Sunday prayer: Springtime

O God of leafing trees and playgrounds, O Lord of the hopefulness of windy spring; Grant that we who are made new through your Son's Body the church may show forth your joy to the world with the energy and conviction of breezes, laughing kids, and sunshine; through Christ our resurrected Savior.  Amen.

Pasture Walk

An after dinner stroller walk with Laurel, a friend, and two toddlers led us to a quiet sloping pasture with three horses.  We learned that holding out our hands in a feeding gesture can be quite attractive to horses,  so they lolled over.  A breeze picked up, the sunset waited patiently for the kids to pet their furry friends, and we laughed a lot on the way home.

Allegri Miserere

Our systematic theology professor played Allegri Miserere for us today, and it is surely one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard.  It was composed in the 1630s for the pope, who only allowed it to be sung in the Sistine Chapel for a hundred years until the composition was finally leaked to the rest of Europe.  Its words are those of Psalm 51.  Listen!

Bread

This evening I finally figured out how to make whole wheat naan that won't set off the smoke alarm: bake it!  There are few things more satisfying and joy-filled than making, then eating bread with friends.

The prayer for today, which is Wednesday in Easter Week, is: "O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen."


Back in the pew after communion during today's service, I felt deliciously full.

Bark

It's morning and I'm staring up into almost leafed-out birch trees towering above my patio.  I'm supposed to be praying and I sort of am, since God's all over this beautiful umbrella forest.  The light is a fair gold, fresh and ready to burn deeper orange soon.  Joy girds like bark.

Finished a Paper!

Joy came quickly when invited to celebrate my finishing of a 21-page paper on the "theological ethics" of Stanley Hauerwas.  Thanks be to God!

Joy's Risen

Easter feels like this.  During Easter season, I'll try to find a slice of joy in each day's pie to serve briefly here!

On Sundays I'd also like to write a prayer:

O Risen One, Lord of the line separating life and death: May the power of your holy victory spread to the ends of the earth, so that all people may know the gift that is your love; through your mighty and mysterious majesty, O God, now and forever.  Amen.