Monday, November 29, 2021

 Advent Credo

It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss—
This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life;

It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction—
This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever—
This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world—
This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.

It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers—
This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams.

It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history—
This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth.

So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ—the life of the world.

From Walking on Thorns, by Allan Boesak, Eerdmans, 2004.

Thursday, August 05, 2021

'It is enough, Lord' (A prayer based on 1 Kings 19. 4-8)

We are tired, Lord.

Weary beyond thinking about it. Weary, over praying through it. So weary: worn of words,

no glimpse of glory,

so weary, we have had enough.

 

We’ve no idea the road ahead, we’ve not been this route before. No way is coming clear,

just… wilderness,

enough to lose ourselves.

And the only path we easily find, is the one of least resistance.

 

Yet there’s energy to run, and keep running, to avoid and evade,

to distract, and deny,

to turn and to tilt… away. Can we be found, even so?

 

When we get there – when it’s ‘enough’, and there’s nowhere to go but there,

and nothing to have, but what we receive: shelter us from the searing sun,

shield us from the scratching wind, save us from the time of trial.

Feed us this day, the bread for tomorrow crumbs to sustain us,

morsels of grace,

a few winks of sleep, drops of refreshment, just enough.

Even so.

-- Rev Dr Carolyn Kelly, University of Scotland
https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly-worship/monthly/2021-august/august-8-eleventh-sunday-after-pentecost