Feel free to use/share/adapt with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Category: Uncategorized
Sacred Spaces
A Sacred Space
Does not mean pews or Prayer
It means safety
for one to be their full self
A Sanctuary, does not mean a Pastor
or a Sign that says “Everyone’s Welcome”
It is a place where the food is abundant
and the boundaries keep people safe
Church is not a building
Its the Community that its neighbors
God is not an authority or a shamemaster
They are a home to safely come to, at the end of the long journey
Safety is not straight heteronormativity ableism in middleclass suburbs
Its the freedom for everyone to dance in their club
in their beautiful and fierce incarnation
without being shot, or being hassled on the way home, or the cops being called
Sacred Spaces
Means a Space for everyone to be Sacred, no more, no less.
If there is one things all humans need–
its real and salient sacred spaces
Selah
Don’t break humans
Selah,
Don’t break the Sacred Spaces
Unfreezing Xmas
by Katy Stenta, feel free to Email me at Katyandtheword at gmail for a doc version
Feel free to Adapt (Really Adapt I know how these things are)/Use with credit to Katy Stenta
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
An Easy Narnia Based Pageant
Unfreezing Christmas Pageant
Costume Suggestions: Ears & Hat for Mr. Tumnus, Red & Green for everyone else, Need: a table/picnic setup for scene 1, a Stuffed Lion for “Aslan” to Carry, need a manger and Babydoll for the end
Characters: Mr Tumnus, Lucy, End Narrators, Party Attendees, Two Friends, Mary (non-speaking)
Mr Tumnus: Here in Narnia we are having a hard time. It is always winter; Always winter and never Christmas. I am excited though, because I have invited my new friend Lucy from the Land of Spare Oom over to Tea—and the Queen has Not found out about our friendship. For some reason the Queen hates humans. Oh look here she comes now! (Can be read from a lectern)
(Lucy enters from the back and Mr Tumnus runs to escort her)
Scene 1
Mr. Tumnus and Lucy walk to the front: A bunch of people come and sit frozen)
Lucy: Oh no look, what happened?
Mr. Tumnus: They must have been celebrating without the Queen’s permission and she turned them into stone.
Aslan (Someone holding a Stuffed Lion walks on stage): Roar
Mr Tumnus & Lucy: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
(Aslan exits)
Lead Partygoer: Aslan Unfroze us! It must be Christmas!
(The Party Starts with pantomimed eating and celebration, Christmas Music Starts) (I’d have the littles lay down til they hear the roar)
Partygoer 1: I love the food
Partygoer 2: I can’t believe its Christmas
Partygoer 3: I can see presents even
Partygoer 4: I saw a lion!
Partygoer 5: No I saw a Lion!
Mr Tumnus: Oh my gifts and packages! That must have been Aslan! Unfreezing their hearts for Christmas!
Lucy: Merry Christmas
PartyGoers: Merry Christmas
Mr. Tumnus: Let’s Go!
Scene 2
(Two People frozen back to back)
Mr Tumnus: Oh dear I do not like the look of this, this does not look of this, we must be following the Queen’s winter.
(Lucy sits next to the two)
Aslan—can be a different person playing Aslan—roars and unfreezing them
Mr Tumnus & Lucy: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
1st Friend—I’ve been looking for you everywhere
2nd Friend-I’m so glad I’ve found you
(the two people hug)
Scene 3
Girl Holding a Babydoll by a manger Frozen
(Other people can be other characters in a manger scene as is appropriate/easy or not or can come on to sing)
Lucy: I remember this story
Mr. Tumnus: Yes the White Witch really is preventing Christmas now, by freezing this one.
Aslan (again can be the same person or someone different) roars to unfreeze the girl)
Mr Tumnus & Lucy: Aslan Unfreezes Christmas
Girl puts the babydoll into the manger
Everyone comes onstage: to sing (with the congregation if you choose)
Reader to close: Aslan has truly unfrozen Christmas, Look! For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders—and he is named, wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Aslan: Roars One last Time
Silent Night or Away in the Manger
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
Let’s Write Liturgy
Register for a Writing Workshop
Do you want to learn how to write prayers and liturgy? Psalms and Calls to Worship? Confessions and Personal Prayers? This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide.
Sunday November 20th 4pm-6pm (Eastern) $40
Thursday Dec 1st 12pm-2pm
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, 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.
Limited to 10 spots
A Prayer for Twitter
Quick Taking
Justice Making
Boundary-Breaking
Twitter
A Prayer for the Communities
Built across the Alphabet
Semi-Anonymous Honesty
A Prayer for the Screw Around
And Finding Out
The Trying to be Cultural relevant
And yet still Yourself
Here’s a Prayer for Doom Scrolling
Joy Seeking
& Screaming into the Void
That is Twitter
Here’s a Prayer for all Trolls on
Twitter, Because I’m supposed to Prayer for my enemies
May your teeth ache, and May those who hate humanity
and those who harm children never sleep through the night
Here’s a Prayer for Twitter
Pure Humanity: Bringing the Best and Worst of Humanity
Rambling Dictator, Hating Nazi
Compassionate Crowdfunding, Diverse Perspectives, Unknown Depths of Learning
Here’s a Prayer for Twitter
Here’s a Prayer for Humans
May we take the good and leave the bad
And may capitalism and millionaires
Princes and powers and principalities perish
and love and compassion and food and medicine and housing
and creativity and arts endure forever
Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Election Day Prayer
Do not put your trust in Princes
God says
-Vote
Care for the widows and the Least of these-
Lord Hear our Prayer
as I walk towards the booth, wary of those who are in line with me
Care for the Stranger and Immigrant, for you may care for Angels Unawares
echoes in my brain, as I trace the bubbles with smudgy pen
Woman, I hear you, I picture Jesus saying
as I see the name of the candidates who disregard
the healthcare of pregnant people and victims of abuse
Put not your trust in any human power–but my hope is in the Lord
who gives justice to those that suffer wrong
and bread to all those who hungers
God keeps promises better than any human
or politician.
This is why good administration is ministry
This is why voting and crying is ministry
This is why we do our best to care.
This is what I carry to the ballot box
That God will open the eyes that need to be opened
and lift up those who are bowed down
and free those who are bound–
Turn the wicked UpsideDown God.
I’ll help where I can.
And watch you work miracles.
Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Justice, Mercy & Light Extended Advent
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
If you need a doc version of these resources-please email and I will get it to you as much as I have completed* (I have medical leave so things may slow a bit)
Advent Readings Calendar: If you have Canva
Advent Readings Calendar: Pdf Link
Expanded Advent Daily Suggested Reading Calendar by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl (expanded for full story) with Hymn Suggestions Goettl https://bjhlog.wordpress.com/2022/11/27/daily-readings-for-advent-and-songs-through-january-7/?fbclid=IwAR2xFTVltIRayRlsOSy1QI0Z7E6QG5j9ZzH3r1oA4e8hiwuslBZJUGIlWJY
Unfreezing Christmas: A Narnia Christmas Pageant (Easy)
Unfreezing Christmas: No Rehearsal/Pickup Version Narnia
God the Weaver to Away in the Manger
Magnify the Lord, To O Come All Ye Faithful
Blue Christmas Worship Including Suggested Comfort Candle (also see: Advent Prayer)
Justice, Mercy & Light Extended Advent
Advent Unleashed: https://katyandtheword.com/2022/11/28/advent-unleashed/
November 20th Christ the King Sunday/Swords into Plowshares
Let’s Write Liturgy Workshop
We have still have room in my first liturgy workshop if you want to join
This will be an instructional, small group (limit 10) and experiential workshop.
Do you want to learn how to write prayers and liturgy? Psalms and Calls to Worship? Confessions and Personal Prayers? This Zoom Workshop is designed for all levels and experiences for people to engage in prayer writing–using the scripture as your guide.
Sunday November 20th 4pm-6pm (Eastern) $40
Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator
For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy”
I plan to hold more in the future–but I am taking the rare opportunity as I come off leave to hold a Sunday Session
Katy Stenta is a regular contributor to Sermonsuite, 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.
Little/Big Things Prayer
Lord God, Almighty in Heaven
When 2 people dying
becomes blip
on the news…
When Anti-Semitism
needs to become
A Roar of despair
for a major
German distributer
to drop a name
When this flood gets
lost with the last one
And the fires
And tornados
weary your soul
I want say
God,
Come get
Your Humans
And I worry about
the next political arguments
I will have
About gender, sexuality
and disabilities–
Because they are not political
but about people
I admit to deep weariness
with this thing
we call
you call
Humanity
God
But then
I find rest and restoration
In
Children’s laughter
Red Autumn leaves against cloudy skies
unexpected time for naps
the right to complain to you God
the taste of chocolate upon my tongue
cats who snuggle
a text from a friend
It is amazing how the smallest things
Can be the most important–
I fully admit, you designed thing well
We humans would have focused
on only the big things
But a moment to notice the good things
the space to rewatch a favorite show
a hug
a cup of coffee
playing our favorite song on the loudest volume
How did you know that we would need these things?
Thank you God–for all the little things–
Keep sending them please.
Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Be
Yes
Yes
I am doing the hard work of resting
Sleeping
Trying to let my body heal
Ok God
I’m trying
But I have some words
About resting without the surgery I need
Trying so hard
Not to do
Or think
Just to be
God why is it hard
Just to be
Be Still
And know that
I am God
Easy for You to Say God
Even Jesus
Ran away
To Mountains and Hills
To Lakes and Boats
Even Jesus took naps
And meals with Friends
Even Jesus said: Enough Today is a holiday
and turned everything off
How are you?
everyone is asking
Tired, I answer
What a wealth of meaning
a word can have
I sleep,
and sleep
And try not to do things
And sleep
God, you know its been ten months
Of just living, so when the doctor said how are you doing things?
I said, I just am.
I cannot tell if I am sick
Or I am weary
Come to me
all
All who are heavy
Burdened
Your Promise
Is Rest
But here I am, trying to be
Be still, you whisper, take the time.
So I’m trying, not to try
Why is it so hard?
“Its ok” the Holy Spirit whispers
As I lay down again
Its ok…
I’ll rest in the difficult and restlessness
Amen.
If you enjoy my work please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/554d36e3
katyandtheword 