Blogging toward Sunday

Sunday is the Day of Pentecost, one of the most important days in the liturgical year. It is often called the Birthday of the Church. The readings for Sunday include Exekiel 37:1-14 and Acts 2:1-21. In preparation for this wonderful day of worship and celebration, please take time to read the texts, pondering their significance for the life of the church and for your life as an individual.

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May the following two prayers bless your journey toward Sunday:

To make things new that never were

We name you wind, power, force, and then,
     imaginatively, "Third Person."
We name you and you blow...
     blow hard,
     blow cold,
     blow hot,
     blow strong,
     blow gentle,
     blow new...
Blowing the world out of nothing to abundance,
blowing the church out of despair to new life,
blowing little David from little shepherd boy to messiah,
blowing to make things new that never were.
     So blow this day, wind,
     blow here and there, power,
     blow even us, force,
Rush us beyond ourselves,
Rush us beyond our hopes,
Rush us beyond our fears, until we enact your newness in the world.
     Come, come, spirit. Amen.         

(Walter Brueggemann, Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann, 167)

       

Exuberant Spirit of God
Exuberant Spirit of God,
bursting with brightness of flame
into the coldness of our lives
to warm us with a passion for justice and beauty
we praise you. 

Exuberant Spirit of God,

sweeping us out of the dusty corners of our apathy

to breathe vitality into our struggles for change,

we praise you.        

 

Exuberant Spirit of God 

speaking words that leap over barriers of mistrust

to convey messages of truth and new understanding,

we praise you.

Exuberant Spirit of God

flame

     wind

          speech,

burn, breathe, speak in us;

fill your world with justice and with joy.

(Jan Berry, Bread of Tomorrow: Praying with the World's Poor, 145)


As always, I look forward to seeing you in worship. Be sure to invite a friend to our "Happy Birthday Church" party!

Shalom,
Glenda

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