Thank you, Ruth Duck, for pouring beauty into the world, into our hearts. You have been a gift to us and a gift to the world. I imagine that you have jumped right into the heavenly choir and are composing a few new texts for the next big bash.
You sing on in my heart through so many songs. But especially in the prayers of the people that you composed with Mark Miller. "Prayers of the People. For All Who Labor without End."
For all who labor without end. Hear our prayer, O God. For all who lonely seek a friend. Hear our prayer, O God. ... Holy healer, your people call your name. Send your spirit. Hear our prayer.
*I spent yesterday in the art studio (Art & Soul Nashville). I painted this piece after doing a guided meditation on an important memory in my life. What came to me was the last time I was with Ruth in 2018 at a meeting of the North American Academy of Liturgy. I never got to take classes from her, but our lives overlapped through the annual meetings of "the liturgy nerds."
p.s. I love the term Dean McIntyre used, "Liturgical Theologian." I love all you liturgical theologians out there that grow faith through music, prayer and liturgy, even if most of you won't let me sing in your choirs.
This is a comment I posted versions of on several facebook posts. "You will be reading in your UCC news and newsletters about the death of Ruth Duck in the days, weeks and months ahead. I want to pay my respect as well. I never tired of traditional Christian Hymnody until I was introduced to Duck's Because We Are One People and Sing a Womansong (and her later books) was never again the same. Both published by the Ecumenical Women's Center in the mid 70's. At that time, the EWC was one of two pioneering women's centers in the US focused on women and religion. I was apart of the other one the Women's Center for Theologizing in Kansas City…