February 2014 – Gathering in Light

On the Harm We Have Done

Here is a prayer from Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918) that seems as timely as ever, and one we ought to be praying regularly, especially given the state of the church and its too often unfortunate behavior in American society and politics. OUR Father, we look back on the years that are gone and shame and sorrowContinue reading “On the Harm We Have Done”

No! Yes and… (Matthew 3)

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill allContinue reading “No! Yes and… (Matthew 3)”

Presence Matters (Matthew 2)

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” (Matthew 2:1–2 NRSV) Alive EnoughContinue reading “Presence Matters (Matthew 2)”

On Quaker PR: Salt, Light and Transformation (Matthew 5:13-20)

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lightingContinue reading “On Quaker PR: Salt, Light and Transformation (Matthew 5:13-20)”

Moving Through The Fog

Movement by Rumi If a tree could move from place to place, It would escape the pain of the ax. And if the sun and moon were set in stone, how could they spread their light? How bitter would the great Euphrates, Tigris, and Oxus rivers become, if they were stagnant as a lake? IfContinue reading “Moving Through The Fog”

The Beatitudes: Receiving and Giving Blessing (Matthew 5:1-12)

Happiness I wanted to start off by saying something about happiness. There’s been plenty of research done around what is happiness and how do we achieve it? In one recent study by Arthur Brooks he stated that scientists have proven that up to 48% of happiness has to do with genetics, 40% has to doContinue reading “The Beatitudes: Receiving and Giving Blessing (Matthew 5:1-12)”