Treadmill. Gym at the Shire.
Mulungu dalitsa Malaŵi – National Anthem of Malawi
Desafinado – Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
The Heather on the Hill – Brigadoon
When the Ship Comes In – The Pogues
Death Letter – Cassandra Wilson
Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan
The Chain – Shawn Colvin
When It’s Sleepy Time Down South – Louis Armstrong
Raise the Alarm – Beyonce
Oye Como Va – Santana
Good Enough – Sarah McLachlan
My Girl – The Temptations
There for You – Clannad
You Tried to Ruin My Name – Wilma Lee Cooper
Minor Swing: To Django – Children of the Revolution
Peace God – Wyclef Jean
Tag Archives: Malawi
6 July 2019, part deux
Wonderful people, great conversations
The Rev. Stanley Chimeysa from Malawi is visiting New York. I had the privilege to take him on visits with some amazing people.
It was a good day.
Twice blessed
I give thanks for those who pray for the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations and for me. Each of the past two days included an event that reminded me of the power of those prayers.
Second blessing
Today, 26 August, I attended worship at Wellshire Presbyterian Church in Denver. I had the opportunity to speak briefly about the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations during the worship service. A potluck followed worship. There I spoke directly to a number of the members. Before either of those events took place, the Rev. Dr. Pattie Kitchen led the congregation in the pastoral prayer for the morning. She prayed for me – by name – and for the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.
First blessing
On 23 – 25 August, I took part in the Malawi Mission Network meeting. Again I had the opportunity to speak to the whole network and to have many wonderful conversations with individuals or small groups. I reconnected with some friends that I have known, including Mark and Lin Plumb from my college days. I made many new friends, including Mary Mphande, Helen Zimba, and Mercy Nyirenda who helped me don the chitenge that I won as a door prize.
Saturday evening, we gathered in the outside amphitheater at the Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center. Our partners from Malawi, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Mission Co-workers serving in Malawi, and staff members serving with the Presbyterian Mission Agency sat in the front rows. As a campfire flickered before us, network members stood around us, laid hands on us, and prayed for us.
Each experience moved me deeply, providing touching reminders of the power of prayer and the grace of community. Twice blessed, I give thanks and will remember these moments in the days to come.
See you along the Trail.
My new friend Kathy Bernard took the photo of the group for whom the Malawi Mission Network prayed.
Chitenge on a dare
I am attending the meeting of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Malawi Mission Network at the Highlands Presbyterian Camp and Retreat Center in Allenspark, CO.
Last night (23 August), the opening night of the meeting, I went to the Malawi 101 session. There I won a door prize: a chitenge (also spelled chitenje).
My friend Amanda Craft wrote a reflection about the role of the chitenje when we were on a travel study seminar together. It was for the old blog of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program so it does not show Amanda as the author. She wrote it. I watched her.
The contest involved our birthdays. The person with their birthday closest to last night (23 August) was to win. With a date of one month and one day away, I won.
Amid the laughter came the dare: you should wear this tomorrow (24 August) when you do your presentation on the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.
Far be it from me to pass on a dare.
As my presentation began at 10:00 AM Central Time, Mary Mphande, Helen Zimba, and Mercy Nyirenda helped me don the chitenge. Kathy Bernard graciously took the picture.
And the rest is history.
See you along the Trail.
A prayer on a day of grief
Famine stalks the Horn of Africa.
A bomb and gunfire rip Norway.
Violence wracks Malawi and Syria.
Rapes are perpetrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Atrocities are suspected in Southern Kordofan.
Human rights are denied in Madagascar, Peru, and Colombia.
A bomb and gunfire rip Norway.
Violence wracks Malawi and Syria.
Rapes are perpetrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Atrocities are suspected in Southern Kordofan.
Human rights are denied in Madagascar, Peru, and Colombia.
Weak and vulnerable people are exploited and abused in the United States.
In places and situations that fail to make the headlines,
people are violated; God’s creation is abused.
Yet we continue to trust the good news:
that peace will prevail; that good will overcome evil;
that love is stronger than death; that God will have the final word.
And so we pray:
people are violated; God’s creation is abused.
Yet we continue to trust the good news:
that peace will prevail; that good will overcome evil;
that love is stronger than death; that God will have the final word.
And so we pray:
Gracious God,
the hurts of the world are legion,
the wounds of your beloved children exceed our counting.
Our spirits sag,
our hearts ache,
we grow weary.
Pour your Holy Spirit afresh upon us:
renew us
revive us
sustain us
guide us
for the living of these days and
for the loving of one another
we pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Filed under Worship
