Author: revpaulcalkin

— WORD FOR THE DAY —I don’t know any other way to move through darkness, but to put one foot ahead of the other and listen for the exact sound of our footsteps. If we have to drop to our knees sometimes and press the palms of our hands against the duff and damp of the Earth, then that is what we will do.

KATHLEEN DEAN MOORE – via grateful.org

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Prayers Of The People from Easter Sunday,

April 20, 2025

Prayers Of The People:

God of patience, love, and grace,

God of the rising sun, of hope, of empty tombs, 

We are grateful.

For those who went to take care of the things of death,

And yet found life, we give thanks!

For those who could not quite believe it,

Yet shared good news, we give thanks! 

For those who had to think a bit before responding,

We give thanks!

God of love,

Hear our prayer.

God of the hopeful and the distressed,

Help us to breathe words of hope into our bodies,

To believe that your love is greater than any destruction,

To believe your love in the midst of suffering and distress.

God of love,

Hear our prayer.

When we look into empty tombs and are still skeptical,

Stand with us.

When we perceive there is good news,

Help us believe it!

When we seek to convince ourselves and others,

Rest with us.

God of love,

Hear our prayer.

When we believe our own doubts more than your love,

Nudge us.

When we nourish ourselves on the cheap food of negativity,

Kindle our love for ourselves and for others.

When we are only focused on ourselves,

Send others to remind us that we are not the only people in this world.

And when we feel the nudge to help someone, 

Help us act on that love and care for another.

God of love, 

Hear our prayer. Amen. 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

On this Good Friday:

This is one of the holiest days in our faith tradition. The narrative from the Gospels recount the events in rather chilling words. 

After investigations with both Jewish and Roman authorities, Jesus is led out to be crucified.  One Gospel has him stumbling under the burden of the cross, and Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service to help him out. 

Soldiers mock him and place a crown of thorns on his head.  He is mocked by the Jewish authorities as well.

As Jesus dies, there is darkness, a great earthquake, the veil of the temple is torn in two, and those who are dead come out of their graves.  Jesus is taken down from the cross after his death, and placed in a borrowed tomb. 

The story is stark, horrific, and brutal. 

I think it is important to let it rest into our souls for a bit.  We can imagine what it was like for all those who had listened to him teach, saw him do miracles, shared meals, saw people healed. 

They thought it was over.  Let that rest into your soul until Sunday morning.

Peace be with you on this painful day. – Paul

On this Thursday of Holy Week (Maundy or Holy Thursday)

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 480

Text: George Matheson, 1842-1906 

Music: Albert L. Peace, 1844-1912 

Tune: ST. MARGARET, Meter: 88.886

1. O Love that wilt not let me go, 

I rest my weary soul in thee; 

I give thee back the life I owe, 

that in thine ocean depths 

its flow may richer, fuller be. 

2. O Light that followest all my way, 

I yield my flickering torch to thee; 

my heart restores its borrowed ray, 

that in thy sunshine’s blaze 

its day may brighter, fairer be. 

3. O Joy that seekest me through pain, 

I cannot close my heart to thee; 

I trace the rainbow thru the rain, 

and feel the promise is not vain, 

that morn shall tearless be. 

4. O Cross that liftest up my head, 

I dare not ask to fly from thee; 

I lay in dust life’s glory dead, 

and from the ground there blossoms 

red life that shall endless be.

Here is a link to the song.

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go – UMH 480

Peace Be With You. – Paul

What Wondrous Love Is This

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 292

Text: USA folk hymn 

Music: USA folk hymn; harm. by Paul J. Christiansen, 1955 (MH harm by Carlton R. Young) 

Tune: WONDROUS LOVE, Meter: 12 9.12 9

1) What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, 

what wondrous love is this, O my soul! 

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss 

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, 

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul. 

2) What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, 

what wondrous love is this, O my soul! 

What wondrous love is this, that caused the lord of life 

to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, 

to lay aside his crown for my soul. 

3) To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing, 

to God and to the Lamb, I will sing. 

To God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM, 

while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, 

while millions join the theme I will sing. 

4) And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, 

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on. 

And when from death I’m free I’ll sing and joyful be, 

and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, 

and through eternity I’ll sing on. 

Here is a link to that song:

What Wondrous Love Is This UMH #292

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Today’s hymn is from The Faith We Sing hymnal.  It is number 2193.  In our hymnal, we have the chorus, which is one of the most popular pieces of the song.  The author of this song is Ken Medema. 

From hymnary.org:  

Ken Medema (b. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1943) is a song writer, composer, recording artist, and story-teller through music. Blind from birth, Ken began playing the piano at age five and studied classical music by reading Braille. He graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and studied music therapy at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. As a music therapist in both Indiana and New Jersey, he began writing songs for hurting teenagers, an experience that helped to launch a career of writing songs on Christian life that has taken him to venues large and small all over North America and beyond. He responds to what he hears and sees in his heart at particular events, often improvising songs on the spot, offering compassion, honesty and desire for integrity in both worship and life. In 1985 he began Brier Patch Music, which continues to publish his music and recordings, including 26 CDs.

Here are the lyrics to the hymn.  

“Lord Listen to Your Children Praying” TFWS 2193

Hymn Tune:  CHILDREN PRAYING

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your Spirit in this place;

Lord, listen to your children praying, 

Send us love, send us power, send us grace.

Today, consider singing this song, especially this short chorus, as you pray.  Hum it as you go through your day.  Remember others.  Give thanks. 

Peace be with you. – Paul

Here is a link to the complete song. Note the child at the first!

LORD,LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING words & music by KEN MEDEMA

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Prayer of Confession and Words of Forgiveness from Palm Sunday worship.

Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church.

Prayer of Confession

Holy God, we want to run into the streets and sing your praise! 

We want to be bold and unashamed of this good-news Gospel. 

However, too often we find ourselves standing against the wall. 

Too often we stay quiet. 

Too often we let others carry the song.

Forgive us for the moments when we could lead the parade 

       but instead find ourselves standing on the sidelines. 

Show us which songs are ours to sing.

Show us which parades are ours to lead,

and then give us the courage and conviction to do both. 

With hope and honesty we pray, amen. 

Words Of Forgiveness

Friends, no matter where you are on the parade route—whether you are waving palm branches through the streets or standing against the wall, quiet and cautious—Jesus marched for you. Jesus’ love, his striving for justice and mercy, it was for you.

You are included in this story and nothing can ever change that. 

So hear these words and trust them deep in your bones:

We have reason to sing, for Jesus Christ loved you yesterday. Jesus Christ loves you today. And Jesus Christ will love you tomorrow. You are forgiven, claimed, and sent to serve. Go out and sing. Go out trusting these words. Amen. 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Today’s hymn is “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” and is one of my favorite hymns.  

All Glory, Laud, and Honor

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 280

Text: Theodulph of Orleans; trans. by John Mason Neale 

Music: Melchior Teschner; harm. by W.H. Monk 

Tune: ST. THEODULPH, Meter: 76.76 D

Refrain: 

All glory, laud, and honor, 

to thee, Redeemer, King, 

to whom the lips of children 

made sweet hosannas ring. 

1. Thou art the King of Israel, 

thou David’s royal Son, 

who in the Lord’s name comest, 

the King and Blessed One. 

(Refrain) 

2. The company of angels 

are praising thee on high, 

and we with all creation 

in chorus make reply. 

(Refrain) 

3. The people of the Hebrews 

with psalms before thee went; 

our prayer and praise and anthems 

before thee we present. 

(Refrain) 

4. To thee, before thy passion, 

they sang their hymns of praise; 

to thee, now high exalted, 

our melody we raise. 

(Refrain) 

5. Thou didst accept their praises; 

accept the prayers we bring, 

who in all good delightest, 

thou good and gracious King. 

(Refrain) 

Here is the link:

All Glory Laud and Honor (webstream, 11 AM)

Peace Be With You. – Paul

“BLUE BOAT HOME”

Words by singer/songwriter Peter Mayer

Melody by Prichard, Hymn #207 in UU hymnal

Though below me, I feel no motion

Standing on these mountains and plains

Far away from the rolling ocean

Still my dry land heart can say

I’ve been sailing all my life now

Never harbor or port have I known

The wide universe is the ocean I travel

And the earth is my blue boat home

Sun, my sail, and moon my rudder

As I ply the starry sea

Leaning over the edge in wonder

Casting questions into the deep

Drifting here with my ship’s companions

All we kindred pilgrim souls

Making our way by the lights of the heavens

In our beautiful blue boat home

I give thanks to the waves upholding me

Hail the great winds urging me on

Greet the infinite sea before me

Sing the sky my sailor’s song

I was born upon the fathoms

Never harbor or port have I known

The wide universe is the ocean I travel

And the earth is my blue boat home

A link to Jerry Griffin and Mary Boatman singing this song: Blue Boat Home

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 269

Text: Claudia F. Hernaman, 1873 (Mt. 4:1-11; Mk. 1:12-13; Lk. 4:1-13)

Music: USA folk melody; arr. by Annabel Morris Buchanan, 1938; harm. by Charles H.

Tune: LAND OF REST, Meter: CM

1 Lord, who throughout these forty days,

For us did fast and pray,

Teach us with you to mourn our sins,

And close by you to stay.

2 As you with Satan did contend,

And did the vict’ry win,

O give us strength in you to fight,

In you to conquer sin.

3 As you did hunger bear and thirst,

So teach us, gracious Lord,

To die to self, and always live

By your most holy word.

4 And through these days of penitence,

And through your Passion-tide,

Forevermore, in life and death,

O Lord, with us abide.

5 Abide with us that when this life

Of suffering is past,

An Easter of unending joy

We may attain at last!

Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days – OUMC Choir

Peace Be With You. – Paul