A Prayer for Pastors and Other Servants (which means each of us!)

Ever before me are these written words … "There is a mysterious connection between the hand that writes, the mind that thinks and the heart that sees." This was offered to me years ago by a
Cuban-refugee-turned-UMC-pastor (Rev. Alberto Rodriguez). Also, written under those words is Deuteronomy 30:14   "... the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to
observe."  And written inside of my Bible are the words, “Read daily for Grace, Guidance and Strength.”

I am a word person … a visual person. I want to be reminded of these things often and I pray that it might be so in my days.  But I also know that in your own ways, you are as well for you have been called to the Word and you pray that you might also "see".

"Oh God, open your servants' eyes and hearts to see you in their surroundings ... in fields and in cities, in crowds and alone, among the hungry and among the filled, in the quiet and in the noise, in your Word and in the world. Be with my friends as they step into their week.  Place within all a renewed desire to share what is seen.  Amen."

Prayers for each of you this day as you recognize that the word is very near to you.

Good Morning! Welcome to Breakfast!

This morning, we find ourselves with the disciples, with the warmth of the bonfire on our faces. We smell the aroma of bread and fish as we are welcomed to breakfast.

Yes, we have remembered our own goof-ups and misspoken words and suddenly realize that Jesus loves us through them, time and time again.  We have remembered denials and omissions, and have sensed this breakfast prepared on the edge of what is comfortable and familiar and safe to us (as it was to Peter) is Jesus' way of pursuing us in spite of such things.  We have heard, "Feed my lambs.  Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep" and "Do you love me?” and the tears have flowed.  After Jesus loving Peter (and us) through goof-ups, after pursuing Peter (and us) through denials and omissions, after raising a shamed head at a sunrise breakfast invitation and at the very place where Peter (and we) find it easy to climb back into a comfortable, safe and familiar box (or boat), Jesus gives great affirmation to what Peter is called to do as a disciple on earth … and gives great affirmation to us as well.   “Feed my lambs.  Tend my sheep.  Feed my sheep.”

Good morning!  Welcome to breakfast as Christ prepares it!


(Note:  The picture is that of my Great Grandfather Edgar Tuck Lazenby, Sr. and his sheep)

Breakfast Around a Bonfire

(Lectionary Scriptures for week / John 21:1-19)

When we put up our

“Gone Fishing” sign, 

you meet us

at the lakeshore

and point to

the school of fish.

When we can see only

a bonfire that flickers

with shameful memories,

you invite us

to join you for breakfast

around a new bonfire.

You raise our heads

and our hopes,

O Risen One,

so that our faces

might reflect

your Light.

When our last memories

of eye contact with you

are those of omission 

and denial,

you ask us to look

into your eyes

once more …

and there we see

love and forgiveness.

When we hunger

to be the disciples 

you have called us to be,

you hand us 

bread and fish

and affirm our calling.

And when we stammer

and struggle

with words of love

for you,

you help us

find the words.

O Resurrected One,

thank you 

for this breakfast

around a bonfire.

Amen.

©2016    anna murdock

Without a Doubt (John 20:19-31)

A large “D”

has been carefully

stitched to

his robe.

The word

has been 

branded

across his 

forehead.

Fingers point

and 

condemning whispers

are heard.

doubter…

Doubter….

DOUBTER!

Help us, O God,

to put away our

needles and thread …

to put down our

branding irons …

to stop pointing

and whispering

“DOUBTER.”

Help us, O God,

to better seek 

the Sought-After-One,

to desire

a personal encounter,

to fall to our knees

with this disciple’s

great, doubtless

affirmation of

faith.

“My LORD and my God!”

Without a doubt,

he knew.

WITHOUT A DOUBT!

©2014   anna murdock

reposted

Easter Morning - Whispers in a Garden

The birds were awake

at the mere hint of daybreak

and their songs

filled the air

as if to praise God

for all that had been accomplished …

as if they wanted 

to be the first to shout,

“Christ is risen .. Christ is risen indeed!”

Yet, the woman 

did not notice the joy

for her sorrow was great.

She whispered

his name 

and it echoed 

from an empty tomb -

“MY LORD”.

She had seen him

beaten …

bloodied …

mocked …

crucified …

dead.

Still, she whispered,

“MY LORD.”

Still, she heard 

only an echo.

Staring into the emptiness,

she again whispered,

“MY LORD.

Where have they taken him?”

His name 

has been whispered.

A presence is felt

and there is a rustling

in the gardens

of her life.

In the fog and mist

of her morning

and in the darkness 

of her dawn,

another whisper

is heard - “Mary.”

Oh, such blessed whispers

in a garden -

“My Lord” …

“Mary” …

“My Father and your Father” …

“My God and your God”.

The whispers are no more!

Thank God, 

the whispers are no more!

Shouts, yes SHOUTS

are heard.

Grace and mercy flows

down from the cross.  

Love walks out 

of a tomb, 

emptied on the third day.

Our names are 

whispered in a garden.

Go and tell others …

“CHRIST IS RISEN!  CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!”

Holy Saturday

Yesterday,

we still heard 

his voice,

agonizing as it 

might have sounded.

“Father, forgive them…

Today, you will be with me…

Dear woman, your son…

My God, my God …

I am thirsty …

It is finished …

Father, into your hands…”

Still, we heard his voice.

Yesterday,

we wondered

why, oh why

is this day called

Good Friday.’

In disguise,

GRACE poured out

from nail-pierced

hands and feet,

from a sword’s wound,

from thorns pressed 

into flesh.

Yet, still, we heard his voice.

Today, 

scattered as we are,

we wait

in deafening silence.

At best, we cry

“How long, O LORD,

will you hide yourself 

forever?”

HOPE is now 

carefully wrapped

in linens and

sealed in a tomb.

“How long, O LORD,

will you hide yourself 

forever?”

In stillness,

earth awaits

the resurrection.

Today, there is no voice.

Good Friday

“There will be clouds on this day …

maybe even rain or a storm,

if only for a brief moment.”

There was a heaviness

in her forecasting

as if she knew something

that I didn't know. 

She would solemnly say,

"It is God's reminder."

My mother left it at that.

She left me moving about

through the Good Fridays

Of my childhood

with a heaviness on my heart

that I couldn't explain away.

She left me to dwell

in these Good Fridays alone,

looking to the skies

for the ominous clouds 

to move into my life,

“if only for a brief moment”, 

so that I wouldn’t

jump directly into my Easters.

Good Fridays are just that …

We are left to look up

at a cross and into the eyes

of the Crucified Christ.

We are left to stand

at the foot of the cross

(or run from it)

and, if we choose to stay,

we are left to to hear 

Jesus' last words …

"Father, into Thy hands

I commend my spirit.”

We are left to hear

the deafening silence

of Jesus’ death.

The day ends with 

the darkness 

of a crucifixion

and well before

we hear words

that we need to hear

from God.

Today is Good Friday and Jesus is crucified.

THE END ... or is it?