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”
Practice focusing on God practice community practice honesty exercise everyday–not because you will win any races But because walking together is the journey
And some days I too want to throw Jesus off the cliff Because it’s clear I still don’t get it
And then Jesus floats back and hugs me Because it never was about perfection in the first place
But the moments of beauty community laughter still count
Thank God for that
Amen
Feel free to use/share Adapt with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta aka KatyandtheWord
Prayers for those evacuating and for those for whom it feels impossible
Prayers for those whose homes, works and worship spaces are gone and those who are caught in the space of not knowing
Prayers for those who has ash rain on them from the sky Who think all the thoughts of thankfulness to Firefighters worry for those working in the emergency services Anger that we could not prevent this
Prayers for all of us who sit in the midst of a world on fire and think This isn’t fine actually It isn’t fine at all
As we reach out with communications money (hopefully not with unneeded clothing, etc. that clogs the system) shelter medical care emergency items and hope
So that we can put out this fire and prevent the next one
Prayers for California Prayers for all those whose lives have been changed May we all walk together So that all the fires may be put out Amen
Pic of Dog on Fire Meme using a fire hydrant to put it out—”It’s not fine, and you have a responsibility to act” (This meme would be more perfect if the dog had help, because I’m sure part of the point is that the dog felt alone in their work) Image found https://mastodon.sdf.org/@HunterZ/112714963002922245 and was credited to @spocko
Silent Night, Holy Night Womb of Love Creative Might Holy Darkness the Spirit indwells Giving Hope to the marginal Midwife of Harmony, Midwife of Harmony
Without community there is no liberation-Audre Lorde
NL and RCL covers Elijah going to the Widow of Sidon during the drought. She says “I don’t know why YOUR God sent you here, I have but one meal left for my son and I and then we will die.” She talks about the pain, loneliness and shame of having nothing. Elijah then asks–“Do you have a cup of water?” and she agrees (I like to think begrudgingly as a tough woman) that she does.
Over this established Table Fellowship and Hospitality Elijah offers pastoral care to a widow. I like to think that as she opens her heart to him, she feels seen and heard, and she realizes that the table fellowship was a moment of openness that was just the beginning of a beautiful friendship. He then says that if they establish a community, that she, her son and he will not run out of the oil, meal/flour (and one would think Elijah would then help to gather the wood to cook them).
Mutual aid works because people who have little share what they have and form strong bonds of community. Community is formed here hospitality, pastoral care, table fellowship and mutual aid, among foreigners of different races, religions, genders, and socio-economic statuses. Community is not just about leadership, but about what the people do to help one another along the way, in the times of trouble when the leadership was terrible Elijah and the widow formed community. This is the work, the hope and the blessing that is before us. 1 Kings 17:8-16
People often romanticize “being in community” without realizing community is formed and sustained through reciprocity—fulfilling mutual obligations to one another—and that this is sometimes inconvenient and often taxing! But your can’t receive support without offering it! by Baena@Silkyyy with thanks to decolonizing.love on Facebook for the images
Feel free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta, “KatyandtheWord”
Throughout all the many beautiful metaphors for the church from bride to Phyllis Tickle’s rummage sale
I thinking of the church as a teenager
When I say the church, I mean of course the amorphous cloud of saints, where it is hard to say who is in or who is out, but somehow contains the multitude of faith trying, practicing and sometimes even succeeding to follow the ways of Jesus Christ.
Here is the Church, thinking it knows how to be mature, and all grown up. Thinking it knew what it meant to be together, thinking it understood everything–when
Boom, the place in society shifted, Or society itself shifted (probably both) who the church was, what the church wanted to be, even who the church was hanging out with proved to be….. not really false, just not as authentic as the church wanted it to be.
It seemed….to not fit anymore
I mean did we really think that cozying up to institutionalism? buildings and nationalism was a good idea? The answer is yes, yes of course, we thought fitting in was the answer. It was so nice to have everyone flocking to our doors, Sabbath off, and people listen.
It’s always nice to feel heard.
Here we are all awkward again, and the church its body is doing weird, unspeakable things that we do not understand
I say this as the parent of a teen who wanted a Halloween costume Sat before Halloween (which is on Thurs) then didn’t want to go trick-or-treating (as of Tues) Then Last Min Realized that meant the costume was useless Could I please help them assemble and dress in costume And drive them to the Halloween event That was going on at the high school RIGHT NOW on Weds (never mind that dinner was just being served) then they stayed for 15mins, and everyone saw them And there was nothing else to do So naturally They called me As I rolled in the driveway To be picked back up
The church is a little uncertain as to what is going to happen next And what to wear What to do When everything was so certain before We had five year plans and programs and even Building extensions And now everything just seems hard! What are our goals and purpose And how are we even going to do them If everything has to be different?
And our job is not to save the church Not to take over, but let its find its way To hold hand like my three teenagers and to say wow Its so hard, when Two things are so true
Two Things (Both things)
That the angst is real understandable and scary and change is really, really hard And no I’m not sure how everything is going to turn out in the end
that I trust that everything will turn out ok because–because I believe in you, and you have good roots.
There are good teachings models of behaviors out there
Because, mistakes and missteps are not all there is to life Because just because you try some fad on
Like thinking Praise music, Projectors, or just getting enough young families is going to save us
Or putting our buildings on the covers of the bulletins Or that only white men are the legitimate preachers (sometimes married sometimes single) Or that we need to keep the four hundred and ninety seven million buildings to keep being the body of Christ–I mean heaven knows how many sparkles and chokers I wore in the nineties, and I still love my big earrings–
I truly love how spiritual conversations weave their way more naturally, more (w)holistically* throughout life these days.
God knows just like any parent There are probably more awkward phases for us to go through
After all what’s a couple of thousand years or So In God’s Calendar Anyway? We are just starting to Grow up!
Teenagers know what’s real what’s authentic Into the latest fad because teenagers figuring out identity it is developmentally appropriate for teens to be hungry to express themselves, except when they are too depressed or angsty to do so.
The church is trying to find itself It feels like we are the outcast at the party– Christianity used to be cool, but it isn’t anymore
However, we, like most teenagers, haven’t figured it all out yet
I will confess, I feel much more at home in the marginal church than the up and coming popular one However, I can understand what it feels like to ache to be wanted to be at the center of things to want to sparkle for a moment
I have teens who all want that moment in their lives to know they are able to shine, but are struggling
The gift of church right now though The people who are here, Want to be here, because we love it
We Want to be here We have no hanger ons No fakers Very few power seekers (though a couple of bullies sneak in) There is not much money in the church** People who are at church Want to be here
We know that the Church sings to them in some weird way And we are angsty, because we want to express that with everyone else.
It’s hard to be a teenager Some of us haven’t been one for years And wouldn’t go back if you paid us However a lot of us are good at remembering How to hold one another’s hands And saying Things will be ok
We don’t know what we are growing up to be yet What will take shape Where it will go What it will even look like
It may not even be our job to make it happen (is that scary or comforting? Probably depends upon the day) But it will be brilliant We are quite sure God will walk us all the way there.
Resource List: (I feel like I should list nothing or everything here, so I just put 2 small resources to get started, maybe I’ll edit and add more)
*I love holistic with a w, it imbues it with a meaning of natural, whole and in my mind it carries with it an inclusive meaning. Permitting us to include all those things that we find helpful science, nature, spiritual, emotional meanings instead of trying to separate them out.
**Again there are exceptions, but as a whole the church has fallen so much in power that most churches are small and there are few opportunities for big money or power in church.
Feel free to share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”
Zits Comic by Scott and Borgman: Jeremy: Mom do you have a phone book? Mom (getting it from the drawer): Sure right over here. Pierce: NO WAY!” Mom: Aren’t you going to take it? Jeremy: Naw. It was just a bet. Pierce: Now ask her if she still uses a landline Comic found at: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/450219293983937704/
Blessed Holy Trauma Week Where the spying on our friends Come out to haunt our Wednesdays We feel the reality That not all of our relationships are safe
Where the Table when we eat together might feel haunted by those who are missing the ones who have died Or the ones we are not speaking to (hopefully for just now, Lord hear our prayer) The echoes of lonesome pandemic times…
We remember that Jesus ate with Judas and are comforted (How do you do that God?)
And the washing of the feet feels too much But right
And some people are wedding Bibles to constitutions And we remember that Jesus said That he would temple down And that what he did was rip the curtain that was separating the so called “holy” people from the people into smithreens (Holy Spirit flip these tables)
Blessed Holy Trauma Week when your Youth Group Leader Dies of Breast cancer that she has been battling Basically since the day you met her She counseled, supported Got you the hall for your wedding Sponsored your call to ministry…
Blessed Holy Trauma Week When Friday is supposed to be Good But your car is in the shop and you can’t get to worship to cry at the cross And you think about how trauma lives in your bones
Is not Jesus our very Sibling, who died in the cross? Do we not say we die with him? How then do we not feel it?
And so you weep instead for the children in Gaza Gaza–where the word gauze, the cloth for healing was made And no hospital has any medicine for infection And children are dying from malnutrition
Blessed Holy Trauma Week where you have permission to be fully human weak pathetic Empathetic Sympathetic To melt on the floor and weep Because we are all only human And Jesus Christ knows it Crying utterly alone on the Cross
Does everything always happen on Holy Week? All the ministry colleagues ask?
Yes my soul answers
Blessed Holy Trauma Week Where we are blessed to be fully human Fully aware and to breathe in and breathe out in-between
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
Breath Prayer Inhale: Resurrected Lord Exhale: Resurrect us Lord
Inhale: Christ is Risen Exhale: Christ is Risen Indeed
Call to Worship God has already rolled the stone away Come let us celebrate Christ is risen Christ is Risen indeed! Come let us praise the Resurrected Lord!
Call to Worship This is the day that the Lord has made The news feels overwhelming Come let us worship and serve the Lord! Come let us worship and serve the Lord!
Call to Confession: There is nothing too big for God, come let us confess ourselves to the Divine.
Prayer of Confession: God we confess that there is too much to take in. We confess that at times feel alarmed, and like we cannot find Jesus. Help us when we are overwhelmed with the news. Allow us time to take it in we pray. (Silent Prayer) Amen.
Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that we are not alway able to hear the news of resurrection and be your people. Help us to make the changes we need to be an Easter people we pray (Silent Prayer) Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Hear the news, the stone has already been rolled away, the resurrection has already occurred, so we know the Good News, In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Jesus Christ, we are your people, loved, forgiven, redeemed. May we remember and hold it in our hearts no matter where we go. May we be your Easter people we pray. Amen.
Hymn Suggestions: Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine, Live Into Hope.
Taize Option: Bless the Lord, Laudate Omens Gentes,
Children’s Activity: Play Hide and Seek Remind the Children they are always found by God (If the room is small play where’s Waldo with small Jesus figures)
Children’s Book: God is Like by Rachel Held Evans or Jesus the Word by Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones, A very Abridged Velveteen Rabbit is always a good option as well.
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
Supplies: Purple Cloth, Candles, Nail for each participant, Hammer, A cross you can Nail the Nails into, Old Palms
(Make certain each person has a nail upon entry–each interlude can have music between readings or be silent Suggested Music: Were You There When You Crucified My Lord or Jesus, Remember Me When you Come Into Your Kingdom )
16Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.17And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. 18And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. -Mark 15:16-19
Lay Purple Cloth on the Cross
20After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.-Mark 15:20
Collect Nails from Everyone
21They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 23And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. Mark 15:21-24
Nail the Nails to a Cross
25It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.29Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.-Mark 15:25-32
Place Dried Up Palms by the Cross
33When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 36And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” Mark 15:33-39
eel free to Email KatyandtheWord at Gmail for Text version for easy Copy/Paste Formatting Suggested Donation forEntire 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
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
March 28 Maundy Thurs: A brief Service of Companionship Mark 14:22-42 Words of Institution, Peter’s Denial foretold, Gethsemane Prayer Psalm 116:12-19
(Option to Ritually Wash Hands/Feet) Eat a Meal Together
Celebrate Communion Use the Words “Take; this is my body.” “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Sing a Hymn Together: Suggestions Version of “The Lord’s Prayer” Here O Lord We See You, Come Let us Eat, In the Singing
32They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” Mark 14:26, 32-26
Music Interlude
37He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour?38Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Mark 14:27-39
Music Interlude
And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.” Mark 14:40
God bless us as we go, turn our singing into prayer Transform our walking into prayer Make it so that even the breath we breathe is a prayer with the Holy Spirit So that even as we sleep tonight We may feel the rhythms of prayer As we enter into this time of contemplation may we companion one another in prayer Amen.
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
katyandtheword 