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
May be an image of 2 people, overcoat and suit
May be an image of 6 people
May be an image of 2 people 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.

Cross Friday

Empires Crush
Occupiers Crucify
Oppressors Jail
Betrayal and Denial 
are in the air
It seems like
…Everywhere

And yet
Forgiveness is Spoken
without Apology

Criminals are Remembered
in Paradise 

Crosses are Carried
For a Mile
By Strangers

Women Follow
Beating Their Breast

Confessions Are Made
Of Christ
At even the Last Moment

And It is
Ok
That Friday
Isn’t Good
…
Yet

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

Maundy Thursday

Jesus Christ
I think about how
Bread is shared
the Crusty Full flat breads
That are more easily shared with
a quick tearing among friends for
Tapas

I think of how
Sharing is entrenched
In Christ’s ministry
of how Jesus spent
his last moments
Sharing food
and Prayer

The gentle
voices of how
to survive
this moment
come across
this very moment
and people say
Volunteer

Find a friend
a community
in Need

And I think
Of how
When You Return
Ever Knee
Shall Bow
Because
You will return
As you Left
Serving
On Your

Knees
Gardening
Washing Feet
Healing
Greeting Children
Praying
So we will all Kneel
To Serve
Beside you

The Mandate
Command–is not necessary
In stark contrast to law and order

The reign of Christ will come
through mercy
and Love

Love and mercy you
Say
and you will feed us
And we will
throw our doors
Open wide

Maybe it’s Agape Thursday
Or Hesed Thursday
But sure
Maundy Thursday
For Now
Holy Spirit
Come!

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

Thy Kin-Dom Come

I don’t want to live
in a world
Where we live out
imprisoning
and killing
immigrants
innocent
and guilty
side by side
Why they cry out
for water

I don’t want to live
in a world
where
the loneliness
of those in power
manifests
in intimidation
betrayal
and
empty promises

I don’t
want the Palm Sundays
of Protest
to End in the
Fridays
of Violence
where
we think

Sacrifice is
the only answer

I don’t
Want us
to Cry out
“my
God
MY GOD
why…

Why have
You abandoned
Me?”
Feeling the
Hell of
Divine
absence

I don’t
want to
live out
empty
Saturdays
Of Mourning
Where there
is absolutely
no right
word of
comfort to Say

But I do
Want
the resurrection
of community
Where
White people
Learn
Listening
and Community
And Solidarity
for Real this time

I do want the
Apostle-ship
Of the Women
To be
whispered

At Dawn
And for the
Empires
To topple
at the truth

And I do
want the
Church
To be
Alive
and well

Not in pews
Or choirs
But in

Shared Meals
and understandings
Beyond denominations
And accountability
Liberation
And Mission
in the Neighborhood and Beyond

I want to
meet Jesus
And God
in the gardens
And for
the Divine to remind us
That all the
Seeds that we are
Planting Count

(Even the ones that don’t bloom)
And that
God is tending
some to produce
Resurrection
Harvests
Beyond
All Imaginings

And I
Want to
Remember

That Chuffing
Off
the Offal
Is Ok
And that
Jesus
will Rise
Again

And he
Will Kneel
in the Garden
To Plant
And so
Of course

We will kneel
Next to him

In solidarity

And so
With
the Holy Spirit
Whispering
Encouragement
In My
Heart
I walk
Towards
a Kin-Dom
Now.

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

Walking the Holy Week Walk


God
I am
so angry
I could
Curse out
all the Fig
Trees
That are poisoning
The land

I am so
angry
I could
Flip
the tables
of all those
Who are
Tricking the
Public
with Slight of
Hand
Money
Changing
Pretend
“Money
Saving”
Tricks

God I am so
Angry
That there is
Not actually
A Cursing God
Tuesday

There is not
and actually
Justice Making
Monday

There is not
An
Actually
Action-Making
Stay up all Night
Until things Change
Sunday

We play through
The Emotions
of Holy Week
And all I end up
with is another
Statement
From my Denomination

Don’t get me wrong
I am a Writer
In Love with Words
Grounded in
The Good News
I love Verbal Processing
As much
as the Next Person

And I think
That Art
feeds the Soul
of Movements

But we have to figure
Out how To
Stop our
Senators from
Posting
Mealy Mouth
Social Media
Statements

And Move from
The Theater
To actually
Tearing Down
The things that
Don’t work

Before the
Fig Trees
Are Replanted
Before the Temple
was rebuilt
Before the Table
Was put back together

Things had to be
cursed out
Deconstructed
Torn Apart
Destroyed

There is no
resurrection
Without Death

How do we
Kill Racism
Nazism
Homophobia
Isolationism
Christian Fascism

So that we can finally

Figure out
Liberation
Equity
Justice
and Extravagant Grace

Lord,
Teach us
to be a Resurrection
People
we Pray

Amen

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

Psalm 41:1-3

God
We are calling down
Your protection

Because
I see the face
of terrified
College students
of Brown People with
Tattoos

Echoing
Those of
Separated
Families
at the border

I am still haunted
by a picture of
their jewelry
and crosses
piled like
Jewish
loot
during
the Holocaust

And the Fragile
Gaza
peace
has been broken

and so I pray
Protection
For the families

And for the Soldiers
in Yemen
And around the world

As OPSEC is said
but not Enacted

Though truly
My heart
Longs for Peace
I pray for a language
beyond bombs
and threats
and bullying

and even tariffs

Staunch Pacifist that I am

As the budget for food
and Veterans are cuts
but the Military remains
bloats
Military Industrial Complex
Indeed Lord, I cry

And God,
I cry out for all of those
with Cancer
longing for Treatment
whose funding was cut
The researchers
who have been sustained
I know that God
You work to sustain
All those with infirmities
I pray that you will work
To heal all infirmities

Open the ears and hearts
of those who need to
understand
Melt those with
hearts and brains of stone

Melt them
Reverse their Decisions
Transform things so Completely
That we do not even Recognize things

For God you know
When we pray for Health
We are praying for a healthy
World–
Not for just ourselves
But for me, my neighbor, my enemy
to all be transformed into
(almost unrecognizable) signs of mercy
Signs of the Kin(g)dom
And so I pray
For a Forgiveness of Debts
That I cannot comprehend

For Food for all people
In a Dailyness of Bread

For the coming of your Glory
Which of course will be in Mercy

And for
Your Kin(g)dom Come
Your Will Be done
Amen,
Amen.

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

Psalm 41:1-3

1 Happy are those who consider the poor;* (marginal/oppressed)
   the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.
2 The Lord protects(guards them/covenants with them) them and keeps them alive;(like a. shepherd guards a sheep, like a sacred duty, like a hedge of protection)
   they are called happy in the land. (It will be a gifting, a granting)
   You do not give them up to the will of their enemies.
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed; (a sustain, supporting, comforting, stability and continuity))
   in their illness you heal all their infirmities.* (Healed and transformed, reversed, turn over a new leaf) The grace and mercy of God will be through compassion.

Psalm 119, God’s Justice is Grace

God
I think of the blessings
Integral
Individuals
of Integrity 
Hearts
without Splintering
Uapologitically
Following God
of Empathy
and Love

The Walking
Working
Stay Awake
Disciples

Always
Looking
of the Prodigal
–Which means
the lost, marginal
not yet accounted for
Among us. One
Might say
Those
Who need to be
still included in
the covenant

The ones
God is calling
To their
imago
DEI*

Your Precepts
Are Alive
In them

Even when
So-called Princes
Techno-crats
Billinonaires 
“The Powerful”
Plot

My soul clings
To the Word of God
Which feeds me

Even when I confess to
Fading Away With
Being Broken By
The Sorrow of the World
I remember 
Your Word
God

Which Established
All
And

(Thank God
Almighty)

Existed
Before humanity

And our fights
Over politics
Governances
And even the concept of money

Then I meditate
On
The
Wondrous
Pieces Of
God

Teach me your ways God
Deep than
Human definitions
Divine
Love
Liberation
Tzadik**

If comforts me, Jesus
Especially when I am hot
with indignation from evil
–which is often these days
Because there is a lot
of stupid evil in the world

But you are my
Sweet inheritance
Please hurry
To put your Sweet
Holy Spirit Honey
tasting Good News
in My mouth

Tasting
the Path
Of the Precepts
That I eternally
Follow
I Pray


Piecing my
way
To a
Promised
Peace
That
Proclaims
Amen
From
Sunday
to Sunday

Amen
Amen

*DEI can also stand for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

*justice, equity, loving-kindness: covenantal care for others especially the marginal 

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

Peace and Sanctuary: Psalm 122

I admit
I was relieved
When someone said
Let’s go
to a sanctuary
Come
Let us God
And Seek God

For I need to rest
my weary
soles
soul
something
somewhere

And my house
is way too messy

And before I knew it
My soles
soul
were standing at your gates

And we were knocking on heavens door
And I realized

that God’s Kin-dom
is unlike any other

Binding together people
who I had never seen
or known

And my heart leapt
To my throat
and I wanted
to scream
cry
and lay down
and rest
and never get up again
For here is a place
where everyone
would come up
and be welcomed

There are no locks
in heaven

and as I put my hand
On your door
my soles
felt the ground
itself
welcome me
And gratitude
Spilled from my lips
Unbeckoned

And Judgement Came
And it sounded like this
“Peace will radiate from you,
It will be part and parcel
of your homes, your walls,
your cities

It is promised
Even in our messy
houses
cities
churches
governances
countries
and streets

And that peace
will hum from our throats
And we will sing
greet
and radiate to one another
“Peace be within you”

And so
We will go
And seek
Good and Sanctuary

For the sake
of this
needed
Sanctuary
That my soul
and the itchy
Soles of my feet
ache for
I will
keep seeking it

And catch moments
of respite, whenever I can


Because God knows
We need it.

Image

Iconic Black Lives Matter DC Mural Is ...

Tears roll down the face of Starlette Thomas, of Bowie, Md., as she holds a chunk of pavement from the Black Lives Matter mural, Monday, March 10, 2025, as the mural begins to be demolished in Washington. “I needed to be here to bear witness,” says Thomas, who was present at the 2020 George Floyd protests. “For me the Black Lives Matter sign etched in stone was a declaration of somebodyness and to watch it be undone in this way was very hurtful. To walk away with a piece of that, it means it’s not gone. It’s more than brick and mortar.” (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Image