Author: revpaulcalkin

“Your ‘yes’ to God requires your ‘no’ to all injustice, to all evil, to all lies, to all oppression and violation of the weak and poor…” 

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Peace Be With You. – Paul

“The radical tension between good and evil, as humanity sees it and feels it, does not have the last word about the meaning of life and the nature of existence. 

There is a spirit in humanity and in the world working always against the thing that destroys and lays waste.” — Howard Thurman

Peace Be With You. – Paul

“We are all of us indebted to a vast host of anonymous persons without whom some necessity would not have been available, some good which came to us, we would have missed. It is not too farfetched to say that living is itself an act of interdependence. . .

However self-sufficient we are, our strength is always being supplied by others unknown to us whose paths led them down our street or by our house at the moment that we needed the light they could give. . . 

It is the way of life; it is one of the means by which God activates God’s own self in the texture of human life and human experience.

 – Howard Thurman, Meditations Of The Heart

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Kindness matters.

But kindness does not = justice.

Civility counts.

But calling for civility is 

not the humane response to injustice.

Justice is.

Love is essential.

But love is not a passive, weeping bystander.

Love puts in work. 

– Bernice A. King (CEO of the King Center)

@BerniceAKing. Website

Peace Be With You. – Paul

In Acts 6:1-7, there is a profound story which could have gone another way.  The church was increasing in number, and with those numbers, obligations of the faithful increased as well.

In this community of faith,  Greek-speaking widows in Jerusalem were being neglected in the early church’s food distribution program. These Greek, or Hellenist, widows were a minority group within the early faith community. The Jewish widows were getting food, but they were not.  They likely were being discriminated against because of their language and culture. So they take their case to the twelve apostles, who listened to their need.

The story takes an interesting turn as the twelve apostles called together all the disciples, and said that they (the apostles) needed to focus on things such as preaching, teaching, evangelizing, praying.  They pass off the task of getting others to help with distributing food to the collective group. 

The collective group of disciples choose seven people to handle the task, all of whom had Greek names: Stephen,Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus.  The apostles, as the leaders, laid hands on them, setting them aside for this task, blessing the decision of the early faith community.  

So, a few observations.  First, the early church community was already taking seriously the obligation to feed the hungry, a group which included Jewish folk and non-Jewish folk.  

Second, this already diverse group responded with compassion instead of drawing lines as to who is worthy and unworthy of help and understanding. 

Third, the leadership trusted the group of followers to respond to this need which had been presented to them.  They did not order them to comply with outdated understandings of who one is supposed to help in times of need. 

All of these likely heard the words of Jesus echoing in their ears, as they recalled parables, teachings, incidents which illustrated God’s mercy, love, and care for all.  And so they acted out of those understandings.  They extended mercy, because of their diversity and because they understood Jesus who taught that what we do to the least is what we do to Jesus. 

Right now, folks who are following Jesus are being manipulated toward an understanding that only certain ones are entitled to mercy, to grace, to love.  And, instead of drawing the circle wider, instead of making the table longer, instead of living out Jesus’ words, we are being instructed to draw tighter boundaries on God’s love, mercy, and grace.  We are seeking to glorify ourselves and this country instead of expanding our understandings, failing to remember that to follow Jesus meant being against Caesar.  To proclaim “Jesus is king” means that the Caesar is not the one to whom followers owe their allegiances. 

The early church, in spite of its patriarchal leanings of authority, was smart enough to recognize that they were not possessors of all the knowledge of God and of humankind.  They understood the value of community which called them to responsibility.  And, instead of being defensive, they responded, trusting the faith community to expand the very work of God in their midst, to create a culture of diversity, creativity, and inclusiveness.  This included access to leaders, a part in the decision making, as well as a literal place at the table.  

May it always be so among all who seek to follow Jesus. 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

First, just let me say that mistakes were made.  

The first was trying to get a cup of coffee before I fed the cats.  During said pouring, cat #2 jumped up on the counter, spilling some of the coffee on the counter.  

The second was bending over to get the cat food with the now filled again cup of coffee in my hand.  The third was attempting to set the coffee cup down beside the cat food while cat #3 jumped on my back. So now, there is a second spill of coffee, this time around my feet. 

 At the moment, my ability to walk is not that great, so I decided to move cautiously, slowly, carefully.  I’m bent over, cat #3 still on my back, shuffling toward the closest towel. Once I get the towel, the cat jumps off my back, and, just for a moment, there is a quick loss of equilibrium.  But I recovered, a nice trick with slippery feet, if I do say so myself.  

Now all the spills are rectified, the cats fed. A side note here: the two kibbles each of them ate hurriedly before they walked away will likely sustain them for days.

Now I move to the dining room table, as is my custom, to drink the aforementioned cup of coffee.  Cats #2 and #3 now join me in this process.  I pay attention to both of them accordingly, and try to drink a cup of coffee.  

It is at that moment that cat #2, apparently not being satisfied with my divided attention, bumps my hand, spilling coffee over the composition notebook in which I keep unimportant things like to-do lists, upcoming sermon thoughts, and names of books to read soon.  

At this point, I just let the spilled coffee sit.  I might have sighed a little bit.  And I play with the cats a bit more, no coffee cup in my hand. 

After about thirty seconds of this, the cats move away.  I clean up the coffee on the notebook and spread it out to dry.  

I refill the coffee cup yet one more time.  And I sit down. 

Today, this day, may you be paid attention to as if you were an insistent cat.  

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Whenever I feel helpless

In this overwhelming world

I become a helper

Oh, oh, 

My love

On the days 

When it feels like 

I have no power

I serve others

You see,

Whenever I wash 

The world’s feet

My hands 

Immediately 

Stop shaking

• john roedel

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Courtesy of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, El Cajon, CA. http://st-albans-church.org

Almighty and most merciful God, 

we remember before you

all poor and neglected persons 

whom it would be easy for us to forget: 

the homeless and the destitute, 

the old and the sick,

and all who have none to care for them. 

Help us to heal those

who are broken in body or spirit, 

and to turn their sorrow into joy. 

Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, 

who for our sake became poor, 

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Here are the Prayers Of The People from 

Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church

February 9, 2025

Prayers Of The People

Gracious God,

You have given all peoples on this earth a common origin in your created love.

You call us one, but we have trouble believing that.

We separate ourselves and define ourselves

Even when we know we are wrong in doing so.

Be in our presence this day that we may see ourselves as we truly are.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

Merciful God,

Fill the hearts of humankind with love for each other,

For the desire of justice for all.

Help us to advocate in our uncomfortableness, 

To stand with and for those who cannot be heard or seen.

May we continue the holy work of equality and peace,

Doing so with your guidance and love.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

Encouraging God,

Instill in our leaders a desire for the common good, 

And help us as we hold them accountable.

Move us to speak our concerns and our hopes for our lives together.

May we all be careful and aware of the needs of all in this world,

And may we serve you as we serve others.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

Loving God,

Remind us of the vision your love has for all,

A world where none go hungry, where all have safe places to live,

A world where those with resources share with those who do not,

A world where peace is built with justice, 

And justice is guided by love.

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers.

Compassionate God,

Rest your peace deep within our hearts so that we may serve in love,

Rest your hope deep within our spirits so that we work for the future,

Rest your strength deep within our bodies so that we may have energy to serve,

And rest your grace deep within our very souls so that we may always love,

God, in your love, 

Hear our prayers. Amen.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

A prayer for today:

Today is a hard day for some folks, O God.  Who am I kidding?  It’s been a hard week, even been a hard month.  Kids have been sick, the month of January seemed to last an eternity.  

Some are starting new jobs soon.  Others are readying their resumes as the confusion mounts within our federal and state governments.  These are strong, compassionate people I am praying for, God, and they are ready for a bit of breathing space in a world which seems intent on sucking the very oxygen out of our lungs.

Others are still grieving.  Some are lamenting recent losses, while others still think about those who left this earth decades ago.  They are not seeking to forget, Holy One, but they could use some time when it doesn’t weigh heavily on their mind. 

Others are navigating bureaucracies of all types, governmental, legal, even ecclesiastical.  And they are tired.  They keep pushing themselves and moving one step at a time because they can see that there will be a moment when they receive what they need.  Keep them steady, allow them an extra measure of stamina, and show us how we can help them.  

Others are having trouble growing up, though their chronological age is somewhat advanced.  Habits of their pasts, patterns born in familial and cultural relationships for decades and generations past, have kept them immature, wishing to be treated with special consideration above others.  Teach them, O God, what it means to be responsible for themselves and for others. 

And a whole lot of people are kind of numb right now.  They are moving through their days by laying aside their feelings.  Be present in their heartaches as they see in our culture and in our world events and attitudes which are dishonorable to much of your created ones.

Help us sleep and rest.  Help us, remind us, to nourish our bodies and our spirits.  Remind us to be gracious and loving in all the moments we can.

We thank you, Holy One! And we appreciate the opportunity to say what we need.  In the name of the one who always teaches us to love, Amen. 

Peace Be With You. – Paul