When I attend churches all around the country, I appreciate the beautiful, worship-enhancing floral arrangements created by dedicated women and men on flower teams.These flowers are corporate, colorful gifts of adoration and gratitude to God for the many gifts we...
Blog
I have been writing the Praying in Color blog for over a dozen years. The entries include theological musings, memoir, reflections on life and Scripture, and hundreds of posts on ways to incorporate Praying in Color into your prayer and spiritual life. In the search bar you can type words like “Scripture, Advent, Lent, calendar templates, intercessory prayer, mourning, gratitude, forgiveness…” or other topics of interest to find related posts. I hope you enjoy exploring this site.
Gratitude List Revisited
When I was sad or disgruntled as a kid, my mother used to say, "You sit down and write a list of all of the things you have to be grateful for." It really irked me. I WAS a grateful kid but sometimes I wanted to just vent and be heard. As an adult I have days when I...
Sidewalk Birthday Prayer
Merry and I have been friends since seminary days. From the first day I met her I was a big fan. She ate artichokes, worked in a community sheltered workshop, and was a woman seminarian. She had spent a college-year studying and traveling in Europe. I wanted to be an...
Graph-Paper Gratitude Prayer
This is a gratitude prayer for a group of friends I've known for thirty years. I am so blessed by their long-time and long-distant support and prayers--and the impulsive trips to movies and dinners and laughter when I go for visits. "Just as lotions and fragrance give...
Adelynrood Retreat in June
Adelynrood is a conference and retreat center in the woods of Byfield, MA north of Boston. It was started about a hundred years ago by the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross. The "companions" are a group of women all around the world who commit their...
Good Shepherd Prayer
Today, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is Good Shepherd Sunday on the liturgical calendar. The gospel reading was the familiar words from John 10 (RSV): 11. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 14. I am the good shepherd; I know my...
Praying the Word “Way”
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:14 NRSV) • "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God, truthfully" (Matthew 22:16 NRSV) • Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and...
Dogwood Prayer
A dogwood tree in our backyard produced only a handful of blossoms last year. Ten days ago on Easter Sunday hundreds of nascent blossoms appeared on the tree. Today it is in full bloom. The flowers are a luscious color of deep pink with a hint of salmon. My normal...
Lenten Calendars–Ideas for the Future
Here are some examples of the way other people used the Lenten calendars. 1. Connie D. read a daily Lenten devotional called Renewed For Life by Henri J. M. Nouwen, published by Creative Communications for the Parish. Each day she chose a meaningful word from the...
Morels and Mint Tea
Andy and I spent Easter night at the home of longtime clergy friends, Merry and David. When we came downstairs for breakfast on Monday morning, David was busy brewing coffee and Merry was up to culinary mischief. It wasn't the first time.Thirty years ago I watched in...