this humble prayer
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
A couple months ago as I sat in my church’s parking lot waiting for Rowan to emerge from confirmation class, a long-lost prayer from my Catholic days rose up in my soul.
“Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Another long day of travel and appointments
Ended the evening relaxing by the fire
As my eyelids grow heavy
As I contemplate work for tomorrow
I lift this humble prayer
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
A long day of traveling following a wonderful blessing called CREDO. A week spent with colleagues who began as strangers and ended up as good friends. A time to pause and reflect on ministry that is behind us and what is before us. Especially a time to celebrate the present moment and the Spirit’s continued call in our lives.
From Florida to Colorado… and snow!
And to a special treat from my dear wife who spent time preparing our home for our joyous return!
She had spent the weekend with my Dad helping him move into a new apartment with the help of his church family. Such a blessing for us both to return to our home and to such beauty.
And now, we will both prepare for the remaining Sundays in Advent and our Blue Christmas Service.
Oh, and someone else was glad to be home as well!
Lord, be with us and guide us as we continue to serve you. May your love and your Spirit be our guide.
A beautiful reflection, Shirley
An Advent Devotion for December 2
“Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” James 5:7-8
Waiting –
Waiting for answers.
Waiting for a baby to be born.
Waiting for a job to come through.
Waiting for . . . Well waiting for whatever it is that we’ve been waiting for.
Waiting is hard.
We grow impatient in our waiting, and yet the too soon birth of a child creates all manner of complications. Much better the timely birth. For in those waiting months growth takes place, organs mature and lungs strengthen.
The waiting time becomes a time of preparation in our personal lives both…
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The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A week of Retreat, Refreshment, Renewal
The time has come for us to prepare to return
To return to homes and to ministry
To return to the busyness of life
As we gathered around your Table, Lord
As we broke bread together and prayed
Your Spirit truly did move in our midst
For this week and the many gifts you gave, I thank you
And so, as my eyelids grow heavy, I lift this humble prayer
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
On this first Sunday in Advent, we gathered after a day of Sabbath rest and preparation. Wrapping up a week of introspection and contemplation. A time of fellowship, sharing, and renewal. Some were worried when we gathered last Tuesday at CREDO about missing this first Sunday of Advent. However, God met us in the midst of the messiness and anxiety. God spoke to us in the quietness of contemplation.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Guide our hearts as we seek the path you have laid out for us. With Mary, we lift these words: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of Her servant. (Luke 1:46-48)
Tomorrow we return to our homes, our families, our calls. We return refreshed and renewed. For this week of reflection, prayer, fellowship, worship, and rest, I thank you. For a renewed sense of call, I thank you.
Now, in the words of Thomas Merton, I lift this prayer to you:
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain
where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and that I think I am following your will
does not mean I am actually doing so.
But I believe
the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire
in all I am doing.
I hope
I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know if I do this
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
Lord, in your mercy, hear my humble prayer.
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A day of worship, of Wholeness and Healing
A day of reflection and discernment
A time to reflect on life and a way of living
A time to contemplate a Rule of Life
Called to Do Justice
Called to Love Mercy and Kindness
Called to Walk Humbly with You, Lord
How do we love you with all of our being
How do we love all of our neighbors
Show us the way, Lord
Make us a light for the path
In your mercy, hear this humble prayer
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
This morning we had our Wholeness and Healing Service at CREDO. Of course the beautiful chapel reminds me of the first time I attended at Wholeness and Healing Service at Episcopal Camp Beckwith in 2009. Nine years later it is still just as powerful for me as a participant and not a leader. In 2009 I was not in a very good place in my own life spiritually or personally. That Cursillo weekend was the beginning of a significant turn in my spiritual journey as I contemplated what I was going to do with my life.
As we sat in the stillness of the sanctuary today, I listened and prayed… the rain began to come down and later we heard the thunder roll. The rain reminded me of an experience that I had in 2010 as I was driving down US 98 towards Hurlburt Field for work. The Air Force Special Operations Command Headquarters was where I was working in the Command Chaplains Office. I had spent months wondering what I was going to do after retirement in 2011. You see, God has called me into ministry in uniform when I had my call experience on the banks of the Chippewa River on the Campus of the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire in October of 1980. Approaching twenty years in uniform I didn’t know what was next. I was supplying churches in Florida Presbytery, preaching on Sundays, but had no clue what was next.
So that morning while I was driving to Hurlburt Field, my mind was pondering and my heart was searching. A gift that I had received at Cursillo was Michael W. Smith’s CD, A New Hallelujah. As I drove down the highway, a song came on. It was Healing Rain / Let It Rain. Tears came to my eyes as I felt the cleansing power of the Spirit wash over me. I had to pull over to the side as I continued to weep. The healing rain was indeed falling down on my soul and I felt God’s call once more. Michael, I’m not done with you yet. I want you to continue to serve me in the church as a pastor. Even as I type these words, the tears are streaming down my face as they did almost nine years ago. As they streamed down at the Wholeness and Healing Service at Camp Beckwith and as they did this morning at our Wholeness and Healing Service at Cerveny Conference Center (the Episcopal Conference Center where CREDO is being held).
As the rain poured down in the Cerveny Chapel, I knew once again the powerful presence of the Spirit. It was an affirmation to me that God was saying I’ve got this… I’ve got you… don’t be afraid!
One of the things that this particular CREDO weekend is focusing on is looking at your ministry and looking at what is coming down the road. For me, retirement is not around the corner. For one of my colleagues retirement is six weeks away! For others it is a year or two. As I look back on the thirty-one years of Ordained Ministry, there is so much to process. As I look at my current call in Estes Park at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, there is so much to be thankful for. As I look at the call God extended to me in 1980 and again in 2010, I am so incredibly thankful.
The healing rains continue to wash, cleanse, heal, and renew. For this gift I thank God with all of my being.
Another song that was so significant back then (and still is today) is Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone). The service today and this CREDO retreat have reminded me once again that God’s Grace is indeed amazing. My chains are gone… I’ve been set free… unending love… amazing grace….
Now, as I continue to reflect and to write (my Rule of Life which will be the final gift of this retreat), I stop to simply say thank you… thank you God for your continued presence… thank you for renewal… thank you for your call in my life…
Thank you for your Amazing Grace, Unending Love, and Healing Rain.
There are two questions that we have to ask ourselves. The first is “Where am I going?” and the second is “Who will go with me?”
If you ever get these questions in the wrong order, you are in trouble.
A time of reflection and preparation today… Good questions for the Spiritual Journey no matter where you are in it. Quote was used in Morning Chapel.
