Category Archives: Friends

A prayer to bear one another’s burdens

God who bears the hurt of the world,

we pray for the grace, courage, and wisdom

to bear one another’s burdens,

to sit in silence with your children

who are in pain,

who grieve,

who endure heartbreak beyond our imagining;

to sit in silence

until a place of love is reached.

Amen.

inspired by a sermon preached by Elder Madison McKinney (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota Oyate and a descendent of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) for National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People (May 5), a part of the May 1-7 National Week of Action for MMIWG2S

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Filed under Current Events, Friends, Human Rights, Prayer

Every day is Earth Day

Perhaps this is late. Today is Earth Day and tomorrow is Earth Day Sunday. Perhaps this should have been sent sooner to allow people who plan worship to make use of the resources that follow the brief prayer. However, if your worship tomorrow does not include a focus on Earth Day, you could use some of these resources in your devotions. And, as my friend Melodee Bottari posted on her Facebook page – “Every day is Earth Day.”

A prayer for Earth Day
Creator God,
we come from the earth,
and we return to the earth.
In between, we live upon the earth.
within the great, wonderful web of life
you have created.
May we live wisely,
caring responsibly and well
for the earth
of which we are a part
upon which we depend
and which you hold in infinite love.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

This list of worship resources and action ideas for Earth Day and earth care is adapted from material curated by my friend Bruce Winfrey Gillette for Presbyterians for Earth Care (PEC); joining PEC might be a good Earth Day activity

CREATION CARE IN GLORY TO GOD HYMNAL BY DAVID GAMBRELL

HYMNS BY CAROLYN WINFREY GILLETTE (PERMISSION IS GIVEN FOR FREE USE TO PEC FRIENDS)

THE LORD’S PRAYER LITURGY AND INFORMATION ABOUT CREATION CARE FROM THE PRESBYTERIAN HUNGER PROGRAM (PHP)

EARTH DAT SUNDAY WORSHIP RESOURCES AND MORE(PHP)

TREAD LIGHTLY – EARTH CARE ACTIVITIES TO USE ANY TIME (PHP)

RESPONDINGTO CLIMATE CHANGE FREE CONVERSATION GUIDE (CHRISTIAN CENTURY) 

PRESBYTERIANSFOR EARTH CARE WEBINARS ON MANY TOPICS

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Filed under Current Events, Friends, Prayer

Purple flowers guest collection #205

Appalachian blue violets
Poconos, Pennsylvania
Melodee Bottari

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Purple flowers guest collection #204

Old Jewish Cemetery
Prague, Czech Republic
Lisa Sisenwein
19 April 2023

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Filed under Friends, Photo, Travel

Purple flowers, guest collection #203

31 March 2023
Washington State
Provided byAnn Rhee Menzie
who knew I had not seen any crocuses yet this year
sent this photo that a friend had ent to her

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31 March 2023

Transgender Day of Visibility.
Tree planting. Table putting together. Laundry. Cooking. Straightening granddaughter’s toys.
Transgender Dysphoria Blues – Against Me!
I’d Love to Change the World – Shea Diamond
iT – Christine and the Queens
Warrior Heart – Shawnee
Thorn In Your Side – namoli brennet
Body Was Made – Ezra Furman
Girls and Boys – Blur
King for a Day – Green Day
Androgynous – The Replacements
Rebel Rebel – David Bowie
We Exist – Arcade Fire
What Is This Thing Called Love – Billy Tipton
Eudaemonia – Them Are Us Too
Sometimes I Cry – Jason Kwan

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Filed under Current Events, Friends, Music, playlist

Purple flowers, guest collection #202

La Mirda, California
7 March 2023
photo by Ann Rhee Menzie

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27 March 2023

Remembering Buddy Monahan.
Boomer Sooner – The University of Oklahoma Marching Band
Revolution – Kirk Franklin & The Family
Rock and Roll All Nite – Kiss
Edge of America – Annie Humphrey
Ohenton Karihwatekwen Karenna – Bear Fox
My Country ‘Tis of Thy People, You’re Dying – Buffy Sainte-Marie
Blackbird – Emma Stevens
No More – Fawn Wood
Native America – J25
I Am Your Friend – Joanne Shenandoah
Running – Joy Harjo
Gentle Warrior – Kaolin Johnson
Fight for the Rights – Kelly Fraser
Some How – Nizhoni Girls
Earth and Sun – Sharon Burch
Heart of a Hero – Shelley Morningsong
Native Child – Thunder Bird Sisters

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Filed under Friends, Louisville, Music, playlist

Purple flowers, guest collection #201

La Mirda, California
7 March 2023
photo by Ann Rhee Menzie

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St. Patrick’s Day

I speak for no others,

only for myself.

For me, this day has

nothing to do with

green beer or

green rivers or

green clothing,

this day has nothing to do with

pinching me or kissing me;

my bad jokes aside,

this day has nothing to do even with Jameson.

Today is a day

to remember oppression

to honor resistance

to recognize that, despite the efforts of

systems of race and racialization

to separate us,

struggles for dignity and justice,

freedom and equality,

human rights and humanity

are inseparably linked:

none of us are free until all of us are free.

for that reason, in that spirit, and in my own fashion,

I mark this day, and each 17th of March.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Fitzgerald, from County Cork, on my mother’s side

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Filed under Current Events, Family, Friends, Ireland