Author: revpaulcalkin

  • Devotional – March 25, 2025

    “I know how difficult it is going to be, but I also believe that if just in one place we can win the battle over greed and callousness, that one victory may swing the tide over the entire world.”From Dragons in the Waters

    Madeleleine L’Engle

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • Devotional – March 24, 2025

    Here are the Prayers Of The People from

    Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church.

    March 23, 2025

    Prayers Of The People

    I invite you to take a breath. 

    Sometimes we forget to breathe, 

    it being all automatic and everything.

    In this moment, we breathe with intent.

    O Holy One, you enter our lives in the breath of life,

    Bringing us a moment of rest,

    Allowing us a moment of peace,

    A chance to let our body catch up to our mind.

    We thank you.

    God of love, Hear our prayer. 

    All manner of turmoil surrounds us,

    Personal, cultural, spiritual.

    It gets overwhelming, stressful, painful.

    We seek direction, insight, peace, hope.

    We seek to be merciful, to be people of great love.

    Rest inside us, guide us.

    We thank you.

    God of love, Hear our prayer. 

    When it is time to act, tell us.

    When it is time to rest, guide us.

    When we get the two confused, instruct us.

    We thank you.

    God of love, Hear our prayer. 

    In this place, this place of solace, 

    Of strength, of acceptance, of love, of light,

    Our hearts find hope.  

    May we be all of these for any who enter these doors.

    We thank you.

    God of love, Hear our prayer. 

    For all in distress this day,

    For all who are seeking new directions,

    For all,

    We pray to you.

    We thank you.

    God of love, Hear our prayer. Amen.

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • Devotional – March 21, 2025

    From Brianna Brown:

    A Gentle Prayer As You Hold Unknowns

    Oh God of the universe, 

    you alone orchestrate the movement of the stars, 

    the birth of flowers blooming into beauty, 

    and the life cycle of leaves forming and changing as seasons come and go. 

    ///

    I sit here, in the bleakness of my questions,

    holding unknowns in my life that feel insurmountable. 

    Questions that rise from the depths of my soul fill my heart with yearning—

    for answers, 

    for peace, 

    for hope, 

    for a path forward, 

    for courage to look back, 

    for any sort of direction. 

    I am walking alongside you, Jesus, on a path that my eyes can’t see—

    where the fog is too thick, and my feet and heart feel confused. 

    ///

    Oh God of the universe, remind me today, 

    that you are working and weaving, 

    molding and forming, 

    designing and creating—

    a beautiful journey. 

    May I draw closer to the heartbeat of your breath today—

    the rhythm of your steadfastness, 

    the soothing of your knowing, 

    the regulation of your love. 

    ///

    Holy Spirit, remind me today that the answers to my questions are not the end all. 

    The process of drawing nearer, 

    doing my next right thing, 

    noticing God’s goodness in the mundane, 

    noticing the patterns of Love throughout my life—that is the journey through the unknown. 

    May I hold the words of Mary, the sacred mother of Jesus, with open hands today—

    May it be to me according to your word. 

    Amen

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • Devotional – March 20, 2025

    From author Jan Richardson:

    BELOVED IS WHERE WE BEGIN

    If you would enter

    into the wilderness,

    do not begin

    without a blessing.

    Do not leave

    without hearing

    who you are:

    Beloved,

    named by the One

    who has traveled this path

    before you.

    Do not go

    without letting it echo

    in your ears,

    and if you find

    it is hard

    to let it into your heart,

    do not despair.

    That is what

    this journey is for.

    I cannot promise

    this blessing will free you

    from danger,

    from fear,

    from hunger

    or thirst,

    from the scorching

    of sun

    or the fall

    of the night.

    But I can tell you

    that on this path

    there will be help.

    I can tell you

    that on this way

    there will be rest.

    I can tell you

    that you will know

    the strange graces

    that come to our aid

    only on a road

    such as this,

    that fly to meet us

    bearing comfort

    and strength,

    that come alongside us

    for no other cause

    than to lean themselves

    toward our ear

    and with their

    curious insistence

    whisper our name:

    Beloved.

    Beloved.

    Beloved.

    —Jan Richardson

    from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons

    Image: “Desert of the Beloved”

    © Jan Richardson

    janrichardsonimages.com

    Inspired by Luke 4:1-13.

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • Devotional – March 19, 2025

    From Judson Memorial Church, New York.  

    “If empathy is a sin, sin boldly.”

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • Devotional – March 18, 2025

    A good quote from the Winnie The Pooh collection – courtesy of @positivethreadsonly:

    “The things that make me different are the things that make me.”~ Piglet

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • Devotional – March 17, 2025

    Here are the Prayers Of The People

    From Mayfair Heights UMC Morning Worship

    March 16, 2025

    Prayers Of The People

    Gracious God, 

    Divine Love, 

    Source of the universe,

    Creator of planets, the elements, dinosaurs,

    Creator of humanity, of goodness, love, joy, beauty, grace,

    We thank you.

    God of love, Hear our prayer. 

    Just as you did not stay distant from us,

    You ask us to be close to each other,

    To lift each other up when needed,

    To instill in our own hearts

    Compassion, mercy, delight.

    Teach us, O Holy One.

    God of love, Hear our prayer. 

    Holy One, you have taught us that where grace is not practiced,

    Evil flourishes.

    You have taught us that we are the stewards of your grace,

    Caretakers of your light, love, mercy, justice.

    Help us in our continual learning and yearning.

    God of love, Hear our prayer. 

    As we seek our own forgiveness, 

    May we extend that forgiveness and mercy to others.

    Just as your love has shown itself in our lives,

    May we show it to others with our resources, our thoughts, our actions.

    God of love, Hear our prayer.

    For all in need this day, 

    Whether known or unknown to us, 

    May your love beckon us to their side.

    May you rest in their spirits and work through us

    that others may be healed, fed, honored. 

    God of love, Hear our prayer. 

    Speak to us in the tensions of our lives,

    That we may breathe peace, hope, care. 

    May we serve you in all we do and say,

    God of love, Hear our prayer.  Amen. 

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • Devotional – March 14, 2025

    — WORD FOR THE DAY — (grateful.org)
    If we knew just how powerfully our thoughts, words, and actions affected the hearts of those around us, we’d reach out and join hands again and again.
    TARA BRACH

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • From Rev. Beth Richardson:

    You are held in the sheltering embrace of Love.

    Peace Be With You. – Paul

  • Devotional – March 12, 2025

    What we sometimes call the Lord’s Prayer is known by many names, and there are many versions.  Today’s devotional is entitled “The Jesus Prayer” by enfleshed.

    God of us all, 

    who dwells within and beyond,

    Sacred is your name.

    May your holy vision for collective flourishing

    come to fruition among us.

    May your dreams of justice, love, compassion, 

    and connection be enfleshed on earth. 

    Provide us today with what we need to be nourished in body, soul and heart.

    Forgive us for the harm we cause as we seek to forgive those who have harmed us.

    Lead us away from everything that destroys

    and liberate us from the hands of evil.

    For you are the ultimate source of hope.

    Your power-with exceeds all power-over.

    Your presence incites eternal wonder.

    All praise to you, our comfort and strength. Amen.

    Peace Be With You. – Paul