Poetry and Prayer—Day 4: February 29

Written by: Julia Smolucha

I Thank You God… by e.e. cummings

Fly, fast, on infinite wing to draw near to us. Hear our thank you: cardinal perched in snow-winter tree, food warm in bellies, vistas of dream-blue skies. Fly, fast, O God, to be near to us, for we are grateful. Amen.

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The (Re)Birth of the Church, V: Inreach

October 10, 2021

The Church exists to be shelter and nurture to the broken and the bereaved. We come not only to get but to give shelter and nurture. We come because it is safe here. We all know that we are flawed but loved, so there can be no judgement here. This is the first step to-ward claiming our genuine humanity—realizing that I am not God’s gift to the world and need your help to make my way through it.

The (Re)Birth of the Church, IV: Education

October 3, 2021

In Acts:2, we find four cornerstones of Christian formation: teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Just one of them—teaching, is what many would consider “education” in a traditional sense. But a growing volume of research proposes that all four are experiential practices which form people into faithful Christians who not only know God with their minds but love God with their hearts and souls.

The (Re)Birth of the Church, III: Community

September 26, 2021

If you read through the "Acts of the Apostles", and I hope you will, if you read through to the end, you’ll notice that Luke uses every tool in his colloquial cabinet to convince us that Peter, James, John, and the rest of the Apostles are Superheroes. He might even exaggerate a little here and there. He tells us for instance that the first Christians packed their sick friends onto gurneys, and rickshaws, and wheelbarrows, and schlepped them out to the street so that they fell within Peter’s shadow. Peter’s shadow can make the blind see and the lame walk. I don’t know about you, but my shadow can’t cure cancer.

Poetry and Prayer—Day 4: February 29