Category Archives: Friends

February 18, 2024 · 11:08 am

Follow the Solidarity with the Suffering Delegation to Palestine & Israel

My friend the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is part of the Solidarity with the Suffering delegation to Palestine & Israel organized by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He presents this list of ways to connect with the delegation and with Christian organizations in Israel & Palestine. .

CONNECT TO THE ISRAEL/PALESTINE MISSION NETWORK

CONNECT WITH THE REV. BRUCE REYES-CHOW

CONNECT WITH SABEEL

CONNECT WITH KAIROS PALESTINE

With gratitude to those who are participating in solidarity and a witness for justice and peace, here is a prayer.

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February 17, 2024 · 2:18 pm

A prayer for the Solidarity with the Suffering delegation

Find the Statement of Purpose Here

In response to a call from Christian partners in Palestine-Israel (Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center and Kairos Palestine), a delegation of thirty-five people, mostly Presbyterians, have begun a solidarity visit to Palestine and Israel. The Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the PC(USA) organized the delegation. Find reports on the IPMN blog.

A prayer for the Solidarity with the Suffering delegation
God of all peoples,
God who creates us for peace,
God who calls us to pursue justice,
we thank you for people
who live into hope
by working and witnessing 
for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine,
and particularly in Gaza.
For those who write emails, postcards, and letters,
those who make phone calls,
those who participate in demonstrations,
those who talk to families and friends,
those who build relationships with others,
those who make a pilgrimage to speak to elected representatives in Washington,
and all who pursue justice and peace in ways
we do not know,
we give you thanks.
We thank you for people 
who visit Palestine and Israel
to listen, to learn, to stand in solidarity.
Particularly we thank you 
for the participants in the
Presbyterian delegation:
Solidarity with the Suffering.
Bless their witness.
Guide their experiences.
May their efforts for justice and for peace
ripple across the church and the world.
Keep the participants safe.
Keep safe the siblings they encounter.
Lead us all to work for justice and for peace
as we are able.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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February 11, 2024 · 12:23 pm

A prayer for communities

God who exists in relationship,
God who creates us for relationship;
Jesus who calls us into relationship;
Holy Spirit who gifts us for relationship;
we thank you for the gift of communities
of which we are a part and
within which we live.
Communities that
care for us,
hold us together,
challenge us,
frustrate us,
wound us,
forgive us
guide us,
enrich us,
bless us
love us;
communities that surround us
even when we are unaware,
even when we are distant from one another.
We ask you God,
to help us live well in communities,
to create space for communities,
in which we
care for one another,
hold one another together,
challenge one another,
frustrate one another,
wound one another,
forgive one another,
guide one another,
enrich one another,
bless one another,
love one another.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

inspired by “Offerings,” season 2, episode 9 of Reservation Dogs and a Zoom conversation with dear friends and valued colleagues

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February 3, 2024 · 2:08 pm

A prayer of thanks for simple acts

We thank you, God.

In a wounded world
filled with hate and violence,
in a broken world
where exclusion and oppression appear so strong,
in a weary world
too well acquainted with fear,
still we thank you, God.

We thank you for simple acts of
random kindness,
organized justice,
creative resistance,
radical love,
and unquenchable hope.

We thank you for
people in whose actions we see:
Good news proclaimed,
letters written,
dogs adopted,
students counseled,
calls made,
parrots rescued,
food shared,
conversations initiated,
hats crocheted,
committees served,
respect demonstrated,
demonstrations attended,
conflict de-escalated,
sorrow shared,
meals organized,
care extended,
laughter enjoyed,

insert other simple acts
you have experienced or heard about
acts that touch your heart
and feed your spirit

for these and
all the simple acts
we have known
and those we will never know,
we thank you, God.

Pour your Holy Spirit
afresh upon us,
that we too may practice
random kindness,
organized justice,
creative resistance,
radical love,
and unquenchable hope.

This day.
Every day.

We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

inspired by a dinner conversation with
the General Assembly Committee on Representation o
f the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

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February 2, 2024 · 2:55 pm

Win a Free Copy of Surviving God

Win a Free Copy of “Surviving God”
Check out this offer from my friend Grace Ji-Sun Kim and her colleague Susan Shaw.

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February 1, 2024 · 9:10 pm

A prayer about self-care

Patient God
who never gives up on us
we know,
you know,
how challenging self-care can be at times.
We know,
you know,
how crucial self-care is.
When those we love
and we ourselves
stand in need of self-care,
inspire us
to listen to,
to heed,
and to practice
the guidance we receive
from those who provide
our medical care.
When we are in need,
and we follow the guidance
we receive,
may we join you
and those who care for us.
in the healing process.
When a loved one is in need,
grant us
the grace and patience,
the strength and wisdom,
to continue in
supporting and challenging the one we love
and in that way,
join you and their care team
in the healing process.
This we pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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January 30, 2024 · 7:40 pm

Purple, not flowers, debris

30 January 2024
Chicago, Illinois
Martha Shrout Brown

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January 22, 2024 · 8:53 pm

22 January 2024

Lucy baptism anniversary. So Jung birthday.
Walking. Germantown. Strength work. Stretching. Gym in the Apartment.
Ementha-Papaguneray (Turtle Song) - Emily Wurramara
Carnival of the Animals: IV. Tortioses – Isata Kanneh-Mason, Braimah Kanneh-Mason, Ayla Sahin, Timothy Ridout, Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Toby Hughes
Turtle Island -Jay Red Eagle
Turtle Island – Native American Music Consort
Sea Turtle – Hermanito
Flying with the Turtle – Laurent Perez Del Mar
Turtle – PARK JUNG EUN
A Turtle’s Heart – Mili
Turtle – Corinne Sloan
What a Wonderful World – Willie Nelson
Coat of Many Colors – Dolly Parton
God with Us – The Many
If I Had a Dinosaur – Raffi
What a Wonderful World – Eva Cassidy
Wheels on the Bus – Gracie’s Corner
Circle of Life – Carmen Twillie & Lebo M
Elmo’s Song – Elmo, Big Bird & Snuffleupagus
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

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October 20, 2023 · 4:35 pm

Purple flowers guest collection, #235

The Gardens of Mercury
New Castle, Delaware
Tim Rodden
17 October 2023

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October 20, 2023 · 4:32 pm

Purple flowers guest collection #234

The Gardens of Mercury
New Castle, Delaware
Tim Rodden
17 October 2023

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