i am saddened to hear of the loss of maria to the chapman family. i know i am like many who have been impacted by steven’s music but their family story over the years. my heart breaks for their loss.
Keep
watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord
Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering,
pity the afflicted, sheild the joyous; and all for your love’s sake.
-amen
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. -psalm 82
Psalm 82
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God presides in the great assembly;
he gives judgment among the "gods":
2 "How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 "The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 "I said, ‘You are "gods";
you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler."
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.
Matthew 5:2-12
2and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
for prayers today, one of the scripture readings is Luke 24: 44-53. i am sharing some thoughts on what is bugging me. it is not to be a theological discourse in any matter. but a thought…
45. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46. He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
what i am thinking of.. if we, as disciples, have our minds open. why are we not looking towards beginning the Kingdom in Jerusalem? now, there might not be much you or i can do actively, but how much do we know about or care of the conflict that continues on in Israel-Palestine? it just bothers me. many of us are so up our own church asses that we rarely listen to any concern for the actual spaces that our faith stories erupt from. why?..
the united methodist women have put together a very comprehensive study to understand all the dynamics involved in Israel-Palestine for those who are convicted to know more.
well, the hymnal isn’t in a state of saving yet, but there is continued talk of revamping it and putting in and taking out hymns. i am far from the expert on the hymnal, but it has been an important tool in our spiritual formation as a methodist community. i remember reading some person’s critique of the last update to the book of common prayer that it made the episcopal church too liberal. i know there is a lot of pull on both sides of that argument to take out hymns because they are not fitting of an ideaology. imho there is so much depth in there to get nit picky seems silly. so i am suggesting everyone revisit the newly opened survey (tip to david) to throw in your thoughts. be heard. more from the gbod.