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Lord forgive me
For entering
Into the
Advent/Christmas Debate

((I admit it I talked about advent vs Christmas hymns))

I was tired
And forgot that such opinions
Stir up much debate & advice
When really
I was just sharing things
In my context.

But I said they were true—. because they are for me

However really I trust
That everyone
Is doing their best
for their own circumstances

And that we are all waiting—or not For Christmas, and that somehow

Christ will arrive exactly on time,

No matter what songs we sing or when we decorate the tree

Because that’s the Christmas miracle—and I’m so thankful for that

As I admittedly pray this Advent prayer.
(Sometimes even before Thanksgiving).

Amen

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

I have the post over at Revgals this week so I focused on on Jesus’s grief and how we humans handle grief and how that might eat on our prolonged pandemic https://revgalblogpals.org/2021/11/01/rcl-all-saints-sunday-jesus-wept/?fbclid=IwAR1DdrhWunqYyuDGgxF_3kF_CRwEmOUeV8_PSxLLmpa3oFwnUE5opwS1pWw

God, this is a prayer

For the pieces of my brain

That don’t fit

Or make sense to me right now.

You know, God, that I do not like to be confused.

And I hate when my body does things without telling me.

I feel tattered, and frayed around the edges

And my thoughts are frayed bits of something, that I still can’t catch ahold of—

In truth my thoughts still want to fly apart

And so I’m scattering a prayer, like seeds

To grow into something,

Can you please tend it?

In the in-between?

And I will try not to worry, about what is lining up, and what isn’t,

And instead just trust,

That scattered prayers are ok today.

Take them off my hearts, and hold them in the palm of your hand

And remind me

That every scattering helps and counts

Take each scattered prayer, I pray.

Amen.

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

Pandemic Prayers & Resources

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing! 

God, I’ve been thinking fiercely today,

about how you keep trying to convince us that there is no such thing

as trickle down grace.

You formed Adam and Eve out of your own breath,

Sharing the Holy Spirit of inspiration with us.

As Abram and Sarai wondered as immigrants

As God showed us, in no uncertain terms,

that the sacrifice of children, will never ever

be a demand of our God.

And gave us Jacob, the literal heel to show,

that no blessing needs to be tricked from God,

As the Hebrews in the desert were shown that God’s Providence

would be enough, and there was no need for greed.

God, you never were one to give your peoples scraps of grace.

God, I think we humans worry, about being stuck with only the scraps.

We worry that there isn’t enough grace to go around.

But when I have a need, the prayers flow in like water.

When I cry out, and my tears overwhelm me, I feel your voice crying with mine, indinguishable.

Because you have never been a trickle down God! You never just give us dribs and drabs!

You are an abundant, grace overflowing, there is always room for one more at the table God.

This means your grace is messy! It spills in uncontrollable fantastic ways! splashing upon unsuspecting bystanders, leaving a track that one can clearly see after that face.

Mighty God, how I love you messy and uncontrollable grace.

Thank you, for being the kind of God I want to worship. Thank you for splashing your grace everywhere. Help me to be a part of the splashing I pray.

Amen.

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

More Narrative Lectionary Year 4