Category: Worship

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Poetry, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Worship

Enjoying Various Versions

I know there are some who claim the only authentic version of the Bible is the King James version. I am not one of them. I have used the King James, but I find that other translations help me relate to God better. I do not speak King James English or think in King James English.

Recently while visiting a liturgical church I was exposed to Psalm 104 from the St. Helena Psalter. I want to share it with you. Hope I am not violating any copyrights. There is nothing in the program that suggests the church had special permission, so here goes.

25 O Holy One, how manifold are your works!
	in wisdom you have made them all;
	the earth is full of your creatures.
26 Yonder is the great and wide seas
	with its living this too many to number
	creatures both small and great.
27 There move the ships,
	and there is that leviathan.
	which you have made for the sport of it.
28 All of them look to you
	to give them their food in due season.
29 You give it to them; they gather it;
You open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
30 You hide your face, and they are terrified;
	You take away their breath,
	And they die and return to their dust.
31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;
	And so you renew the face of the earth.
32 May the glory of God endure for ever:
	May the Holy One rejoice in all his works.
33 God looks at the earth and it trembles;
	God touches the mountains and they some.
34 I will sing to God as long as I live;
	I will praise my God while I have my being.
35 May these words of mine find favor;
I will rejoice in the Holy One.
37 Bless the Holy One, O my soul.
	Hallelujah!

Perhaps the whale shark is the Leviathan? Saw these on a PBS special recently. Was amazed at their size!

Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Listen, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Worship, Writing Life

Stream of Consciousness

Have you ever just sat and written a stream of consciousness on paper or on a computer? It can be an amazing experiment showing where you have been and where you are. What follows are a few of my random entries. Maybe it will spark ideas on how you can benefit from it.

Looking back at a torn page from travel: Rhododendron leaves reflect the sun as if festooned with tiny mirrors. A breeze blows through and the mirrors reflect the movement of the wind.

Help me daily to sit in silence and LET GO everything

As I child I “sang, stop, look and listen.” As an adult God asks me to stop, look and listen to Him, to my life around me, to my inner chatter that threatens to block out His voice.To hear as one with opened ears.

The guy next door is riding his mower around after the tremendous rains and soaring temperatures we have had lately. I hear him humming around and around his house. The sound carries into the office in the front of our house where I am writing. He has no idea I am writing about him, (I giggle).

When was the last time I came to a full stop? Likely at the cemetery where the headstone says Daughters. And I listened for the Holy One to speak. I was not disappointed.

I wish all of my word processors would autocorrect when I type teh and make it the.

The sky is full of wing shaped clouds this morning. Are they to remind me of angels’ wings or to take shelter under the wing of the Almighty?

Where is your brain? Can you tap into the chatter and then will you choose what to weed out? Point your focus upon the Christ and see where He leads you!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  Hebrews 12:1-2a NIV

You are in charge of what you allow to remain in your mind.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Just do it, Praise, Prayer, Special Event, Trust, Worship, Yield

Did You Celebrate Pentecost?

Last Sunday was the traditional time in the liturgical calendar to celebrate Pentecost. Forty-nine or fifty days after Easter this celebration commemorates “the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–31). From Wikipedia the worldly font of wisdom!

In Christian tradition, this event represents fulfillment of the promise that Christ will baptize his followers with the Holy Spirit. Out of the four New Testament gospels, the distinction between baptism by water and the baptism by Christ with “Holy Spirit and fire” is only found in Matthew and Luke. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost

At Saint Timothy’s we celebrated and asked the Holy Spirit to fill us once more. I believe the promises of Jesus are real and for everyone. So in case you missed it, I pray that you will look to the Father of all good things and ask for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide, direct and order your life for the glory of God.

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:15-21 NIV

This promise by Jesus comes from Father God and is for all who accept Jesus and love Him. Lord may the fullness of Your promise fill all who come to You. We look for You to manifest Yourself in our midst. And as You bring this to pass we will be careful to give You all of the glory. Amen.

Posted on in Aging, Faith, Family, Just do it, Listen, Memories, Music, Poetry, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Traveling, Trust, Worship, Yield

My Thin Place

The photo above shows the outside of what remains of the church called Teampall Bhreacain, Na Seacht dTeampaill, County Galway, Ireland. I believe it is also known as Church of the Hollow. I think r m dutina took all of these photos, but honestly I cannot remember. We were wandering separately around the grounds. When he caught up to me I could barely speak!

The altar from afar
Through the window of the ages
Past the thick walls of time
Stands a symbol of death
Nay! Bright resurrection
Hope of all men

The rough stones placed
In geometrically sound patterns
Of worship, of honor, of praise
Roofless now 
that heaven may freely break through 
to us of long ages later
Arches , capstones, edges of time
Torn by the worship of long ago
Until our hearts are lifted up
To worship the same lovely truth

You came for us
You come to us still
To have us for Your own
Encircling with Spirit
Invading with Holy
Illumine our techno age
With truth of heaven
Power of Holy
Spirit of Life.

Why would I want to return to Church of the Hollow at Inishmore? I could have sat there for hours, listening, praying, in worship and wonder. Next time I would return with a folding chair!

This is where you sing Psalm 84!

And the walk down to the sea.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature, Praise, Thanks, Worship

Just a Sampling of Both Iris

Here is the cultivated iris that grows in our yard.

Bought the root years ago at a commercial Iris Farm

In the Smokies we found the Crested Dwarf Iris. We have seen this flower before. This year I seemed to see more of it than usual. Perhaps it had to do with the weather or time of year we visited?

Our wildflower book describes it as:

Plant 4-9″ tall and 2-1/2″ flower. This complex flower has three blue-purple (rarely albino) petals as a standard above three unique petal-like sepals. On each sepal is a yellow crest which leads pollinating insects toward the nectar hidden deep in the flower. The insect pollinators first pass beneath the stigmas (depositing pollen) then the anthers (receiving new pollen) before exiting this one-way flower near the stem. This elaborate system assures cross-pollination. Wildflowers of the Smokies by Peter White and 5 contributing co-authors

So I saw some crested dwarf iris and thought there a lot of those.

Then later I saw hundreds and a day after that I figured thousands and then it hit me.

How many millions of these bloom in these mountains that mankind has never seen?

The God of heaven and earth delights me with endless miracles of creation! A walk in the springtime yields blessing upon blessing. I am grateful, thankful and give praise and worship to the Most High God. Every flower is His.

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
    God shines forth.

for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields are mine.

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

Psalm 50:1-2,10-11,14-15 NIV

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Art, Faith, Just do it, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Worship

A Little Vacation

I did not post much last week because we were a way from home. First I went to the Associates Spring Retreat at the Convent of the Transfiguration where I have been an Associate since 1991. After that I came home on Sunday afternoon, emptied parts of my suitcase into another larger suitcase. On Monday morning we departed for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park to hunt for our favorite wildflowers. It seems like whirlwind now, but it was all loads of fun.

The retreat was led by a man named Kelly Latimore. He has a degree in art and religious studies. Since 2011 he has been painting or as the iconographers say ‘reading’ icons. If you have participated in Lectio Divina, (divine reading of Scripture) you will be able to relate to what he asked us to do. He called it “Visio Divina,” (divine seeing of the icons). It was a fascinating experience. There were about 15 of us in person at the retreat and another group joined us via Zoom.

Kelly would show us a slide of an icon on a large screen. We would begin to share what we saw in the icon. He educated us in the history of making icons and shared the vision for his art.

“However, I do not wish to approach Iconography as an art form that simply follows an inherited tradition, knowledge and practice. I want it to be a creative process, meditation, and practice that brings about new self knowledge for the viewer and myself. Who are the saints that are among us here and now? I feel the need for new images. In some icons I wish to embrace the traditional forms and image but for many icons the image needs re-shaping, re-imagining, and re-wondering.” https://kelly-latimore.pixels.com/

Christ the Light
Mary Magdalene and Christ the Gardener

If you go to his website you can follow the progression of his paintings and icons. There you will see how his talent has grown.

If you have never before used an icon for prayer, here are some pointers from online.

Praying with icons is a contemplative practice wherein we slow down to pray and pay attention to God. This may be done in silence, by talking to God casually, or by using hymns and other ancient prayers. Or even in combination of all three. If you are just getting started in praying with icons, I suggest starting by working on your attentiveness to the image.

Look at your icon. What is the first thing you notice about the image? Where are your eyes drawn? What colours are attracting your attention?

After you have taken in the image, you can start to think about the details. Are the eyes of Christ or the Saint looking at you, or elsewhere? If Christ is looking at you, spend some time gazing back into his eyes. I find this is an especially good practice when I’m working on listening to God.

What other symbols are in the image? Do you know what they mean? What does looking at the icon make you feel right now. What is the icon saying to you?

The retreat was so interesting! Sharing what we each saw or sensed was particularly enriching. Hearing Kelly’s reasoning for how he did the various paintings was educational and nothing I would have understood on my own.

He has paintings in the National Cathedral and many churches throughout the United States. There will be an exhibit at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cary, North Carolina on May 4 from 1-7 PM as follows:

“Join us as we welcome acclaimed artist Kelly Latimore to Cary for a show featuring his vibrant and thought-provoking icons. Kelly’s work has appeared nationally in places like the Washington National Cathedral and was selected as the cover of a Pope Francis book of sermons. We will have 25 of his pieces on display throughout the interior of the church on Saturday, with doors open to the public from 1-7 pm. Children are welcome, and Kelly will be here during the exhibition.
There will be a panel discussion starting at 4:30 pm, which will feature the artist and guests from the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice and the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry. The day ends with an artist’s reception at 5:30 pm, and we’re asking folks to RSVP so we can plan accordingly.
This is a day to celebrate Kelly’s art and vision, to see others in a new way, and to offer something to the community. There is no charge for the exhibit, but we do encourage donations.”

If you ever have a chance to hear him speak I think you will enjoy it. This man is incredibly humble, educated, talented, complex and even a preachers kid! Perhaps one of the best summaries I have read about his work is found here: https://baptistnews.com/article/these-contemporary-icons-show-the-saints-among-us-in-a-new-light/

If you click the link above you can see his icon of the Transfiguration and Pentecost. He said when they were designing the Transfiguration the congregation did not want Christ in all white clothing. They decided to add silver leaf to the painting. When it was hung in the sanctuary he was amazed at how the light in the sanctuary made the icon flash and dazzled his eyes, like the actual transfiguration. I want to go to Salisbury to see that painting/icon! ROAD TRIP!!!

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Listen, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Worship

The Most Important Thing

I signed up a long time ago for a newsletter from Joan Chittister. I so enjoy her writing! This one arrived recently in my email box and I thought you might enjoy her ideas. Here is a portion of the article. I have added a link at the end in case you want to read the entire article It is taken from her book The Monastic Heart.

What You Pay Attention to in Life

“Every afternoon, as I sit in my upstairs office, I hear the old monastery bells begin to ring in the once Benedictine church that then adjoined this inner-city monastery. In fact, the bells from Benedictine monasteries everywhere still peal out around the world. Our original monastery moved over 50 years ago from an in-town property to the edge of the city. So, we have another bell tower and a new electronic carillon. The big old brass bell, “Theodore,” shipped from Germany ages ago, now rests retired and reverenced on a brick base in the memorial garden of the new monastery. New bells go on ringing over our lakeside property daily, just as the old one did here in the inner city for more than 150 years. No bedroom clocks, no personal watches take their place as harbingers of spiritual time.
 
“But why?
 
“The purpose of Benedictine bells is not to spell out the hour of the day at all; that task is left to horologists. Our bells, on the other hand, are there to wrench our attention back to what is really important in life: the memory of God in our midst. The memory of the purpose of life. The memory that time is moving on and so must we. The recognition that life today is different than yesterday, and we must not try to hold life back. The bells jog the memory that there are actually more important, more meaningful, more demanding dimensions of life than anything ordinary we can possibly be doing as they ring.”

https://joanchittister.org/articles/what-you-pay-attention-life

The bells are there to “wrench our attention back to what is really important in life: the memory of God in our midst.” I occasionally hear the bells from the Catholic church that is several blocks away and through the woods. When I notice them I stop to breathe deeply and pray. I more often hear the sirens going down the busy highway two blocks away. I have made it a habit to pray for the police, EMS and fire people responding to their various emergencies. I like Joan’s idea of ‘wrenching our attention back to what is really important in life.‘ I think I will continue to pray for the emergency workers but also pause to ask myself if I am remembering God in our midst whenever I hear the sirens.

What reminds you of the presence of God in your midst? We have two clocks that chime. A Cuckoo clock that was a gift from friends who traveled to Germany and my parents mantel clock that was a gift for their wedding in 1934, almost 90 years ago, and it still runs. At times, living with the clocks, I do not even hear them ring. Bob says they draw him back to what is really important.

What serves to wrench your attention back to God? Years ago when I taught Bible study I would encourage the students to find something they do daily. Then prayerfully dedicate that to the awareness of God. As a daily practice begins to build, the awareness of the Holy One becomes easier and easier. I used to dislike bracelets. I would wear one so that each time I was bothered or irritated by the bracelet I was reminded to turn my attention to God.

Sirens? Church bells? Bracelet? Huge water bottle you drink from all day? In this day and age it would be fairly simple to set your smart watch to ring once an hour as a reminder to pay attention to the Trinity in your midst. To stop and breathe, returning ‘back to what is really important in life.’

“The bells jog the memory that there are actually more important, more meaningful, more demanding dimensions of life than anything ordinary we can possibly be doing as they ring.”

The Verdin Bell Company is anchored in the Cincinnati area. They have made, installed and restored church bells for years. Perhaps this photo will encourage you to restore your attention to the Holy One?

Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.

Psalm 119:164 NKJV
Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Journal, Just do it, Listen, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Trust, Worship

Cry of The Deer, The Presence of God

In David Adam’s book The Cry of the Deer, this is probably my favorite chapter so far. I try to always give proper credits and not quote too much from the books I enjoy. This time is going to be difficult!

You can purchase the book used for $4 or $5.oo. Amazon has it new for $14.00.

Quoting from the Hymn of St. Patrick:

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak to me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From the snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From every one who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.

On page 98 Adam describes the difficulty I have in trying to transcribe my experiences with God into understandable ideas and actual words.

Experiences cannot be captured and pressed into pages of books or reports without losing much of their vitality. Once we try to put them into words, or to preserve them in any way, change takes place. Too often we attempt to write down an experience because we have already lost it. Words cannot replace the reality any more than a photograph can make up for a lost presence. So much that we experience cannot be tied down or captured in any way.

David Adam Cry of the Deer

So you might see my difficulty here. Adam goes on to say “Since this is true of everyday life, how MUCH MORE is it of the Divine Reality?”

When I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia one of the books I read said that too often we try to put God in a box – a box full of our ideas about God. That author went on to say that if we put God in a box, He loves to flatten the box and make it into a dance floor. Have you found this to be true in your experience? There was another book published forty some years ago entitled “Your God is Too Small” was written by J. B Phillips.

Your God is Too Small is a groundbreaking work of faith, which challenges the constraints of traditional religion. In his discussion of God, author J.B. Phillips encourages Christians to redefine their understanding of a creator without labels or earthly constraints and instead search for a meaningful concept of God. Phillips explains that the trouble facing many of us today is that we have not found a God big enough for our modern needs. In a world where our experience of life has grown in myriad directions and our mental horizons have been expanded to the point of bewilderment by world events and scientific discoveries, our ideas of God have remained largely static. This inspirational work tackles tough topics and inspires readers to reevaluate and connect more deeply with a God that is relevant to current experience and big enough to command respect and admiration.

Description by Simon and Schuster, Publishers https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Your-God-Is-Too-Small/J-B-Phillips/9780743255097

Perhaps the most powerful quote from the Cry Of The Deer:

Let us remember that creeds cannot satisfy our innermost longings, nor can any book, only a personal experience of Him in whom we live and move and have our being.

David Adam, Page 100, Cry of The Deer

How is your relationship with the Lord God Almighty? Have you tried practicing His Presence one second of every minute like Laubach? Do you talk with Him like the Celts? Is your relationship intimate and constant? Have you tried to describe your relationship in a journal or letter? Do you know Him? Is the Trinity a reality to you or just a far off religious idea?

One of my best Bible teachers ever called all of this “experiential knowledge”. Give yourself to this practice for 3 minutes every morning. In a week or two move to 5 minutes. Build your practice just as you would build a relationship with a new friend.

It has been said that prayer is talking to God. Meditation is listening for His voice. Call it what you want. I know time spent in this practice will never be time lost. Discover the One who loves you best and loves you the most!

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Psalm 27:8 NIV
Posted on in Aging, Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Listen, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Worship, Yield

A Blessing

Recently I attended a soul collage one day retreat led by Mooydeen Frees, retired Deacon of the Episcopal church and so many other titles and skills. She shared this blessing written by Jan Richardson. I was so moved that I want to share it with you, too. I pray you will read it once. And then read it again prayerfully with yourself in mind.

Blessing the Body

The blessing takes
one look at you
and all it can say is
holy.

Holy hands,
Holy face,
Holy feet, 
Holy everything
In between.

Holy even in pain.
Holy even when weary.
In brokenness, holy.
In shame, holy still.

Holy in delight. 
Holy in Distress.
Holy when being born.
Holy when we lay it down
at the hour of our death.

So friend,
Open your eyes
(holy eyes).
For one moment
see what this blessing sees,
this blessing that knows
how you have been formed
and knit together in wonder
and in love.

Welcome this blessing
that folds its hands
in prayer
when it meets you;
receive this blessing
that wants to kneel
in reverence
before you;
you who are temple,
sanctuary,
home for God
in this world.

Isn’t that wonderful? Jan Richardson is new to me but I would say she certainly has a ministry writing blessings! “The blessing takes one look at you and all it can say is holy.”

Regardless of what you may think of yourself at times; regardless of what the accuser says about you, know that God loves you always. Are you willing to align your thinking with His?

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 RSV
Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Just do it, Listen, Memories, Prayer, Special Event, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Worship

Resurrection Celebrations

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