Lent 2024 – some comfort and joy

Thank you!

Thank you for joining with us in our journey through Lent. It is our hope that the reflections, practices and blessings have nurtured you in this season. In just a few weeks, we will be launching a new reflection series focused on the gift of friendship. Your support through reading, sharing and commenting means soContinue reading “Thank you!”

Easter Blessing

In the blue gray dawn the women came. He is not here. Clutching their spices as the sun peeked above the horizon Mary, Joanna, Mary Magdalene He has risen. Weeping and wondering The women came. Come and see. Holding the discarded linen Stone rolled aside Mary, Joanna, Mary Magdalene Remember how he told you? FearfulContinue reading “Easter Blessing”

Joy: Maundy Thursday

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods.His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords:His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1-3 Mix together Jesus’ commandment to love one another, the last supper, and Passover and you have some sense of MaundyContinue reading “Joy: Maundy Thursday”

Lenten Comfort: Holy Week

“But you, O Lord, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid!” -Psalm 22:19 If the Easter story is familiar, it is easy to move through Holy Week without feeling the depth of fear, pain and despair in scripture’s account. The alleluias and celebration of Palm Sunday are a reliefContinue reading “Lenten Comfort: Holy Week”

Lenten Joy: Small Things

“What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches…It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed inContinue reading “Lenten Joy: Small Things”

Comfort: Parable of Yeast

“And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” – Luke 13:20-21 As a mother of two I find myself wanting to protect my children from the bumps andContinue reading “Comfort: Parable of Yeast”

Joy: Confession

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” -John 3:16 Sometime today light a candle as a symbol of your need for God’s love and mercy. Spend some time reflecting and confessing particular areas in your own walk where you need mercy. It is hard to admit our shortcomings, but admittingContinue reading “Joy: Confession”

Lenten Comfort: So this is Love

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” – John 3:16 Flowers, poems, breakfast in bed, a weekend away or grand gestures is how our culture defines love. Things that elicit particular feelings or sensations are categorized as love, and in the West (conveniently) there is always something you can buyContinue reading “Lenten Comfort: So this is Love”

Lenten Joy: Posture of Prayer

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:38-39 Unconditional love is a challengingContinue reading “Lenten Joy: Posture of Prayer”

Comfort: God’s Love Revisited

Romans 8:31-39 No, in all these things In the washing dishes, folding laundry, rushing out the door, shopping, taxi-ing the kids, the grind of work we are more than victorious in the remembered hug, pink sunrise, holding hands, new ideas, list accomplished, anger dissolved, patience-chosen moments through him who loved us. through it all – Jesus loved us.Continue reading “Comfort: God’s Love Revisited”