Sing For Joy® from St. Olaf College
— Read on www.stolaf.edu/singforjoy/listen/2024-03-31
Sing For Joy® from St. Olaf College
31 Sunday Mar 2024
Posted Blessings
in31 Sunday Mar 2024
Posted Blessings
inSing For Joy® from St. Olaf College
— Read on www.stolaf.edu/singforjoy/listen/2024-03-31
31 Sunday Mar 2024
HE IS RISEN!
Easter Morning. A simple quiet morning. Jesus Resurrection brought friends together again and he reminded them to remember the importance of the small and ordinary things in our lives.
CHRIST RISES AND DIES NO MORE
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life.
For if we have been United with him in a death like his, we will certainly be United with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is free from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
PRAYER
My God of never ending Light, thank you for the bright light of our sky. We are certain that in you there is no darkness. I pray that your eternal flame of hope will renew me and help me to serve you and undergird my actions by giving and receiving your love and your blessed mercy. This EASTER Day I observe celebration and rest, with my prayers of thanksgiving.
I now spend some symbolic moments by candlelight to honor you, “Christ you are my Light.”
A M E N
31 Sunday Mar 2024
Posted Blessings, Faith, Family, Gratitude, HOPE, LOVE, Sharing, Special Events, The Sabbath, Today's Update
in31 Sunday Mar 2024
Posted Blessings, Faith, Family, Gratitude, HOPE, LOVE, Morning Prayer, Reflections, Sharing, The Sabbath, Today's Update
in— Read on m.youtube.com/watch
30 Saturday Mar 2024
Posted Blessings, Evening Prayer, Faith, Gratitude, HOPE, Lent, Lenten Devotion, LOVE, Nighttime Prayer, Reflections, Scripture, Sharing, Teaching, Tonight’s Thought, Writing
in
BEING RESURRECTED
Most of today I spent preparing for the Easter Vigil celebration. After I read today’s gospel, I reflect now on the importance of my faith in the resurrection of the body of Christ. If I claim my faith in the resurrection of the body I come to see that the resurrection is more than an event after Christ’s death, but indeed an event in everyday life. Our care for the body calls us all to unity….to intimacy….and to integrity.
COLOSSIANS 2:11-14
NAILED TO THE CROSS
In him [Christ Jesus] also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross…….
PRAYER
Oh’ my God, I seek your eternal wisdom. Do you hear my call for help? I visualize the disciples at the tomb. As you did for Joseph of Arimathea, inspire me to find a place of burial for my Lord. I anxiously now wait for the Easter Light to deliver me from the darkness of my sins.
A M E N
29 Friday Mar 2024
Jesus is condemned to death. Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross when Jesus falls, and Veronica wipes Jesus’ face with her towel. Jesus is nailed to the cross. Three big nails piercing the silence. A crown of thorns on his head. Yes….,it is Good Friday. We are all in grief and mourning. But….we are all here. We are together, and there is love pouring out from our broken hearts, and from the pierced heart of God.
THE DEATH OF JESUS
From Noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, Let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”’Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was turn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
PRAYER
My God of all beginnings and endings, Jesus your Son is your blessed image, and he was nailed to the cross and crucified this day. Let me nail my sins to your cross so that I may die with you. As a good thief, let me pray: “Jesus, Son of God, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
***** Amen *****
28 Thursday Mar 2024
Posted Blessings, Evening Prayer, Faith, Gratitude, HOPE, Lent, Lenten Devotion, LOVE, Nighttime Prayer, Reflections, Scripture, Sharing, Special Events, Teaching, Tonight’s Thought
inWhen the hour came, he [Jesus] took his place at the table, and the the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
LUKE 22:14-20
PRAYER
God of all Grace, May your “Bread of Life” always remind me of the breaking of Christ’s body and the pouring out of his blood for me, and the forgiveness of my sins. Let me discard any false behavior like Judas, let me always remember his kiss of evil, and keep me very aware and truthfully acknowledge my part in this betrayal of my Christ
•• a m e n ••
27 Wednesday Mar 2024
Posted Blessings, Faith, Gratitude, Lent, Lenten Devotion, LOVE, Reflections, Scripture, Sharing, Teaching, Today's Update, Writing
inREMEMBER GOD EXISTS
If you can say that you know God exists, with your entire being, then you know that “all that is” flows from Him. I then know that my total and complete existence comes from and through him. I am no longer the center, but He is the center of who I am. My growing knowledge of God becomes so real for me, that I can love myself, my neighbors and all mankind….because God has loved me first.
Hebrews 11:1-6
FAITH IN GODS EXISTENCE
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.
PRAYER
God…..you are my most high God. You accepted the gifts of Enoch and Abel and I ask you to accept my gift of faith that I now offer always and forever, especially during this Holy Week before Easter. I believe with all of my whole being that you exist…. even since the beginning of time. May I ask you to send me a symbol or sign of my belief and I ask that in the strength of this belief you make my belief an act of a life changing experience. I now commit to root my life in you ‘O my Great and all wonderful God.
•••A M E N •••
26 Tuesday Mar 2024
Posted Blessings, Faith, Gratitude, HOPE, Lent, Lenten Devotion, LOVE, Nighttime Prayer, Reflections, Scripture, Sharing, Teaching, Tonight’s Thought, Writing
inBE AT HOME
Where is your home? God makes his home in us, and he therefore allows us to make our home in him. If we can enter into intimacy with our innermost self, Jesus offers us the way to enter his own intimacy with God. We both enter into each others dwelling place. We share with him, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. This is the mystery of incarnation.
Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6
DWELL IN THE LORD
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake…….
You prefer are a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you snout my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house if the Lord my whole life long.
PRAYER
My everlasting God, I am humbled that you have offered me a place called home, where I can I can find rest and be healed. Help me to trust and rest, knowing that my new home offers me a place where my feelings and emotions can be expressed without being blocked or discarded. I want this home to be my place where I can simply be who I am and love by you is always present.
…amen…
26 Tuesday Mar 2024
Hello Gardening Friends!
Contessa here…..checking in!
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MAINTENANCE:
I’m beginning this seasons “maintenance service” on Monday/Wednesday/Friday next week. April 1st, 3rd and the 5th. (watering, light tidy, clearing patios and sidewalks and removing any twigs, branches and leaf debris, to also include assessment and early treatment of your plant life for pests) all included in maintenance.
Note: last year we had a lot of pests in the garden early in the season, that’s why I’m beginning in April this year. Try to catch them early.
••••••••••••••
WORK:
If you feel you need “bed work” such as transplanting, planting, weeding and pruning, raking, prepping planters and cutting back any dead growth, please schedule an “hourly work” appointment with me for a Tues/Thurs/Sat.
Each of you have very different gardens. Book me accordingly.
I’m looking forward to getting started.
Best,
Contessa 🪴