Tag: Lent

Old Friends and New

a quote from Sarah Parsons about Lent beginning in the wilderness

Years ago when I was editor of The Upper Room’s website, I began collecting my favorite quotes from Upper Room Books and sharing them in the “Seasonal Reflections” emails. These quotes and their authors became friends I relied on when I hit difficult stretches of life.

It was so satisfying to pick out a selection of these “friends” to include in the pages of Walking in the Wilderness. And I was able to add some new favorite quotes and authors from more recent Upper Room publications.

I hope that you also learn to feel that these faithful friends are waiting to share their wisdom with you when you hit life’s difficult seasons.

Here are just a few …

We are invited simply to be with God. … Crawling up in the lap of Love, resting our head against Love’s breast, and taking comfort in that slow, steady heartbeat of grace that says, This is where you belong.
-Roger Owens, What We Need Is Here

God, collect our tears … And pour them back on us as life-giving water!
-Safiyah Fosua, The Africana Worship Book: Year B

Dear God, help us to see that we are more more than our scars.
-Michael W. Waters, Freestyle

Faithfulness is consecration in overalls.
-Evelyn Underhill, Writings of Evelyn Underhill

All things come and all things go over and over again.
-John S. Mogabgab, Weavings

Grief is such a messy thing.
-Roberta C. Bondi, Wild Things

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Lenten Practice

“I never aspired to write a book for the Lenten season. I have always been so much more attracted to the softness of the season of Advent. In fact, I may have been heard to say, ‘I will never write a book about Lent.’ But here I am, writing a book for Lent, this season of wandering in the wilderness.”
-Introduction to Walking in the Wilderness: Seeking God During Lent

As I was considering my Lenten discipline this year, I decided to read my book in a different way. I’m finding that way to be creating a collage each day. This practice is keeping me grounded, letting me hear these words as if they were spoken to me.

Each day’s entry in Walking in the Wilderness includes a quote from an Upper Room author, a scripture reading, a reflection and prayer from me, and a word to carry in one’s heart through the day. As I tear apart the pages of the book, different elements speak to me and arrange themselves on a page.

I offer to you some of these pages. May the Holy One guide you through these days.

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My New Book – Walking in the Wilderness

We may be traveling in the wilderness, but we are not alone. We travel together, holding this sacred space for one another. And the Spirit travels with us into our wilderness journey. “Introduction,” Walking in the Wilderness: Seeking God During Lent

I’m excited to announce that my new book has arrived. Walking in the Wilderness: Seeking God During Lent is published by Upper Room Books and available now from your favorite bookseller.

We may be traveling in the wilderness, but we are not alone. We travel together, holding this sacred space for one another. And the Spirit travels with us into our wilderness journey. “Introduction,” Walking in the Wilderness: Seeking God During Lent

Many voices join mine in guiding us through this perilous season. You will find familiar friends and new ones. Prophets, teachers, and wise ones from whom we hear just right the words. Roger Owens, Juanita Campbell Rasmus, Stephen D. Bryant, Roberta Bondi, Safiyah Fosua, Michael Waters, and many others lend their wisdom.

On the six Sundays of Lent, I offer spiritual practices that I hope will help guide us through these difficult days. These practices are Being Present, Lament, Lectio Divina, Trust, Compassion, and Hospitality.

Blessings to you during this time of chaos and turmoil. Never forget … You are not alone. You are beloved. Thanks be to God.

Holy Week at The Upper Room

Such an honor to be leading The Upper Room in worship during Holy Week. I hope you will consider joining me Wednesday or Thursday.

For Friends Far Away
An online gathering on Holy Wednesday: Prayer and Practice

9:00 a.m. (Central Time) – Prayer and practice using Zoom, an online tool for meeting with others. Join us: https://zoom.us/j/191740575. (That would be 10:00 a.m., Eastern; 8:00 a.m., Mountain; 7:00 a.m., Pacific)

For Nashville Area Friends
Services in the Chapel

Holy Wednesday:
10:45 a.m. — Morning prayer in the chapel

Maundy Thursday:
10:45 a.m. — Service of Eucharist in The Upper Room Chapel

1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN.

Wednesday Morning Prayer During Lent

Join me for a short morning prayer service each Wednesday during Lent. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 9:00 a.m. (CST) and continuing on Wednesdays through Holy Week, we will meet online for 15 minutes to pray together.

All are welcome.

We will be meeting through Zoom, a video and audio platform that you can use on your computer, your iPhone or iPad, or by calling in on your telephone.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/191740575

Dates:
Mar 6, 2019 9:00 AM (CST)
Mar 13, 2019 9:00 AM (CDT)
Mar 20, 2019 9:00 AM (CDT)
Mar 27, 2019 9:00 AM (CDT)
Apr 3, 2019 9:00 AM (CDT)
Apr 10, 2019 9:00 AM (CDT)
Apr 17, 2019 9:00 AM (CDT)

Time Zones:
10:00 a.m. Eastern time
9:00 am. Central time
8:00 a.m. Mountain time
7:00 a.m. Pacific time

Instructions for Using Zoom:

Learn how to join a zoom meeting on your PC or Mac. https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-How-Do-I-Join-A-Meeting-

Learn how to join a zoom meeting on your iPhone or iPad. https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362993-Getting-Started-with-iOS

The Place of Our Brokenness

Here in this season of Lent, we are so aware of brokenness in our world, in society, in our relationships, in our selves. And that’s the amazing thing about God’s presence in the world. God transforms the brokenness that we all have … even Christ’s brokenness on the cross.

God, the Great Transformer, the Great Healer, weaves us back together so that the place of our wound, the place of our brokenness becomes the place of our greatest strength.

Watch Video.

Repent and Transform

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I skipped yesterday’s word in Alive Now’s Lent Photo-a-Day spiritual practice. The word was “Repent.”

Today’s word, “Transform,” is so much easier for me to illustrate. I thought about the transformation that’s going on around me as Spring arrives. The daffodils started blooming three weeks ago. And because the weather has been just the right combination of warm days and cool nights, it seems that all the flowering trees are going to be blooming at the same time. From the star magnolias to the redbuds to the flowering pears. It’s going to be a wonderland here this week. (And a challenging location for those who suffer with allergies.)

But back to the word I skipped. “Repent” is a hard word to think about because it reminds me of the mistakes I’ve made, of the ways I’ve hurt other people, of the many times I think only of myself. Metanoia, from the Greek, means “a transformative change of heart.”

I may avoid it, but it’s what I want, truly, for myself, for this broken world. That I, that we, might have a change of heart that makes us better people, a more compassionate society, a more kind and just world.

Come, Holy Spirit.
Blow through my hardened heart
And transform it
Into a heart of love,
Of Kindness,
Of Compassion.

Come, Holy Spirit.
Blow through our broken world
And transform it
Into a world of caring,
Of peace,
Of justice.

Ignite our repentance
That we might turn toward you
And be transformed.

 

A note from Beth: Please join me in celebrating my new book, Christ Beside Me, Christ Within Me: Celtic Blessings. You are invited to an online party on March 17 at 7:30 (CDT). If you can’t be there at that time, please register for the free webinar, and a link to view the interview/party will be sent after the event.

Ash Wednesday Blessing

frozen bush

Bless this day of ashes,
This space, this pause.

May we be open,
May we be honest,
May we be mindful.

May we be patient,
May we be quiet,
May we be gentle.

Facing fear,
Facing sorrow,
Facing joy,
Facing pain.

This life is yours.
This life is a gift.
We return it to you.

Bless this day of ashes,
This space, this pause.

 
 
Find more of my prayers in my book Christ Beside Me, Christ Before Me: Celtic Blessings.

Welcome, Spring

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Long nights and cold days
Fallow fields and dormant trees
A lenten journey of the inner world

I open my eyes and see
Light. Warmth breaking through

Promise of new life
Coming out of death
Resurrection

Welcome, beauty
Welcome, buds
Welcome, newness
Inside and all around me

You, God, source of Hope
Source of Healing
Source of Life

Welcome, welcome
Make your home in me

Photo by Beth A. Richardson. Tulip tree bloom with the windows of The Upper Room Chapel in the background.

 
 
Find more of my prayers in my book Christ Beside Me, Christ Before Me: Celtic Blessings.

A Grain of Wheat

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Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
– John 12:24 (NRSV)

God of Justice
God of Mercy
Let me be that tiny grain

Grant me patience
In my waiting
Grant me courage
For the dying that must come

And, whether or not
I see the beauty of the golden field
Let me know deeply
Let me know truly
That I have served you well

I am yours