Come away with me to a quiet place…

Proper 21B/ Ordinary 26B/ Pentecost 17
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come! Let us use power for healing
People: And not to promote diseased bodies and deprived spirits.
Leader: Let us use power to encourage community
People: And not to promote policies of who is in and who is out.
Leader: Let us use power for collaborative, creative work
People: And not to [...]

 
Two years ago this month when we had a baby shower for my friend Amy, each person was asked to bring a poem, blessing, etc. for the baby. No one knew the gender and friends and family did not know possible baby names.
This was my gift to the Barron-Gaffords and all the sweet babies of the world.
Feel free [...]

Grief’s Quagmire
Disoriented madness pounced
Like a ravenous, feral cat.
Yesterday’s wisdom vanished
And I can scarcely remember my name
The time of day
Or that my loved one is dead.
Lead my gently, friend
Help me make decisions
That have never come my way.
Listen to my repetitive babble
And know my sanity is still buried deep within.
Let me thank you
Again and again,
Scream in your [...]

Proper 20B/Ordinary 25B/ Pentecost 16
 
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Competition focuses on who is
People: the fastest, the brightest, the wealthiest.
Leader: Competition encourages
People: the largest congregation, the best-sounding choir, state-of-the-art everything.
Leader: Competition promotes long hours of getting ahead
People: and little time for being still and knowing God.
Leader: Jesus said that to be first
People: one must be a servant.
Leader: [...]

What songs do you sing to children that tell them you love them? that God loves them?
One of the songs I nearly always sing to our goddaughter Willa (now 22 months old) is “Jesus Loves Me” only I substitute Willa for me. Recently I sang “Jesus loves” and she said, “Willa.”
Oh, if we could all grow [...]

Finally, I’m honoring our daughter’s request to write songs for our youngest granddaughter. I was always creating lyrics when our daughter was little. Of course, they were very, very simple and put to the melody of a familiar song.  How about creating lyrics for your own child or grandchild or any special young person in your life?
                                      Love [...]

Holy One, you are loving
Full of mercy, full of good
We praise you by the lives we live
And thank you for this food. Amen.
 © August 2009  Cynthia Langston Kirk

I See the Colors God Made by Laura Ann Miller
Illustrated with delicious finds in nature, this is a graphic, cheerful book of colors for beginning readers. The last page of writing states “God made me” and the facing page provides a “frame” pocket for a picture of the baby or toddler.
This has been one of [...]

For the One who is
            Laughter and love
            Justice and peace
            Seeking and discovering
            Healing and grace
            And the Bread of Life
We give thanks today. Amen.
 © August 2009  Cynthia Langston Kirk