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Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alt. Lyrics

Someone requested a not substitutionary atonement version of this hymn so I wrote some lyrics.

Jesus Christ is Risen today, Alleluia; Our Amazing holy day, Alleluia

Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia, Teach and Love and Heal our loss, Alleluia

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia; Unto Christ, our Heavenly Kin, Alleluia

Who washed and served us til the end, Alleluia; Teacher, Savior and our Friend, Alleluia

But no one does God disclude Alleluia; for Christ’s love was the prelude, Alleluia

Can you feel God’s love break through? Alleluia; It includes both me and you, Alleluia

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia, Praise eternal as God’s love Alleluia

Praise our God, ye heavenly host, Alleluia; Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Alleluia

Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

Why #holyweek? #drwho & #depression

Here is one of my favorites–why we do this Palm Sunday thing: Here is the Dr. Who clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drTN3rIIf74

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Why Palm Sunday? Why do Christians do this crazy Holy Week thing, where we parade Jesus one week fully knowing he will be betrayed and die.
 
Dr Who’s (possibly best) episode in the reboot is a visit to Vincent Van Gogh who struggles with depression. He and his companion Amelia visit, and spend time with this amazing man who could see beauty amidst the the terror. They return to the present and Amy is convinced he would have lived longer, not died by suicide, and made more paintings. Seemlingly, nothing changed. And yet, it counted, Dr. Who says that the way he sees it (and he has had to struggle with his own darkness and good days). Life is a pile of good things and a pile of bad things. The good things don’t fix the bad things, but the bad things don’t ruin the good things either.And Dr…

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Perfect: A Blessing

Perfect

Perfect like no mistakes?

or perfect like a feather—

bent all directions, bendy, soft and misshapen.

Or perfect like sand, where every grain is unique, 

and together sand is sand 

and apart sand is sand

and it’s still identifiable and beautiful either way. 

Perfect like light or like shadow, that moves and changes

according to its circumstances,

and becomes more or less strong, but is always present, 

and can have hard or soft edges

—Depending.

Perfect, Perfect like a curled feather 

shining against the sand 

in the light

with a shadow.

Yeah, that kind of perfect.

(I hope your those kinds of perfect)

feel free to share/adapt/use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

I wrote this in my Creative Writing Class, if you want to support my writing please give at https://gofund.me/70a114f9

Creative Writing as a Public Theologian Degree Update

I got a Satisfactory in my favorite (and super tough) C.S. Lewis theology class. I compared “The Magician’s Nephew” with “A Wind in the Door” and how they both deal with with how personal choices effect creation. I’m (trying to be) satisfied with a satisfactory grade as the professor is very brilliant.

Also that’s when I wrote this short Narnia sequel piece about Susan which I really am proud of: https://katyandtheword.com/tag/c-s-lewis/

I am still in the midst of taking my children’s literature class, which will wrap up in about 5 weeks. It is very fun and exhilarating to be reading and talking about kids books, which I still read to this day. Because, I am a kid at heart. I am still working on writing my own story—though as I hinted at in my last post breaking into children’s publishing is actually the hardest kind of publishing to break into, so I do not know if it’s actually a realistic project or more of a imaginative exercise. Anyway, it’s good to keep practicing writing.

If you find my work helpful please consider contributing to my degree by donating to my go fund me.

Teaching No More War, A Prayer

God,

Today I am thinking about how much

We humans have to devalue one another to go to war.

God, when I think of all of the lying that war involves.

Of all the hate and dehumanizing.

It chokes in my throat, and makes it hard for me to breathe.

Was this what it was like for the Hebrews,

walking in the desert,

homeless,

landless,

without water

immigrants.

Is this why you admonished them never to forget

that they were victims of war?

Is this why you promised them a land of milk and honey?

Does this symbolize a land where all people are valued as humans.

Does the promised land signify a place

where Terfs lies about trans individuals are muted

so we do not even hear their voices?

Is this a place where the bullying that

the right honorable judge,

and so many minorities had to stand by

and just take

Is not only unacceptable

but laughable.

If that is the Kingdom,

God–sign me up.

If that is peace,

I want to be there yesterday.

Teach us the ways of war no more, Lord.

Help us to pray for our enemies in such a way,

in such a way that we do NOT dehumanize one another.

Please teach us God.

we pray.

Amen.

Feel Free to Use/Adapt/Share with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

Image: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ea/31/cd/ea31cd3b48ced7e685e9a03d959cd68b.jpg

Peace Makers-A Prayer

Blessed are the peacemakers

The ones who craft safety and sanctuary,

so that parents can read to children in their own beds at home,

instead of hiding in bunkers.

Blessed are the peacemakers, who stand up to bullies

for they value lives over money–

Flipping tables along the way…

and life over the color of ones skin or religion

knowing that God does not say “only let the white Christian people in”

But instead says “It is your job, always, without fail, to care for refugees, for you were once a refugee people.”

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they do not hide from conflict

but face it, head on, and name the injustices, in voices clear and strong.

God bless the makers of peace–who reach into their pockets

and pull together whatever bits and pieces they have on them,

and commit to make peace with whatever they have on them at the moment.

They are never silent in oppression,

They ask the right questions like “What happened here?” and “Let the one without sin throw the first stone?”

they never worry about inconveniences or being uncomfortable,

but choose to act out of the giving of their very selves–to make peace.

God bless the peace makers,

The rainbow promise keepers, the food-givers, the stranger welcomers, the least of these carers. God bless them, for theirs is the Kingdom.

And while you’re at it, God, help us to pay attention, so we too may be makers of peace we pray.

Amen.

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

A Blessing for (Surviving) Today

Lent isn’t always about giving something up…sometimes it’s about walking through the desert, and surviving without giving into hate, or the voices in your head that tell you that you aren’t worth living.

Here’s a blessing for you.

Because you are still here,

And it’s been a year, of ::gestures inarticulately:: everything.

And we need all the blessings we can get.

So here’s a bless this mess.

A blessing on your head,

one that grants you good dreams,

and moments of respite,

and times to let go,

and moments to connect with your beloveds,

and reminders that your worth is not defined by your productivity

and that its ok not to be ok

and that this is not the new normal, nor should it be.

So all the blessings–

for being here,

and doing the things

and being you.

Keep at it! Take breaks,

Drink water, take care of yourself,

and be blessed,

For you are a beloved child of God.

No matter what.

God bless you, Child of God.

Today, Tomorrow, and Always.

Amen.

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