Included: Two Communion Prayers to use as Needed Sermon Seeds for Each Week Breath Prayer of the Day Traditional Prayers Prayer Activities for each week Taize for worship or to sing/play during the Prayer Activities (obviously if you are just playing background music live is fine, but watch your streaming licenses) Creative Holy Week Worship Ideas
Additional Ideas: Prayer Journal Leave a Space on the Bulletin for Prayers to be written Pass out Hearts for Joys & Concerns to be written on All of Lent
Workshops following this Lectionary $50 to Brainstorm available Feb 6th at 10am-Noon Eastern time, and February 9th at 12pm-2pm Eastern time–please email me to register KatyandtheWord at gmail
Please note a lot of these texts are in Mark but most do not overlap the lectionary, if they do they are only 1 of the stories so you can choose the other one to preach on later
Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting Suggested Donation for Entire Liturgy$75 (you decide what is fair for portions) Receipt Available upon request Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail, Cash App $bookkats GoFundMe, if you wish to send a check please email me for info
Lent 2 Themes: Breath Prayer, Orientating Yourself (to God) Mark 4:25-41 or Matthew 11:28-29 Psalm 150 or Psalm 46
Lent 3 Confession, Placing oneself in community Mark 2:1-5 Psalm 30
Lent 4Assurance of Pardon/Words of Grace Psalm 103 or Psalm 23 (this is an option for lament week) Mark 2:7-12
Lent 5 Prayers of the People & Joy Psalm 97 or Psalm 122 Mark 4:30-34
Lent 6 Prayers of the People & Lament, Hosanna, Save me Psalm 23 as a Lament or James 5:1-6 Revelation 21:1-6 or Mark 11:12-14 Imprecation: Psalm 55 or 58
Easter Sunday: Prayer of the Resurrection Mark 16:1-8 Psalm 118
Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting Suggested Donation for Entire Liturgy$75 (you decide what is fair for portions) Receipt Available upon request Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail, Cash App $bookkats GoFundMe
if you wish to send a check please contact me for info
Jesus Christ, I think it’s much easier to picture you in a stable, cozy among the hay– Then in the cave that they showed me in Palestine, where all the animals are stabled.
I remember, when I toured Bethlehem among the Christians hearing talk of building permits and dirt roads the lack of permits and that a lot of the fighting was really about water access “Is it like Syria?” I asked?
Aware, that Syria was is turning into a desert before our eyes
“Exactly” they answered Like a deer thirsts for water So our soul longs for God “But I never hear that people are fighting over water?” I wondered
Christmas Day Eastern Orthodox Christmas we went to the tomb of Jesus Where seven (the holy number) crowded in
Each with clear ropes labels and signs claiming this piece of the Savior is mine.
“Merry Christmas!” Our Eastern Orthodox Brethren Proclaimed “Here touch the head of the tomb, Normally, it is not allowed, But today is a merry day”
I do not know, if I wanted To feel so closely the desperation Of occupied wartorn Gaza must have felt like at your birth Jesus
But when I visited Lo those 13 years ago
I remember–too The hope of Love among the rubble.
Jesus in a Nativity scene among rocks and rubble in Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem this year
The joy of “Merry Christmas” amongst many faith The sharing of a meal with Muslims, Christians, Jews and Druze
Love among the rubble As real as a Savior born in a cave– as real as a glimpse of peace, in war. As real as hope, in a capitalistic, political scape. As real as joy, in the midst of weariness.
As real as faith, in the midst of doubt.
As real as Christmas, in the midst of the Advent of Life.
That’s my God the one who shows up in the rubble of life. Amen, Alleluia, Amen.
Jesus in. Nativity scene among rocks and rubble in Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem this year. Photos originate from the Church here
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Katy Stenta “Katyandtheword”
Write an Advent Wreath Liturgy in a small personalized environment Limit 10 people per workshop
This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide. This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.
Mon Nov 27th 6-8pm (Eastern) $50 Per Person Tues Dec 5th 12:30-2:30pm
(As Advent will have already started, Katy will have an Advent Candle Liturgy for use, she will send you)
Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator
For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”
Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, (formerly) RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.
Call to Worship God we are leaning in to hear the good news from Gabriel We confess we long to be filled with Good News We want to both ponder with Mary, and shout with her! Let us prepare to Magnify the Lord together
Magnificat Candle: God we want the systems of oppression to cease We long for peace on earth and goodwill for all We are ready to magnify you Help us to magnify your Good News God.
Invitation for Confession: Nothing is too big for God, come let us lay our worries and concerns at the feet of God today.
Prayer of Confession: God we confess that Mary’s message is a little strong for us. The idea that you will completely restructure the world sounds like a little much. However, we love the promise of justice and hope. We can hold on tight to a world filled with good things. Teach us how to work towards this world of the world of the Magnificat without being too overwhelmed, tired or scared we pray Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God promises that Jesus forgives us as soon as we give him our burden, thus we can proclaim the good news In JesusChrist we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God help us to continue to commit to you, your justice and your Kin(g)dom as we enter into this season of Advent, prepare our hearts for you and your work we pray. Amen.
If you appreciate my work please Donate! I am between jobs right now and would truly appreciate any donation from $5-$20 GoFundMe
Also check out my Candle Liturgy Workshop
Want some help Getting ready for Advent?
Write an Advent Wreath Liturgy in a small personalized environment
Limit 10 people per workshop
This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide. This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.
Mon Nov 27th 6-8pm (Eastern) $50 Per Person Tues Dec 5th 12:30-2:30pm
(As Advent will have already started, Katy will have an Advent Candle Liturgy for use, she will send you)
Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator
For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”
Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, (formerly) RevGalBlogPals, and is published in Enfleshed, Presbyterian’s Today and Outlook. She received her undergraduate in English and History and Minor on Philosophy at Oberlin, her M. Div. and MA in Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing her D. Min. in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.
If you appreciate my work, please support my D. Min in Creative Writing. I am in my final year and raising money here as a working Public Theologian:
Receipt Available upon request Please give credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail, Cash App $bookkats GoFundMe, if you wish to send a check please email me for info
f you use this series you must credit Tricia Hersey’s authorship and Book, as it is foundational for all of the work you see here. Please credit Tricia Hersey “Rest is Resistance” and Pastor Katy Stenta for liturgy.
Can you encourage your congregation to rest? What is the culmination of this season? Is it going to be less committees? A period of prayer only? A shift to retiring/merging congregations? A decision to take every 4th or 5th Worship off to just rest? How can you be more sanctuary?
In some ways this work is the sequel to the Sermon Series This Here Flesh, if This Here Flesh is about Emobodied Liturgy (liturgy meaning the work of the people) then this is about, what do we do with our bodies, after we learn that they are in fact liturgy. (I am sure it works vice versa as well)
How are you going to model this in your Worship? Will you encourage pillows and blankets? Put moments for stretches in worship? Hopefully at least time to close your eyes and do nothing, to listen to the birds, music, to do nothing.
Cultivate rest–do what you can to encourage sleep, encourage Sabbath, sanctuary.
Who would come to Church if it was a place of Rest?
Less is more
Not because we need to work more, but because being is more important than doing
These Questions might help your preaching* But may be “too much” for your congregation, that’s ok, meet them where they are at. The political issues are real, try to address them as much as you can. Tricia Hersey talks a lot of being in the world but not of the world, this language works well in the church.
Week 1 “What would it feel like to be consistently rested?”p. 56 Come & Rest with Me Genesis 1:27-2:3 So God created humankind* in his/their image, in the image of God he created them;* male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude.And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. Psalm 46:10a Be still, and know that I am God Notes
Week 2“What does exhaustion look like for me?” p. 56 Broken Humanity: Scarcity & Hate Hosea 5:15-6:6 I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favor: “Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.”What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Psalm 3:1-6 1 O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. 3 But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. 5 I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me. 6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. Notes
Week 3“What would it feel like to be consistently rested?” p. 56 Bounty Psalm 34:8-10 Taste and see how good YHWH is! Happiness comes to those who take refuge in YHWH. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after wind. Notes
Week 4“Who was I before the terror of the toxic systems? p. 56 (W)holistic Self Psalm 127:7 In vain you get up early and stay up late, sweating to make a living, because God loves us and provides for us even while we sleep. Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Mark 4:36-41 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’ Notes
Week 5“What have you been told about your worth and existence?” p. 56 Worth and Blessedness Isaiah 14:3-4 When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased! How his insolence has ceased! Psalm 62:1 In God alone my soul finds rest, for my deliverance comes from God, who alone is my rock, my salvation, my fortress: I will never be shaken. Notes
Week 6 “How do you make space to transcend the confines of a system that prays to the call of ‘profit over people’?” p. 56 Grief & Healing 1 King 19:4-7 But [Elijah] himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” Romans 8:22:26 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedeswith sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Notes
Week 7 “Who do I want to be?” p. 56 Restoration & Liberation Psalm 23:2 or Psalm 23:6 Surely Goodness and Mercy Psalm 23 John 14:(1-7)27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. Notes
Parenting Decolonization: Normalize not giving fuck what white folks think about how we get into spaces. Regal Picture of Toni Morrison with her gray hair pulled back in a black shirt with a purple sweater overlaying it. “The function, the very serious function of racism, is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaingin, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language, so you spend twenty years proving that you do. Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly, so you have scientists working on the fact that it is. Someone says that you have no art, so you dredge that up. Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up. None of that is necessary There will always be one more thing.” Notice NO TIME AT ALL FOR REST in Racism, for ANYONE, Most of all the Black people and POC. (Toni Morrison was known for not giving her time to White Academia, because she was trying to save as much of it as possible, she got up super early before her family to write)
If you appreciate my work, please support my D. Min in Creative Writing. I am in my final year and raising money here: https://gofund.me/391febb1. I am more than halfway funded! Any amount $10-$200 helps. Receipts available!
A 1950s (?) Redhead luxuriating… reading a newspaper and drinking tea in bed. “They say follow your dreams..so I’m in bed. The signature looks like it is AHS
Image is a pair of AK47s crossing, covered with the words Hosanna and palms layered, and Save us at the Top and Prince of Peace, Flip the Tables, Policy and Change on the Bottom. Created by Katy Stenta on Canva, free to use with credit.
If you want to support my work as a Public Theologian please do so here
Receipt Available upon request
Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail, Cash App $bookkats GoFundMe, if you wish to send a check please email me for info
As my Graduation approaches on May 31st 2024, I wanted to thank you again for your support. Your generosity has not only allowed me to study, explore my theology and write my thesis “Let’s Yell at God” but also to write a number of Sermon Series, contextual Psalms and Prayers and Liturgies for people to reflect on, pray and share. It is my hope someday to publish if the way be clear (a phrase that means if the right pieces somehow come together and God helps along the way). However, I am aware that this was truly a community effort. The donations to my work have numbered over 300. The views of my work has been 100 a day and 30,000 a year. This is not the degree of just one person—but truly the work of Public Theology, as it will say in May.
I often think about how this theology is one in the legacy of Mr. Rogers, who’s alma mater I am attending. This is supposed to be about putting theology in the public sphere in new ways. Sometimes prayer writing seems ordinary and pedestrian, and others, it feels like the tool that needs to to spark what needs to happen, the way to give permission for people to wrestle with those things in their lives that just seem to be impossible.
As someone who is always talking—it’s just that sometimes that dialogue happens to be out loud, prayer has been a lovely outlet for me to continue process what it means to be
This thing we call
Human
Thank you for being part of the journey
And helping me to fund a degree that would not have happened without the community.
The Church is the body of Christ. Christ gives to the Church all the gifts necessary to be his body. The Church strives to demonstrate these gifts in its life as a community in the world (1 Cor. 12:27–28):
The Church is to be a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life.
The Church is to be a community of hope, rejoicing in the sure and certain knowledge that, in Christ, God is making a new creation. This new creation is a new beginning for human life and for all things. The Church lives in the present on the strength of that promised new creation.
***
Today the Board of Pensions released its plan to charge churches and pastors insurance according to the cost of plans.
Constitutionally, every installed pastor has to be covered by insurance, but not
retired pastors uninstalled pastors pastor’s spouses pastor’s children temporary pastors pastors between calls
so the plan charges $10,000-$20,000 more, unless you are a big steeple church, then you are excused from some of the costs–there is a still a cap on the maximum you have to pay (because it makes little difference, which is irking in so many ways).
Throughout the listening sessions, BOP exhorted pastors to trust their churches, but the reality is many churches cannot afford to pay more.
And many pastors can afford their call only because of the superior health coverage that is given them.
Many young pastors, especially women (the healthiest quotient) will walk.
I bet many more People of Color..
those who are already discriminated against will be moreso I attended most of the Town Halls, BOP argued both that discrimination is already happening, and that everything will be ok.
They said that few people will be affected, and that they cannot afford to care for the retirees, the spouses and the children.
But our pensions are fine (I must admit if I hear my so called pension, which I will probably never reach, is fine one more time, I might scream) since I first started ministry, when I could not afford food for my children, or the housing, when I was poverty stricken, and negotiating every cent I made, I was assured over and over again, but my pension is fine. Great, wonderful, what about Maslow’s principles of human needs?
Plus at the moment the retirement medical plan Humana is not accepted at either of our local hospitals, which is pretty ridiculous.
I will admit, as a pastor I cannot understand how we are not rallying for single-payer healthcare. I held so many congregants hands who have told me the health aid didn’t show up. Fielded the phone calls from couples who could not physically take care of one another but could not get in to a nursing home, talked to children who did not know what to do with parents, driven people to doctor’s appointments because they literally had no one else to do it.
How are we not on the frontlines of this?
For our congregations, our part times staffs, and ourselves?
When I assess the BOP, it feels like they are not doing their job often they admit that they will not do as directed by General Assembly–they do not follow the dictates of the Constitution to live in community even at the risk of themselves.
Even though it is our core belief.
When asked outright if they approached other denominations to team up more closely. (We already cooperate on some level with some denominations.)
They admitted they did not.
When asked if they pursued more creative Co-op options, one that might include congregants (which would take restructuring but would that not be amazing?) or even just to be more creative in our leveraging, one of which my best friend, who is a real estate agent found one and is participating in.
They said they did not.
The sum of their research suggested sharing pulpits–which is a good and sound suggestion; one we have been doing for hundreds of years as a denomination.
When one takes in the exorbitant salaries of the top BOP officials, who participate in our healthcare–capped of course–it calls into question, did they do their jobs?
When small scrappy churches are required to risk everything for Christ and figure out how to creatively survive every year, month and day.
When pastors sacrifice a lot to be in ministry, and yes have the privilege of good healthcare, in this admittedly white collar job.
I predict a lot of young ministers leave ministry as a result, a lot of people with families and children, particularly women (ironically this is the healthiest quotient in insurance: young, women).
Perhaps ministry is changing, perhaps healthcare will no longer be a part of the job, but if that is the case, then equity still needs to be a part of the discussion, because we are a community of Christ first. We are risking all of this because we believe in community, equity and love.
At least that is why I’m doing this church thing.
Maybe we all need to not be installed and start over; even though installation a (I believe) used first to describe pastors wayyy before it was used to describe stoves and video games
However, I think we need to keep working to make things more fair, not less.
I believe in E-1.0301 I am doing my best to live into it. To not accept that “this is the only way” to know that the Kin(g)dom calls us to imagine a better world, and then to live creatively into it.
I will not leave others behind along the way. I will continue to learn about equity, inclusion and love.
I am aware this is not all bad for everyone, however I still feel like there are better ways to do all of this. See also: Who is communicating all of these changes and bearing the brunt of this work in the church community (that feels like a whole different article).
PS the menu option is great, and progress and I like it.
Jesus I can’t see you I don’t know I’m in mourning
And Jesus scooped us under her wings And let us touch the wounds—know what it’s like to have to leave parts, family and self behind on offer to resurrect in visible and invisible ways
And God whispered once again that we are fiercely and wonderfully made
Until we could find ourselves again Blessed Trans Visibility Day May you be you full self And find places of sanctuary and belovedness in your life
*and for all those who say screw it You can’t see me It is not time Or it’s not about Jesus
Yessssss Because its your day to do it your way And it is beautiful to be seen And be called by your chosen name In the right context
The tears on my Face the Broken Butterfly Bowl Shattered reminding me Of all I missing
I ache, remembering
the Soup I ate from it at a Homeless-Dinner-Slash- Leadership-training
As I touch the pieces I can almost smell the countless Ashes I burned In it For Ash Weds Saying Write Everything You want to give to God On a Piece of Paper And I will Burn it for you
The Holy Spririt will Somehow transpose it To the ashes We will write in a shape of a Cross on your forehead
Tears Shattered Butterflies Silent Call Is as Close to a Good Friday Service I will get today
I pray as I put the pieces in the trash Jesus Remember Me When you Come Into Your Kingdom
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Jesus, we all love to eat I love to think of you taking the bread And sharing it in the traditional way– for it was probably a tear and share loaf (as bread was so often served, flat and ready) And then you proclaimed the most mundane of acts
Holy
Whenever you break bread together You proclaim my death until I return
Then you allow for fellowshipping and take the cup And share it again because Let’s face it Jesus We all need neon signs and emphasis And all the help we can get
And then you kneel At the feet of your disciples And signal
How you will return
I think of how discomforted the disciples are Again
They didn’t like it when Mary bathed your feet in perfume
A Woman Anointing you as King
And here you are Passing it all on
And the blessing is uncomfortable (there is a deep truth there)
As you wash between our toes You also tell us about your return Again
On your knees You show us
How
How every knee shall bow When you return
Of Course we will Because you, Jesus will return as you arrived Serving on your knees And we will finally get it
And kneel, to get next to you
Maybe Maundy Is not a Good Name Anyway
Maybe it should be Learning Thursday Feasting Thursday Anointing Thursday Kneeling Thursday Mystery of Communion Thursday Christ-is-not-that-Kind-of-King-Thursday
Teach us Jesus Where to find you How to hear you Quiet the voices that want to anoint you to other kingdoms Lead us into communion, help us to build at true sanctuary Give us the tools build real and meaningful ways to serve We pray, in the one who anointed us all with the bread, the cup, and a beautiful act loving care
Amen.
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Blessed Holy Trauma Week Where the spying on our friends Come out to haunt our Wednesdays We feel the reality That not all of our relationships are safe
Where the Table when we eat together might feel haunted by those who are missing the ones who have died Or the ones we are not speaking to (hopefully for just now, Lord hear our prayer) The echoes of lonesome pandemic times…
We remember that Jesus ate with Judas and are comforted (How do you do that God?)
And the washing of the feet feels too much But right
And some people are wedding Bibles to constitutions And we remember that Jesus said That he would temple down And that what he did was rip the curtain that was separating the so called “holy” people from the people into smithreens (Holy Spirit flip these tables)
Blessed Holy Trauma Week when your Youth Group Leader Dies of Breast cancer that she has been battling Basically since the day you met her She counseled, supported Got you the hall for your wedding Sponsored your call to ministry…
Blessed Holy Trauma Week When Friday is supposed to be Good But your car is in the shop and you can’t get to worship to cry at the cross And you think about how trauma lives in your bones
Is not Jesus our very Sibling, who died in the cross? Do we not say we die with him? How then do we not feel it?
And so you weep instead for the children in Gaza Gaza–where the word gauze, the cloth for healing was made And no hospital has any medicine for infection And children are dying from malnutrition
Blessed Holy Trauma Week where you have permission to be fully human weak pathetic Empathetic Sympathetic To melt on the floor and weep Because we are all only human And Jesus Christ knows it Crying utterly alone on the Cross
Does everything always happen on Holy Week? All the ministry colleagues ask?
Yes my soul answers
Blessed Holy Trauma Week Where we are blessed to be fully human Fully aware and to breathe in and breathe out in-between
God, An ancient bridge* Connecting the infrastructure of everything
crumpled
A boat that was huge lost control (investigation pending) And hit it
And six people who happened to be Immigrants who were hard workers with families seeking a better lives
they were fixing pothole
Instead they drowned
And I have been pondering
The metaphoric proportions Of a ship too big to stop out of control Heading the wrong direction
A bridge connecting everyone Needing repairs
the working people stuck in the cold dark at 1am almost nameless voiceless faceless
The insufficiency of the boat bridge repairs to meet the infrastructure needs anyway
and God I’m a bit flabbergasted
Thankful for the 1am Mayday call the quick response The fact it wasn’t Midday Midnight, Mayday, not Midday
And Yet I am prayerful Over
the Symbolism as the Newsreel soldiers on
God there seems to be more and I think of simple messages that we have for one another When we listen
God be with the families of the lost God be with our midnight workers, immigrant and here for generations God be with our infrastructure God be with our emergency workers God be with us we pray
Amen.
*According to my youngest son anything from my time or before is “ancient times”
Feel Free to use/adapt/Share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
katyandtheword 