Prayer by Henri Nouwen link
Dear God,
Speak gently in my silence.
When the loud outer noises of my surroundings
and the loud inner noises of my fears
keep pulling me away from you,
help me to trust that you are still there
even when I am unable to hear you.
Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying:
“Come to me, you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest . . .
for I am gentle and humble of heart.” Let that loving voice be my guide.
Amen.
Prayer by Henri Nouwen link
Dear Lord,
Help me keep my eyes on you. You are the incarnation of Divine Love,
you are the expression of God’s infinite compassion, you are the visible manifestation of the Father’s holiness.
You are beauty, goodness, gentleness, forgiveness, and mercy. In you all can be found.
Outside of you nothing can be found. Why should I look elsewhere or go elsewhere?
You have the words of eternal life, you are food and drink, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
You are the light that shines in the darkness, the lamp on the lampstand, the house on the hilltop.
You are the perfect Icon of God. In and through you I can see the Heavenly Father, and with you I can find my way to him.
O Holy One, Beautiful One, Glorious One, be my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Guide, my Consoler,
my Comforter, my Hope, my Joy, and my Peace.
To you I want to give all that I am. Let me be generous, not stingy or hesitant.
Let me give you all—all that I have, think, do, and feel. It is yours, O Lord. Please accept it and make it fully your own.
Amen.
A Prayer by Henir Nouwen link
Dear Lord,
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear. I know there is light in the darkness that makes everything new.
I know there is new life in suffering that opens a new earth for me. I know there is a joy beyond sorrow that rejuvenates my heart.
Yes, Lord, I know that you are, that you act, that you love, that you indeed are Light, Life, and Truth.
People, work, plans, projects, ideas, meetings, buildings, paintings, music, and literature
all can only give me real joy and peace when I can see and hear them as reflections of your presence, your glory, your kingdom.Let me then see and hear. Let me be so taken by what you show me and by what you say to me
that your vision and hearing become my guide in life and impart meaning to all my concerns.Let me see and hear what is really real, and let me have the courage to keep unmasking the endless unrealities,
which disturb my life every day. Now I see only in a mirror, but one day, O Lord, I hope to see you face to face.
Amen.
Benediction link
May the love of the Father,
the tenderness of the Son,
and the presence of the Spirit,
gladden your heart
and bring peace to your soul,
this day and all days,
Amen.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Thx, Dee.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Yes, thank you, Dee.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Thank you, Dee. I treasure Nouwen’s writing.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Prof. Throckmorton posts on something else this same Rev. celebrity has written and it is not supportive: https://www.wthrockmorton.com/2022/01/31/why-churches-should-not-drop-their-online-services/
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Mr. Jesperson,
And here we have meet the lady Reverend virtually.
Case in point, this is why we hear each other out, preaching & teaching & such; but we limit worship to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127
Mr. Jesperson,
Maybe it’s time that the church does a deep dive into the theology of our use of technology. It’s not all good or all bad, and a live-streamed church service doesn’t offer a “hyperreal” view of the church.