What Now? Six and Out - April 26, 2014

The Power of the Threshold

The Resurrection is not a single event, but a loosening

of God's power and light into the earth and into history

that continues to alter all things, infusing them

with the grace and power of God's own holiness.

It is as though a door was opened, and what poured out

will never be stopped, and the door cannot be closed.

                                                                                                        Megan McKenna

Responding to Easter, Possibility Five

Hope

Approach this new door

with great confidence in your heart,

for you have so much to offer.

Open each new door with trust,

holding your dreams very near...

knowing the world is waiting

for the goodness and the love you carry within you. 

                                                                                                             M. E. Miro

Prayer

Heart of Hope,

you draw me to hear the world's  heartache.

You strengthen my spirit when I feel frail.

You encourage me when I am disheartened

You enliven me when I sense helpless rigidity.

I go now to share what you give to me each  day.

Thank you that I can be your channel of hope.

I open the door of my heart to you

AND

Thanks to each of you for sharing this Lenten/Easter journey. These daily prayers and more are sent to you through the faithful commitment and generosity of The Gathering, precious members of the Beloved Community, who are great in Spirit and Service. We worship, study, retreat, serve, pastor and more. We touch many, many lives in the name of Jesus in Baltimore and beyond.

For those of you who joined us for this journey, I invite you to support all we are and do. Please consider a gift to our ministry. Send to

The Gathering of Baltimore

c/o Sarah Walsh, Treasurer

47 East Timonium Road

Timoniim, MD 21093

The Peace of Christ. Sharon

What Now? Five - April 25, 2014

The Power of the Threshold

The Resurrection is not a single event, but a loosening

of God's power and light into the earth and into history

that continues to alter all things, infusing them

with the grace and power of God's own holiness.

It is as though a door was opened, and what poured out

will never be stopped, and the door cannot be closed.

                                                                                                        Megan McKenna

Responding to Easter, Possibility Four

Peace

"If we have the will and determination

to mount such a peace offensive,

we will unlock hitherto tightly sealed doors of hope

and bring new light into the dark chambers of pessimism.    

                                                                            Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Do not let your heart be troubled."

                                                        John 14:1

Divine Peace Bringer,

take what is jagged in my relationships

and transform it with your grace.

I will do my best to bid farewell

to whatever keeps me from inner peace.

Help me bring your enduring harmony

into every part of my existence. Amen

What Now? Four - April 24, 2014

The Power of the Threshold

The Resurrection is not a single event, but a loosening

of God's power and light into the earth and into history

that continues to alter all things, infusing them

with the grace and power of God's own holiness.

It is as though a door was opened, and what poured out

will never be stopped, and the door cannot be closed.

                                                                                                        Megan McKenna

Responding to Easter, Possibility Three

Hospitality

"I want to declare an open-door policy of the heart;

it gets wearisome scrutinizing everyone through

the peephole before sliding the deadbolt free."

                                                                                                                                                                Marc Ian Barasch

"A certain woman named Lydia...urged us...'Come and stay at my home.'"

                                                                                                    Acts 16: 14-15

Divine Guest,

I lovingly welcome you...

Free my mind when it locks out others.

Disarm my heart...Amen.

What Now? Three - April 23, 2014

The Power of the Threshold

The Resurrection is not a single event, but a loosening

of God's power and light into the earth and into history

that continues to alter all things, infusing them

with the grace and power of God's own holiness.

It is as though a door was opened, and what poured out

will never be stopped, and the door cannot be closed.

                                                                                                        Megan McKenna

Responding to Easter, Possibility Two

Love

Love is patient; love is kind;

love is not envious or boastful

or arrogant or rude.

it does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice in wrongdoing,

but rejoices in the truth...

Love never ends.

Prayer

The generous love I receive from you

inspires and moves me to act unselfishly.

May the goodness dwelling within me

bless the lives of those I encounter each day.

What now? Two - April 22, 2014

The Power of the Threshold

The Resurrection is not a single event, but a loosening

of God's power and light into the earth and into history

that continues to alter all things, infusing them

with the grace and power of God's own holiness.

It is as though a door was opened, and what poured out

will never be stopped, and the door cannot be closed.

                                                                                                        Megan McKenna

Responding to Easter, Possibility One

Service

In Sacred Thresholds Paula D'Arcy tells a story about providing an evening program for women inmates at a nearby prison. Before she left home, Paula received specific instructions about what to do before going through the prison's security system. Consequently, when she arrived at the prison's parking lot, she complied with the instructions in this way:

            I popped the trunk of my car and removed every piece of jewelry, including

            my watch. I threw in my pocketbook. I removed my car key from a key ring

            bursting with keys, each one representing entry into the busyness of my life. From

            my wallet I retrieved my license. It was a strange exercise with a great deal

            of power....Your education and degrees no longer serve you. No one cares.

            Your level of income is irrelevant. Your pretenses are dangerous. Nothing

            will get through the metal detectors but who you really are.

Who you really are. No matter what form of paid or volunteer work we do...the most valuable gift we bring to this labor is our self. The more we open the door of our depths and learn from what we find there, the greater spiritual richness we are able to bring to others. We go forth humbly, no longer hiding behind the careful defense of our persona. We enter our work knowing there is much to receive from others as well as give to them. We set out with the power of the Holy One alive and resilient in us...

Prayer

Teacher and Healer

you brought the gift of yourself

to those who benefited from your work

You touched them with well springs of love

Remind me each day to do the same.                                                                Joyce Rupp

What now? One - April 21, 2014

In Joppa and Jerusalem

in Atlanta and Asheville,

people of prayer are prone

to catching a glimpse

of Heaven's Bidding.

The ecstatic vision rises up

in the midst of pots and pans,

unswept floors, workday

boredom and endless to-do lists.

The ancient  witness speaks like this:

        Then I saw a new heaven

        and a new earth, for

        all that had come before

        was renewed and redeemed.

And I saw a holy habitation,

big cities and small burgs,

meadows and mountains,

all shedding their enmity

in response to God's rhapsody...

        

        Make way, make way, for all excluded

        are destined for embrace

Look and see!

Hosanna's Home breaks out in flesh

and blood, claiming river and raven,

harvest and heretic.

        Look and see!

        Amazing grace erupts

        in every tear gland

        and funeral parlor,

        in every orphanage and

        operating room.

Death's dominion shall end,

every terror shall bend,

to the sound of

grace unrestrained.

        Look and see! Let it be, let it be!

        May it be so today, with you

        and with me.                                            Ken Sehested

Day 40 - April 19, 2014

Benedicere

May your home always be too

small to hold all your friends.

May your heart remain ever supple,

fearless in the face of threat,

jubilant in the grip of grace.

May your hands remain open,

caressing, never clenched,

save to pound the doors of all who

barter justice to he highest bidder.

May your heroes be earthy,

dusty-shoed and rumpled,

hallowed but unhaloed,

guiding you through seasons

of tremor and travail, apprenticed

to the godly art of giggling amid

haggard news and portentous circumstance.

May your hankering be

in rhythm with heaven's,

whose covenant vows a dusty

intersection with our own:

when creation's hope and history rhyme.

May hosannas lilt from your lungs:

    God is not done;

God is not yet done.

All flesh, I am told, will behold;

will surely behold.                                                                    Ken Sehested

Day 39 - April 18, 2014

Our God,

Is this your son Jesus hanging on the cross?

The one who healed the sick, taught us how to live in your ways, proclaimed the coming of your reign?

Is it through this dying one, is it from this cross that you assert your reign?

You, Giver of Life, suffering, renewing, claiming dominion

here, where the power of death could force its way:

Here at this hospital bed,

            where someone is dying of cancer.

Here amidst the wreckage of the accident,

            where children, their frames crushed, struggle to live.

Here in the welfare office,

            where those who wait are measuring their hopes.

Here in these tents,

            where refugees mourn for homes they have fled.

Here in this world,

            wherever death stalks your children:

This is where you reign.

Give light to our vision, O God,

that we may discover you, our Creator,

            amidst this groaning creation.

Stir faith in our hearts,

that our tongues may sing and knees bend

            before the exalted One who suffers.

Give strength to our love,

that where life struggles to prevail,

            we would bring your renewing Spirit.

We pray, as we would live,

in the name of that One whose power is shaped like a cross.          

            Jesus, our Christ. Amen.                                                                          

                                                                                   Michael L. Pennanen

Day 38 - April 17, 2014

A Farewell Tear

a feast of friendship

a story of betrayal

a memory of gifts given

you look with such intense love

on each one gathered there,

mist covers your deep brown eyes

as you hold each one in your gaze,

you close your eyes and I see

the farewell tear of friendship

as it follows the curve of your cheek.

you take the bread,

bless it gently, profoundly,

with old words and new.

(do you mean to say it is yourself?)

and then the wine,

again with words old and new.

(do you mean to say this, too,

is now yourself?)

you look again at each one there

and give the eternal gift:

"remember me and do the same."

like those around the table then,

so with us who gather now,

if we knew how close our hearts

are held inside of yours,

we would always be amazed

that you meant this for us, too.

how shall we ever be brave enough

to do what you have done,

when grief engulfs our every breath

and each memorial word

is laden with our loss?                                                                

                                                                        joyce rupp

Day 37 - April 16, 2014

As we approach and prepare for the sacredness of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday today we reflect on the meaning of, and we seek, forgiveness.

The hatred which divide nation from nation, race from race, class from class,

        Father, forgive.

The covetous desires of men and nations to possess what is not their own,

        Father, forgive.

The greed which exploits the labors of men, and lays waste to the earth,

        Father, forgive.

Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,

        Father, forgive.

Our indifference to the plight of the homeless and the refugee,

        Father, forgive.

The lust which uses for ignoble ends the bodies of men and women,

        Father, forgive.

The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves, and not in God,

        Father, forgive.

                                                 Plaque on altar of Coventry Cathedral, 1964

Lord, I find forgiveness from the heart one of the most difficult things in life. Grant me the generosity to forgive totally, so that no hurt or grudge or memory remains.

                                                                          Henry Wansbrough

"...forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us..."

"Father forgive them."                    Jesus