the Not So Social Gospel

http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?o=1000&blog_id=2&entry_id=5312

UCC Youth Flash Mob

http://www.gc41.ca/news/flashmob-hill?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GC41News+%28GC41+News%29&utm_content=FaceBook

Mardi Tindal's Response to Wente

I received an email this week that claimed Wente's article as helpful and truthful.  I was saddened by this.  Here is Mardi Tindal's response.
http://united-church.ca/communications/news/moderator/120730

This Year's Journeying

Something about the weather, the flowers blooming, and new life experiences has been making me think of journeying in a new way this month.  I found this prayer helpful this week and so I thought I would share it with you.

This Year’s Journeying

Lord - I consecrate myself to You in this year’s journeying:

Take my feet from the safety of the shallows out into the challenge of unexplored depths.

Take my heart from the sterility of selfish preoccupations to the fruitfulness of wounded love.

Take my mind from the narrowness of human thought to the expansiveness of divine insight.

Take my hands from the poverty of having and keeping to the riches of giving and sharing.

Take my voice from the blandness of safe religion to the proclamation of Your radical kindom.

Lord - I consecrate myself to You in this year’s journeying:

Take my life

from safety to risk

from coldness to love

from darkness to light

from selfishness to sharing

from silence to proclamation.

Take my life for You kindom!

Amen. 

From “Fire and Bread” pg. 232

Vulnerability

http://www.davidlose.net/2012/04/the-power-of-vulnerability/

I read this article and listened to this Ted Talk this week and I thought it was worth sharing.
Blessings,
Karen

The Earth Breathing - For Earth Day

Memory cup

The gift of memory is something we rarely think about when we are younger. As we get older we learn to appreciate it more. This season in the Christian church holds the gift of memory. Every time we gather at the eucharist we are blessed with a memory. The story remains with us because of the power of the memory of those who experienced it and carried it’s memory. The cup of wine has become a memory cup holding a sacred story. The cup becomes a cup of sacrifice, love, unity, courage, strength, and restoration.

We all have memories to sift through. Some are beautiful and precious, some need to be let go of, learned from, or healed from. How do we move to the memories that strengthen us and bring us to fullness of life?

Breathprayer:

Breathe in:I remember...

Breathe out:...your love for me.

Reflection:

Hold the blessing cup in your hands

let it be filled with memories

choose one memory of love and happiness.

Let this memory pervade your spirit.

Receive the inner strength it offers

thank God for the memory

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:9-20

But take care...so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.

Journal:

Write down thoughts and feelings about some of your memories...

How do some memories bless you?

Prayer:

Dear God strengthen me through the good memories. On this day we celebrate the last supper we are reminded of your great love and the call for us to love the same.