Last Friday at Boston Warm, we had a party: there were red-clothed tables, a community-decorated Christmas tree, a Christmas movie, hand-decorated cookies, all of it. It was such a joyful and relaxing moment as a community. As always, my favorite moment was our Uno game (shout out to Junior for winning four games in a row)! I’ve often found that when we play Uno, the game brings us together, and there is tangible relaxation in the atmosphere. We can all focus on flexing our skills. Overshadowed by fun and friendly competition, our differences are minimized. This focus on play is also part of what makes drama therapy effective.
Tag Archives: Spirit
Forgiveness
Easter 7C, 29 May 2022. The Rev. John Golenski
John 20: 19-31. Jesus appeared and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they recognized the Lord.
Like so many of us, I had plans this week. My plans included the better part of a day preparing this sermon. Then May 24th in Uvalde, Texas happened. Sometimes, in spite of everything we intend, Life intrudes with undeniable demands. No matter how much effort I put into focusing on the Scripture, Uvalde intruded. So, this is the unintended, unplanned reflection on God’s Word speaking to what is happening now in our country. Continue reading
Go!
Lent 2A, March 12, 2017; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz
Genesis 12:1-4a Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house.
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
John 3:1-17 How can these things be?
O God of grace, grant us the strength, the wisdom and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.
This is one of those Sundays when I have a harder time giving thanks and praise to God in response to the scripture readings when I first hear them, because it’s hard for me to hear them read without thinking about the damage humans do to one another using these passages as weapons. The recent and dramatic rise of hateful words and actions against Jews and Muslims (or people mistaken for Muslims) is fueled by arrogance and ignorance of “Christian” teachings. The fighting happens within Christianity as well, between Catholics and protestants, between different kinds of protestants, and within our own Anglican traditions. Perhaps you have a similar experience of knowing these lessons from a standpoint of in and out, us and them, ours and not yours. Perhaps you’ve heard these lessons as being about tests about who measures up because of what they think or don’t think. If not, just wait for today’s cantata! All this makes many flee religious practice, and for good reason. Continue reading