katyandtheword

Lent 2024, Narrative Lectionary, Year 2

Themes:
Disciples want to get close to Jesus, Jesus continually points the disciples to look outward
Kneeling with Christ :When Jesus Comes Every Knee will bow,
Because Christ will return as he came, Kneeling to Serve
And we will Kneel to be Beside him
The Promise of a New Kin-dom
A World Beyond Capitalism, Breaking Capitalism

Feel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting
Suggested Donation for entire Liturgy $75
(you can 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.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe, if you wish to send a check please contact me for info

February 14th
Ash Weds
Mark 9:30-37 Last, First, like a Child
Psalm 32:1-5

February 18th , Lent 1
Mark 10:17-31 Rich Man sell all
Psalm 19:7-10

March 3rd, Lent 3
Mark 12:1-12 [13-17] Wicked Tenants, Pay Caesar (Sacrifice)
Psalm 86:8-13

March 10th, Lent 4
Mark 12:28-44 Great Commandment, Poor Widow
Psalm 89:1-4

March 17th, Lent 5
Mark 13: 1-8, 24-37 End of age, Watch
Psalm 102:12-17

March 24th, Lent 6
Mark 11:1-11 Triumphal Entry
Mark 14:3-9 woman anoints Jesus
Psalm 118:25-29

Holy Week Book
Jesus, The Word by Mark Fracisco Bozzuti-Jones Image from here

Jesus, The Word book cover, rainbow Jesus with open hand by by Mark Fracisco Bozzuti-Jones

Also What is God Like
YouTube reading

What is God Like Book
Black kid riding a Narwhale Across the Universe

by Rachel Held Evans

March 28 Maundy Thurs
Mark 14:22-42 Words of Institution, Peter’s Denial foretold, Gethsemane Prayer
Psalm 116:12-19

March 29th Good Fri
Mark 15:16-39 Mocking, Forsaken
Psalm 22:1-2, 14-21

March 31st Resurrection
Mark 16:1-8 Empty tomb, Fleeing
Psalm 118:21-27

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe
if you wish to send a check please contact me for info

Narrative Lectionary, Year 2, Lent 1

Mark 10:17-31 Rich Man sell all
Psalm 19:7-10

Kneeling with Christ
The Promise of a New Kin-dom
Breaking [A World Beyond] Capitalism

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword@gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Lent 1: Serving God, Journey & Change

Breath Prayer Option
Breathe in: Jesus I will serve you
Breathe out: Jesus I will follow you

Call to Worship
Jesus we are following you into Lent
Your laws are perfect, so we follow you
Jesus we long to love and serve like you
Here we are, starting the journey into Lent, Journey with us God
Come let us journey with God
Come, let us make space for this holy time together.

Call to Confession
Jesus calls us to follow him, because we are heavy burdened, let us lay down what we are carrying to God, so we might find rest

Prayer of Confession: God we know that what you have to offer is more desirable than God and sweeter than honey, but we confess that we are not ready to give up all of our possessions and follow you. We confess that we find the idea of changing everything, difficult. We confess that we are uncertain, sometimes, what following you even means sometimes. Forgive us when we are afraid, teach us how to serve beside you in ways that are life giving and hopeful we pray. In the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News: Jesus promises that he is preparing a way full of grace and mercy for us, so we can be assured of the good news, In Jesus Christ we are forgiven, Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Let us go forth proclaiming the good news, that faith is not about who is first or who has the most. It is not even about being perfect. For it is God who will teach us to serve, and we will carry that throughout the world. Amen.

Hymn Suggestions: They will Know We are Christians By Our Love, I Wonder as I Wander

Taize Option: Veni Sancte Spiritus

Children’s Activity: Play Simon Says, Stoplight, Duck Duck Goose depending on Ages, talk about how these games who wins “it” the person in control, how you lose, and then play them backwards, where the loser WINS

Children’s Book:The Goblin and the Empty Chair https://www.amazon.com/Goblin-Empty-Chair-Mem-Fox/dp/1416985859 Talk about about how the disciples fought over where to sit as opposed to the empty chair where welcome was made for the Goblin

Entire Liturgy

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@gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

A circular wooden table with wooden chairs, above is the Holy Spirit dove with a circle of arrows pointing everywhere

Ash Weds, Giving your Heart to God, a very brief reflection, Narrative Lectionary

Image from here and here

Entire Liturgy

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Ash Weds/Maundy Thurs Prayer

(Invitation to write something you want to give to on a valentine/heart: a hope or a burden. This can be written in the order of worship, and dropped in at the end)

Let us gather together in the name of God,
Happy are those who confess themselves to God
When we keep silent, our bodies feel heavy, we can feel them growing
We grown all day long, everything feels heavy upon me, but the weight of it all can be taken by God
How beautiful is it, that God knows us and loves us? We are the children of God.
Come let us gather close to God.

Read:
Mark 9:30-37

How wonderful is it to know that there is no competition for Jesus. We will all be fed by him. Let us approach God with the wonder and questions of children.
Come let us celebrate the feast of our Lord Jesus and

(Celebrate communion together in your tradition)

As we have all been fed and brought to God with one another, now we can remember that we belong to God in life and in death. We can give our heart to God, and accept the truth, that we are ashes, and to ashes we shall return.

(Imposition of ashes, bringing of hearts valentines or end of service with the passing of the plates)

Postlude

Entire Liturgy

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword@gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail.com, Cash App $bookkats
GoFundMe

Let’s Write Liturgy

If you want an experiential, small group writing experience, here it is

Let’s Write Liturgy Workshop

Now Offered at Two Times, in the Eastern Time Zone

please email with your preferred date

Cost is $50

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.

Led by Katy Stenta, Pastor, Writer and Educator

Who is ready for the next Liturgy Workshop?

Come and let’s have a writing experience together!

For more information to sign up, email Katyandtheword at gmail.com. Titled “Liturgy” indicate which date you want

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 all but dissertation for her Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also writes personal prayers regularly at katyandtheword.com.

Star Words, a Podcast

It was a delight to be invited to Holy Shenanigans Podcast! Artist and Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman invited me over to her podcast and we had an amazing conversation, do pop over and listen to this relaxing way to enter the new year.

What are “Star Words” anyway? Welcome to a brand new year of sacred (non-stuffy) Holy Shenanigans! This season is exciting, with opportunities for fresh starts, but can be a time of overwhelming pressure to persue perfection. Well meaning resolutions can go sideways – fueled by sales efforts of the “wellness industry” in service to capitalism.

There is another way to engage in new beginnings in ways that feed our hearts, minds and souls. 2024 can be a time to attend to and offer yourself spiritual practices that are supportive, compassionate AND sane! https://holyshenanigans.buzzsprout.com/…/14267535-star…#starwords#holyshenaniganspodcast

Join Rev. Tara Eastman, as she shares the spiritual practice of choosing an annual “Star Word” and gentle options for spiritual renewal with special guest, author: Rev. Katy Stenta.

Katy Stenta is a PCUSA pastor, writer, workshop leader and community builder. She is currently vice moderator for Albany Presbytery, regular contributor to Sermonsuite and leads workshops on writing, particularly prayer and liturgy. Her conversational prayers and psalms are used by people and churches all over the world from KatyandtheWord.com and she is all but dissertation from completing her Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing as a public theologian at Mr Roger’ alma mater Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Dissertation/Book/Doctorate Update

In 1 month, I will need to have finished drafting the big one, a 25 page paper theologizing (really rationalizing in a theological way) my poetry. Here is a pic of the authors I am using ((3 are accurate))–though I will prob use a smaller work by Moltmann. I am currently at a coffee shop sitting down to try to get it together. Pray for me, and all of my classmates. We are not all graduating this year, but there are still THIRTY FIVE of us in the program. The exact same number that started. We have all stuck, and I believe in my soul that we are ALL going to graduate. So send us all your good spells, wishes and prayers please. As for me, I am REALLY trying to finish this year. Thank you for all of your support. Every donation from $5 to $500 has helped me to be able to WRITE, and to SHARE my writings! As you can see I’ve Almost completely fundraised through this final year! Can you believe it??? When I started I could not imagine asking for help for 3 years, much less receiving it. I have been overwhelmed!!! Thank you so much! I believe in my class, our work, and even me! https://gofund.me/6e3e45b9

Magi, the Magical Wisdom

Magi
because
Venturing out
is Magic

Wisdom
is magic
Taking a leap of Faith
is also magic

Packing up for the Journey
Being willing to be Lost
Asking for help
and directions

Glorifying others
Going to an unknown land
Honoring a child
Listening to a woman
a mother
not having to be informed by an angel

Completing the journey
and going home
to tell to the story

Putting all the pieces together
to have a realization
of how this is going to effect
and change your own
life

having an epiphany
is what being a Magi
experiencing the magic
of Christmas
Is all about

May you follow that
Star of Faith
all year

Picture from the well beloved Wandering Wisemen Picture Ministry which is having its final year this year found https://www.facebook.com/thewanderingwisemen

(Epiphany Star Generator Link: https://perchance.org/starwords2022)

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

My Poem about rejecting my Star Word: https://open.substack.com/pub/katystenta/p/p-e-f-e-c-t?r=1qkzy4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true

Let’s Write Liturgy Workshop: https://open.substack.com/pub/katystenta/p/lets-write-liturgy-workshop?r=1qkzy4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
Cost $50

Epiphany

Epiphany is about
inclusion

and Peace

Epiphany is stronger
Than insurrection

That was the point
Herods

So be frightened

Our path will continue to be
A different way
Lit by the Star of Peace

Your sneakiness and violent ways
Are no match for Our God
Thank Sweet Baby Jesus

Amen

Epiphany is stronger
Than insurrection

That was the point
Herods

So be frightened

Our path will continue to be
A different way
Lit by the Star of Peace

Your sneakiness and violent ways
Are no match for Our God
Thank Sweet Baby Jesus
Amen

Heartbreak, re: Iowa

God,
My. heart broke a little bit more
for the children in Iowa
fresh off their winter break
shattered by a gunman
who thought violence was the only answer

I thought it might be too numb
after a pandemic
after the attack/war in Ukraine
after the horrific genocide in Gaza*

After a kidnapping one campsite over
from where my same aged child
was at Boy Scout camp

after letting go of my church job
after a job let go of me
after numerous other shootings

I wondered if grief would start to taste
bitter
like too old coffee
or chocolate
on my tongue

But the salt of my tears
are refreshing
as they drip upon my arm
in an impossible angle
…………..
…………..
And the though comes
unbidden
that maybe
…………..

…………..
maybe
this time
there will be enough of us
tired of
violence
to be heard

as I weep
for the violence of the world
I think of Miriam,
mother of Moses
and the amazing midwives
who protected babies of another people
of the Wise Magi–crafty enough
to avoid Herod,
during the season of epiphany

I think about,
the bravery
of being vulnerable

and here I am…………..

waiting …………..

…………..

for our hearts

to break…………..

…………..

enough…………….

…………..

to change…………..

…………..

*Please note, my heart is also breaking for Israel, and the horrors done by Hamas and the way it rationalizes antisemitism and apocalyptic evangelism everywhere, this conflict is terrible, and it is really hard to talk bout the complexity of what is going on here. However, the US seems to be complicit in the particular aspect I am naming.

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

Body Prayer

Opening Ourselves to the Work of God, A Prayer by Pastor Katy Stenta KatyandtheWord.com

(Please stand if you are able, if not you can do this prayer seated))

God thank you for bringing us here (Hands to heart)

Holy Spirit extend your presence across this space to our companions (stretch your hands in front of you as far as you can)

Jesus, spread your love and care that we are practicing here, to all of our neighbors and across the world (Open hands wide in an open armed gesture)

Bless us please, remind us that we are connected to all those saints who have come before us (Stretch your hands up as high as you can)

And help us to extend our work so that it touch those who come after us (Reach down as low as your can, then return upright)

Stretch us (Lean one direction)

Mold us (Lean the other direction()

And help us to become our true baptized selves in Jesus Christ (return to center)

In Jesus Christ we pray (Return hands to heart)

Amen

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

(Used in Sacredcalls.com Leadership Training Materials)