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God of all things

You are the God of all people
Too many to mention
When I try to list all the kinds of people you are God of
I get caught up
In who and what you are the God of
And yet, it helps,
I find
To start to name
How you are God
to people who are struggling right now
And so I lift your name in praise today

You of the God of Weather Predictors
The God who keeps humanity humble because we cannot
even tell you if it will rain tomorrow–but you help us to develop
the science for national disasters, and to be overprepared–and then to complain when the disasters never hit as hard as predicted. You paint the sky in rainbows, reminding us that you love us, and never want us to be hurt by disasters. You remind us that you are the God of love and peace–and remind us too to hang our weapons us as well.

You are the God of Immigrants
Calling your people to get up and journey, so many times
And to never forget that we are all immigrants at some point in our lives: emotional, spiritual, mental, physical, and so we are are never to mistreat immigrants. If only, God, if only we would remember your words and treat immigrants with love and respect, because you make crystal that you are the God of immigrants. The God of those displaced: by violence, by climate change and those who simply had to leave because they felt it in their hearts. Whatever the reason, you know that immigration is an important part of human existence.

You God of tireless Data recorders. You call yourself the Keeper, the God who keeps track, the Great Mathematician. You know every hair on our head, every grain of sand, every star in the sky–so God you know
Thank God, you know….
The unseen and unknown Piles of Paperwork
The God of Government workers who do mysterious things that we don’t even know–you are the God of tax collectors–every single person I know who has had to work with the IRS is relieved how nice they are. You are also, the blessed God of grant filers and grant fulfillers. The God who knows that it takes a special kind of spirit to keep the lights on in any kind of place that serves.

You are the God of the arts, the God that knows that we need creativity, theater, museums, reading. The God who understands that we are herd animals who need places to gather and just be. A God who wants us to just wonder at life. You give us the power to name all things, so that we too can pursue the arts and be creative as we find all ways to “name” and create new ways to understand the world. You are the God of creativity.

The God of Education and those who need to be Educated
The God of Teachers who somehow make it to the end of the year–and all the children, teenagers and adults who are juggling everything who make it too. You are up with the janitors and bus drivers in the morning, and hold the hands of those studying and grading into the night. You accompany us in Psalms, reminding us that you are with us from the wee hours to the earliest dawn of the days.

You are the God of the disabled, For you understand what it means to be fully human, but different. To come into resurrection scarred and not whole. The Resurrected Jesus came with Holes in his arms and his side–because all of us who live long enough will not be fully abled anymore. It is a part of being human, and that does not stop God from being our God. God does not bless those who are able bodied. God loves us exactly as we are.
God loves all of us, the young, the elderly, the healthy, the frail
The doctors, the nurses, the caretaking, the hospice workers, the sick.
You are the God of all. God help us to understand that we are not valued by what we do, or how much work we produce, but instead you walk with those on the journey of care–breathing in and out as they make whatever journey they make in these handcrafted, beautiful and imperfect human bodies of ours.

God, I could go on and on about who you are the God of…

You are the God of the Veterans, who deserve love and care every step of their live, not just when they have served their country: for you have said “Feed my Sheep.”

You are the God of the LGBTQIA community, for you have said “Love one another” and there is no asterisk on that command, and you give us to one another as family, and teach us to love and care for each other from the baptizing of the Ethiopian Eunuch to the understanding that in Jesus Christ “There is no male nor female, no Greek nor Hebrew no slave nor free.”

God you are the God of all of those who are being
pushed away
forgotten
stifled
ignored

And yet

That does not stop the reality
You see all people
value them
Call them into being
Value the fullness of who they are
You love them
Because of who they are

God of all people
Help us to remember that
When others try to
Grind our identities into nothing

Remind us
of our belatedness in God
we pray
Amen.

Celebrating Baptism

God
somedays
Preaching the Word
of God

Looks
like a Party
at the Met Gala

Where the
Queer
Black Excellence
is on display

And whisper
Screams

to Peter
the Rock
the Founder
of the Church

We are
here

We have always
Been
Here

Like
Chariot
Riding

Entrusted
Officials
Of the
Queen

Therefore

The question
almost does
Not need to be
Asked

What
is to
prevent
Us?

From
Being
A part of the
Kin(g)dom
Of God

Ha!

Article about Black Dandy-ism and the exhibits in the museum and how the fashion reflects history https://substack.com/home/post/p-162963513

May be an image of 2 people, overcoat and suit

Pics from Facebook AFROPUNK

But Thomas

“But Thomas,” this phrase sticks with me. Poor Thomas was the exception, the one who missed it.

Maybe that makes sense though. It was Thomas who was the first one willing to risk going back to Judea, even tho they tried to stone him the last time he was there John 11: 7-16. No one wanted to return there, even tho Martha & Mary were begging Jesus to return and tend to their sick brother Lazarus. All the disciples wanted to avoid Judea from now on but Thomas, who was willing to die with Jesus, cannot believe he is alive.

And maybe its because Thomas was willing to die with him. Maybe Thomas was one of the clearest-sighted disciples about the danger they were in. Peter liked to talk big, Judas was mired in his own guilt, Mark was unaware of the big secret, but Thomas seemed to understand that death was real.

So all the disciples are gathered, why? To hide but Thomas was not locked in fear in the room, he was somewhere else. Clearly is not one of Thomas’ defining qualities. Perhaps we should refer to him as “Brave Thomas” instead of “Doubting Thomas.”

Then the disciples tell of what they say, they testify to the presence of Jesus. No doubt saying that his words were “Peace be with you” but Thomas cannot be at peace. Thomas needs to touch Jesus’ scars to believe its actually him.

All of the disciples have been breathed on the pneuma of the Holy Spirit, but Thomas.

Thomas is one of the most constant texts of the church year. Without fail, every year, we are reminded of the story of Doubting Thomas. RCL and Narrative Lectionary collide giving the same story over and over again. Reminding us of our doubt.

But Thomas is the person who isn’t in the church today, for whatever reason. Its the person who stands outside the group. Its the forgotten one, its the person who is homebound, or too busy, or too overwhelmed to come to the group. This person is the wandering sheep (I hesitate to say lost, because I’m not always convinced that Thomas was truly lost or just waiting in his own way).

But Thomas could be argued to be the beginning of church. All the disciples had gathered, but Thomas wasn’t there, but Thomas wasn’t forgotten or left out. The disciples tried to tell him, but Thomas hadn’t had access to the Holy Spirit yet.

Recall, Jesus learns from this encounter, that all humans need access to the Holy Spirit. It isn’t until after this encounter that Pentecost happens. There is not church yet, just the understanding that there should be.

“How very good and pleasant it is when we live in unity” proclaims Psalm 133, but right here, in this moment, the church does not yet exist. Its good to live together, but we need the Holy Spirit to be able to do it.

Even then, we have trouble sharing and living in common with one another as is described in Acts 4. But we can, when we do church well, everything is shared, and there is not one person left out. When we do it well, we include the person who was gone.

In John 20, we see the church in action. Thomas is not left behind. Its not a “too late you lose” game. First the disciples try to include him, and when that doesn’t work, God acts. Jesus comes and personally works on Thomas’s heart. Jesus comes so that Thomas can truly taste and see the gospel truth that Jesus is the Risen Christ.

I would argue, in fact, that the gathering with Thomas is actually the first “church” gathering in the Bible. Full of the Holy Spirit, and witnessing, and the direct presence of Jesus Christ, this fellowship shows in full what the work of the church is going to be. And Thomas shows us how important that welcome and work is going to be. 1 John 1 puts it in formal languague, about gathering together and working on faith and sin as a fellowship of people, but John 20 is the story on which this is all based.

Also I always like to note that Thomas did not actually had to touch Jesus to believe that he was real. Once Jesus is there, once Thomas feels the Holy Spirit, all questioning is over. My guess is John is too busy hugging Jesus to worry about such things. Jesus says “Hey remember you wanted to touch these” but Thomas is too busy rejoicing. That’s how I picture Thomas, not touching the scars, but hugging the Jesus who he loves. Sadly its not depicted this way (look for pictures of them hugging, I have yet to find one). But in my head, this image of Jesus and Thomas hugging is the church illustrated in human flesh.

Brave Thomas

Here we are, back to one of the most preached texts, ever. And Thomas is here again, poking at our assumptions and asking all of the questions. In my mind Thomas is not “Doubting Thomas” but “Brave Thomas.”

The first time Thomas speaks is in John 11, when Jesus’s close friend Lazarus has died. The disciples do not want to return to Judea, because the disciples knew the town wanted to stone Jesus there. Thomas says bravely not only should Jesus go but also, “Let us also go, that we may die with him. “

This is doubly brave of Thomas, if indeed Thomas’s title “Twin” comes from the fact that he looks like Jesus’s Twin. (We don’t know, if Thomas is actually a sibling of Jesus, or any other disciple or if he looks like Jesus, but it is interesting that he is called Twin throughout the narrative) If Thomas looks like Jesus, this means he is putting himself doubly in danger by promising to go to Judea with him.

And this carries even further implications, because Thomas was not locked in the room with the scared disciples, when Jesus appears. It is very clear that Thomas does not like to stand around and wait for things. But again, if he looks like Jesus and is walking around after Jesus is crucified, he should be the most frightened disciple of all. Even if he just looks like another of the disciples, it’s pretty dangerous for him to be out and about during this tenuous time. This clearly does not bother Brave Thomas who eschews hiding in a room–and misses Jesus’s first appearance.

Then Thomas asks for the same thing his friends, the other disciples got, a chance to see Jesus. And it is little wonder, that he says he wants to not only see Jesus and see him eat (to prove he is not a ghost), but really he wants to touch Jesus’s wounds. He wants to witness to the pain of his friend and teacher Jesus.

Brave Thomas, wanting to fully know how his teacher was wounded, before he believes he is alive. Jesus appears and says “Peace be with you” and invites Thomas to do what he wants “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” John 20:26-27 Thomas is not recorded having done any of that. He said he wanted to touch to believe, but apparently seeing was enough to believe. He goes into full confession mode and says “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28

Thomas is brave enough to face the consequences of following Jesus, more than once. And brave enough to admit he was mistaken about Jesus being dead and gone. And brave enough to declare his faith. So rests my case for calling Thomas, the twin, Brave Thomas.

Finally, an addendum. Jesus blesses those who believe without seeing, but note, John goes on to say Jesus performed many more wonders to get his disciples to believe. This line about believing without seeings seems to be a blessing to US the readers. For Jesus goes all out to convince his disciples so they might apostle and witness appropriately. The onus of believing without seeing lies on us, for “these are written so you might believe” John 20:31, which we can take as invitation to celebrate Easter all over again, as the disciples were able to.

Ash Weds: Life is Messy

Because
We are Here
In
This World
Right Now

Even
Maybe Especially when
It feels like
Everything is on fire

Deep breath in
Deep breath out

I am here
I am present

My body is worth
being present for

God wants me
to be present

So God bless this Mess
Ashes I began
Ashes I’ll return

Life is messy
Dirty
Full of ashes
fire
renewals

Grappling with Mortality
Tis hard

Grappling with reality
is Hard

But
it’s ok
to be
fully human
to cry

To sit
in the dirt
sometimes
and wonder
will anything grow?

God sits
with us too

Rub a little dirt in it
maybe
the reality
the visceral mundanity
of life

We are
only
blessedly
beautiful
Ashes
and to
Ashes
We will Return

Life is Messy
Amen

Feel free to share/adapt/use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

Prophecy?

Jesus Christ
Are you Here
Are you the One

John, the actual Baptist
who recognized
Jesus in womb asks

Because, in case you didn’t
notice Jesus

Things aren’t going so well
The world is on fire
And public funding
is being cut off
from the fire stations
And nobody has time
to volunteer anyway

And some people think
its because no one is praying enough

And yet
I see all the
art
songs
and
memes
And can’t help thinking
Don’t they count as prayers
God

And Jesus answers
I’m too busy
Healing
and Feeding
People

To come
to your
Prison
And answer

But
John
I will tell you one
Thing

You are right

No one on my side
Has the time
To be getting rich
And
sitting
on the
Sidelines
In Silk

Keep
Prophesying

Loving
And
Making art
And I’ll
Do
The Same

And we
will call that

Prayer?
Deal

Amen

Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta aka KatyandtheWord

Narrative Lectionary, Year 3 Luke Week 4

March 30
Lent 4
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
Psalm 41:1-3*
Verse 3: Lord sustains them in their sickbeds could be translated as God sustains them mutually in sickness or health

Lost Life? God reminds you what really matters
There is a theme of mutuality and community
As well as an interesting theme about weeping here: weeping wounds, weeping from sadness, etc.

Call to Worship
Blessed are those who consider the Poor
God protects
For God delivers them trouble
God sustains
God provide mutuality, in sickness or in health
God restores
Blessed be the Divine
From Everlasting to Everlasting, Blessed be God

Call to Worship
God we look to you in mourning
You love us
God of resurrection, You are rich beyond compare
You are the God of Love
You remind us to live in Love
May we greet one another in Love today

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we are a country that hoards things: goods, power, influence. We are not good at sharing. And you are honest with us, resurrection and life and the Good News are sometimes not enough for us to hear. We confess that we are afraid of losing things. Teach us to live into love, relationships and community and to embrace joy and good whenever we can, so that we do not miss the riches we have we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: Jesus we confess that we worry, we worry sometimes that we are the Rich Man, other times we worry that we are Lazarus with weeping wounds unable to help others. Help us when we are uncertain or scared of the outcomes, to remember that Christ is with us, doing the work of resurrection.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News Jesus came for us, loved us, taught us, died for us and is resurrected for us, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God your Good News calls us towards a Resurrection that is beyond riches. Teach us to hear and believe your Good News we pray. Amen.

Children: https://a.co/d/evgvo9h The Golden Goose Laughter and Joy over Money) Or the Selfish Giant The Kingdom of Heaven is sharing not Hoarding https://a.co/d/dJq9XqJ There are a million editions of both of these stories–and they could be told with figures too or cutouts as well

Narrative Lectionary, Year 3 Lent 3, Luke

March 23
Lent 3
Lost Sheep, Coin, Son
Luke 15:1-32
Psalm 119:167-176
Lost? God searches, and searches and finds you (Instead of You Finding God)

Call to Worship
God, you seek us
Even when we feel lost and alone
You not only find us, you celebrate
God, help us to find you
God wants us to find each other
Come let us find one another and celebrate with God

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 119:169-176(
God’s hand is ready to help
We long for God’s liberation
Let us live, so that we can praise God
When we have gone astray, seek us out God, for you are our shepherd
My lips will pour forth praise, and you will give me understanding of your Word
Come let us sing of God’s promises together.

Call to Worship
God we may lose you
But you will find us
God sometimes I feel all alone
God you are the shepherd, the widow who never stops searching
God, you are the father who throws pride aside and runs and runs to greet his child
Come let us be with a God who wants to spend time with us

Prayer of Confession: God, I confess that I find myself searching. Sometimes I am not sure if I’m the one who is lost, or if it is others. Then I realize, it doesn’t matter, for we all belong to God. You just want us to find one another and you. Whether we are the sheep, shepherd, widow, elder or younger child or the parent in the story this week; help us to find and rejoice with one another we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God promises that if we knock, the door will open, so we know whenever we ask, God will forgive, so let us proclaim the truth In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that the last minute stories of you finding and forgiving people make us uncomfortable. We are the people who are here on Sunday, worshipping, doing due diligence. Forgive us, teach us the unbridled joy of the Widow, Shepherd and Parent who rejoice, hug and dance when they find what they have been looking for we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News: Jesus Christ loves us and give us grace to learn and be found again and again, let us rejoice together saying: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: May we go into the world continuing to seek communion with one another and God in the world wherever we go we pray. Amen.

Children: Are You My Mother (Note how the mother is looking too) https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/are-you-my-mother-by-pd-eastman/253060/all-editions/?resultid=4b79a176-20d6-45a9-b71b-9761563b534f, Alternative Where’s Waldo book (any)

Are You My Mother? (Bright & Early Board Books(... 0679890475 Book Cover

NL324: Healing on the Sabbath Liturgy

Scripture Reading
Psalm 92
Luke 6:1-16

Call to Worship
Still Again, let us declare God’s steadfast Love, with songs, instruments and praise
For God makes our hearts glad by your work, by the works of God’s very hand, we sing for joy!
God’s works are great, and God’s thoughts are too deep to even know; destruction and nothingness have nothing to do with you
God of the Covenant, we will rest with you
Come, let us seek sanctuary and Sabbath with God
Come, let us rest with Jesus

Prayer of Confession: (All) God we admit that we long for wholeness, and healing and peace and all of that, but confess that we feel like it is something that we need to achieve instead of seek. Help us to find Sabbath, to sit and be with the Lord of the Sabbath with Pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the good news, Jesus is walking with us, teaching us and healing us, thus we know the good news: (All) In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

Offering/Dedication Prayer: God, may we use these and all our gifts for rest, healing and wholeness as we go into the world we pray. Amen.

Children’s Sermon: Remember that God rested on the 7th Day, so it is not surprising that Jesus wanted to honor resting/healing with the disciples even before he chose them/got to work with them

God of Empathy

Breathe in: God I am overwhelmed
Breathe out: God sit with me

God,
I confess that I have been cursed
with your Holy Spirit
I have your empathy in spades

Her whispers echo in my ear
I feel worry
for the children
for my trans* and nonbinary family
for all those who are black and brown

whose birth, citizenship and being
are being tossed about
and trying to be erased
like words on a page

Holy Spirit
How is it that the same Spirit
that comes and teaches us to witness
also encourages, inspires
and consoles?

God almighty
I confess
my breath catches when I
feel our relationships
with other nations
disintegrating
when I see signs of hate
shrugged off or joked about

Pneuma–
I confess, I need your help
to breathe in
to breathe out
because I confess that sometimes
remembering to breathe freely
is an act of rebellion

Jesus Christ
I remember all of your short actions
that were so disruptive
most of them were
listening
and calling people by their
chosen
name

Walk with me
walk with us
as we do the same
help us to
listen closely to one another
and to call one another by name

God of empathy
breath
listening
and Name

Be with us
in this time of Trial
I pray
Amen

Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”