Author: revpaulcalkin

Restless feelings — at home, at work, even in the quiet places such as church — remind us of our need for God’s steady presence.  

When our hearts feel unsteady, God’s peace whispers, “Be still and know that I am God.” – Anchored in Peace

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Don’t move the way fear makes you move.

Move the way love makes you move. – Rumi

Peace Be With You. – Paul

From Winnie The Pooh Fans:

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet, “what’s the very first thing you think about?”

Pooh thought for a long moment.

“Well,” he said slowly, “sometimes I think about honey. But other times… I think about the day itself, and how it hasn’t been lived yet. It’s all brand new, like the sky before the sun finishes painting it. And that makes me feel rather hopeful.”

Piglet nodded.

“I think,” said Piglet, “that the morning reminds us there are always new chances. Even if yesterday was heavy, today is lighter. Even if the night felt long, the morning comes anyway, bringing colors with it.”

So they stood together on the hill, watching the pastel glow stretch across the Forest.

And Pooh, who often said very simple things that turned out to be quite wise, whispered:

“Hope is a bit like the sunrise. You can’t always see it right away, but it’s always there—waiting to brighten the day, one soft color at a time.”

And with that thought, the Hundred Acre Wood seemed a little warmer, the air a little sweeter, and the friends a little braver—because dawn had reminded them that every day begins with hope.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Peace Be With You. – Paul

When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor,” he wasn’t being metaphorical.

He was saying: God sides with those who suffer under systems of greed.

God is not neutral.  

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Here are the Prayers of the People from Sunday, September 7, 2025. Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church.

Prayers Of The People

Let us pray for our world, for our gathering together, 

and for all who are in need this day.

God of love, 

Hear our prayers.

We pray for those who are victims of great cruelty by others.

We pray for those for whose hearts are frozen by selfishness and greed.

We pray for those who fall through the cracks in systems designed to help.

We pray for those who are struggling to get others to listen,

And we pray for those who try very hard to listen.

God of love, 

Hear our prayers.

We pray for those who seem to always try the patience of others.

We pray for those who stand alongside others in their needs.

We pray for those who struggle in pain.

We pray for those who are compassionate.

We pray for those whose keep trying even when it is exhausting.

We pray for those who are close to the edge of their energy.

God of love, 

Hear our prayers.

We pray for leaders who make policies, 

that they may remember the needy and the vulnerable.

We pray for social service agencies who help those others do not consider.

We pray for those who live with open hearts and minds.

God of love, 

Hear our prayers.

Move in our hearts and minds today that we may seek to understand.

Move in our lives that we may be always merciful.

Move in our congregation that we may respond with love to all.

God of love, 

Hear our prayers. Amen.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

From Carrie Newcomer A Gathering Of Spirits

“The coolest most amazing people I have met in my life, I said, are the ones who are not very interested in power or money, but who are very interested in laughter and courage and grace under duress and holding hands against the darkness, and finding new ways to solve old problems, and being attentive and tender and kind to every sort of being, especially dogs and birds, and of course children.”― Brian Doyle

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Peace to the old tonight,

The wise and those waiting

For wisdom to kick in.

Peace to those who feel they should

Have it all figured out by now

With a nice savings account

And peaceful spirit

And good body image

But don’t.

To those who feel young as ever

Just maybe a little 

Slower.

Peace

• Jessica Kantrowitz, 365 Days Of Peace

Peace Be With You. – Paul

To my friends who follow Jesus, may I offer some hope and encouragement in this time?

I want to remind you of your Christ-following ancestors.

I’m not talking about those who claimed Christ while crawling into bed with the empires of the world, justifying the heresies of Christian imperialism, crusades, inquisitions, slavery, and genocide, all for the sake of wealth, power, and control. 

I’m talking about those who humbly walked back into Rome while it was burning to the ground, to help the vulnerable people trapped there, even as Caesar blamed the fire on them for being too welcoming and too concerned for the poor. 

• Rev. Benjamin Cremer

Peace Be With You. – Paul

“The truth is that frightened people will never tunr the world, because they use too much energy on protection of self.  It is the vocation of the baptized, the known and named and unafraid, to make the world whole:

• The unafraid are open to the neighbor, while the frightened are defending themselves from the neighbor.
• The unafraid are generous in the community, while the frightened, in their anxiety, must keep and store and accumulate, to make themselves safe. 
• The unafraid commit acts of compassion and mercy, while the frightened do not notice those in need. 
• The unafraid are committed to justice for the weak and the poor, while the frightened see them only as threats.
• the unafraid pray in the morning, care through the day, and rejoice at night in thanks and praise, while the frightened are endlessly restless and dissatisfied.

So dear people, each of you: Do not fear! I have called you by name; you are mine!

– Dr. Walter Bruggemann, A Way Other Than Our Own

Peace Be With You. – Paul