With thanks to my friend Jimmie Hawkins for the profound reminder that obedience to higher principles, values, and visions often requires disobedience to unjust and immoral laws, rules and regulations. Order Unbroken and Unbowed.
Photo: 25 June, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky
Filed under Advent, Antiracism, Current Events, Friends, Human Rights, Photo, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The dictionary says of “winnow” =
(of the wind) blow.
“the autumn wind winnowing its way through the grass”
It’s not grass. And I don’t know the season. But it seems to me the wind has winnowed this tree a lot over a lot of time.
Photo: 25 August 2012, Allenspark, CO
Filed under Advent, Photo, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Thank you, God,
for all my colleagues who
generously gave to support the local pantry.
Watch over all who receive this food,
help them know your presence.
Guide us Gpd to work to create a system
in which your abundance is shared
so that all your precious children
have enough.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Filed under Friends, Prayer, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
At the end of Eric and Essie Koenig-Reinke’s wedding.
It has been a while.
But delight lasts a long, long time.
Photo: 8 June 2022, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA
Filed under Advent, Family, Louisville, Music, playlist, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
A Palestinian flag flies in a camp at Standing Rock.
A witness to solidarity.
A reminder that all struggles for justice are intertwined.
A symbol of unity.
Photo: 14 November 2016, Standing Rock, North Dakota
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Photo, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Rev. Essie Koenig-Reinke celebrates communion at the service where she was ordained as a minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She was ordained by the Presbytery of Baltimore at Dickey Memorial Presbyterian Church (DMPC).
If ever anyone was ready for ordained ministry (and most folks who reach that point are), Essie was. Her ministry at DMPC and beyond os a blessing.
Photo: 14 November 2021, Dickey Memorial Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, Maryland
Filed under Family, Photo, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Women’s Day March
March, 2015
New York, New York
The Rev. Dr. James Reese died on June 17 at age 98; he served over 70 years as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); he lived his life in ministry.
For the Rev. Dr. James Foster Reese (presente!):
for his life and love
for his faith and kindness
for his courage and witness
for his persistent challenge to white supremacy
for his insistent commitment to justice
for his consistent service to Jesus,
revealed in so many ways but particularly
as he ‘refused to leave the table’ where decisions were made
even when he felt pushed to the margins and ignored,
thanks be to God.
For his wife, Neola,
his family,
his friends,
his colleagues in ministry,
his mentees,
and all who knew and loved him,
we ask your comfort, God.
Keep his memory present and alive
as an inspiration and example to us all.
We pray in the name of Jesus
who the Rev. Dr. Reese followed.
Amen.
August 26 is the day that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Week of Action focuses on No More Stolen Relatives: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit People. A short video describes the crisis and invites you to participate in the day.
Here are actions you may take tomorrow.
Wear red. Take a selfie. Post it with the hashtags – #PCUSAWeekofAction #WeekofAction2021.
Follow the day’s events. Find links to more resources in the section on No More Stolen Relatives.
Tell your Senators to support the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act.
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
On Wednesday, Aug. 25, the PC(USA) Week of Action will turn its attention to the LGBTQIA+ community with events including a children’s story time and a poetry and story slam. The Week of Action is designed to bring attention and action to people and communities living under different forms of oppression.
Check out the schedule and watch the events at the Week of Action home page.
Along the Graybeard Trail 