Source: www.streetartnews.net/2013/06/cosmo-sarson-new-mural-in-bristol-uk.html
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Alleluia! He is Risen!
Source: www.streetartnews.net/2013/06/cosmo-sarson-new-mural-in-bristol-uk.html
Saturday, March 26, 2016
#39 Holy Saturday
Lenten Writing Prompt #39
This is that strange in-between day: the day after the horrific crucifixion of Jesus, where everything and everyone seemed turned on it's head and abandoned Jesus, and before the promise of Easter has been realized, where everything was turned around again and death has no power. What do you think you would have done or been like in this in-between day, if you had been there?
This is that strange in-between day: the day after the horrific crucifixion of Jesus, where everything and everyone seemed turned on it's head and abandoned Jesus, and before the promise of Easter has been realized, where everything was turned around again and death has no power. What do you think you would have done or been like in this in-between day, if you had been there?
Friday, March 25, 2016
#38 Good Friday
Good Friday Lenten Writing Prompt #38
Source: http://www.rethinkingyouthministry.com/2009/02/yes-more-creative-prayer-stations.html
#37 Modern Day Foot-washing
Lenten Writing Prompt #37
What have you witnessed or what can you imagine as a foot-washing moment? Something that you have witnessed done for "the least of these" - someone who has been overlooked - serving someone in an extremely personal way.
What have you witnessed or what can you imagine as a foot-washing moment? Something that you have witnessed done for "the least of these" - someone who has been overlooked - serving someone in an extremely personal way.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
#36 Prodigal Son
Lente Writing Prompt #36
Read or listen to Nadia Bolz-Weber's sermon on the prodigal son and write what it inspires in you or makes you think about.
Read or listen to Nadia Bolz-Weber's sermon on the prodigal son and write what it inspires in you or makes you think about.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
#35 makingfishersofhumanity.com
Lenten Writing Prompt #35
Where would Jesus, the man, be in the world today. Would he be online, tracking those that need help and exorcising trolls? Teaching at a college? A religious leader? How would he get together with his disciples? Who would they be? Imagine the story of Jesus in today's context - either translating across from the original, or imagining a new, continuing story of Jesus in the world today.
Where would Jesus, the man, be in the world today. Would he be online, tracking those that need help and exorcising trolls? Teaching at a college? A religious leader? How would he get together with his disciples? Who would they be? Imagine the story of Jesus in today's context - either translating across from the original, or imagining a new, continuing story of Jesus in the world today.
Monday, March 21, 2016
#34 All Are Welcome In God's House
Lenten Writing Prompt #34
What is the most important way that the church can be more inclusive right now? What is a good way to find out?
What is the most important way that the church can be more inclusive right now? What is a good way to find out?
Sunday Picture Prompt #5
Sunday Picture Prompt #5
When you go to Hawaii, it's often said you're on Hawaii time: that time is slower and somehow more savored. The same is true with Godly Play. Click on this link to watch a (9+ min) video on what Godly Play has to say about the mystery of the process of Lent to Easter and write about your wonderings. (on my computer, the audio was low, so adjust accordingly)
Godly Play Story: The Mystery of Easter
When you go to Hawaii, it's often said you're on Hawaii time: that time is slower and somehow more savored. The same is true with Godly Play. Click on this link to watch a (9+ min) video on what Godly Play has to say about the mystery of the process of Lent to Easter and write about your wonderings. (on my computer, the audio was low, so adjust accordingly)
Godly Play Story: The Mystery of Easter
#33 Versions of The Prayer Our Lord Taught Us to Pray....
Lenten Writing Prompt #33
The following link is to a pdf of several different translations and versions of The Lord's Prayer. Choose a favorite one and write about it, or write your own, staying true to the core of what this sacred prayer means to Christians. (If the original is still your favorite, go with it ; ) Go ahead and read them all! You'll love them!
Alternative Versions of The Lord's Prayer
The following link is to a pdf of several different translations and versions of The Lord's Prayer. Choose a favorite one and write about it, or write your own, staying true to the core of what this sacred prayer means to Christians. (If the original is still your favorite, go with it ; ) Go ahead and read them all! You'll love them!
Alternative Versions of The Lord's Prayer
Friday, March 18, 2016
#32 WWJD With Toxic People?
Lenten Writing Prompt #32
Write about a toxic relationship and how you both resolved (or are still resolving) it as children of God. Imagine what Jesus would do if he came back and had to deal with toxic people today. Would he just cast out a demon or would he do what he did with Zacchaeus?
Write about a toxic relationship and how you both resolved (or are still resolving) it as children of God. Imagine what Jesus would do if he came back and had to deal with toxic people today. Would he just cast out a demon or would he do what he did with Zacchaeus?
Thursday, March 17, 2016
#31 #Good News
Lenten Writing Prompt #31
Write a letter to a young person at your church who is feeling that church and religion no longer resonate with them. What would you say to that person? What does the church have that this young person would respond and that you can help them find or reclaim? (you can use a real scenario, or you can make one up)
Write a letter to a young person at your church who is feeling that church and religion no longer resonate with them. What would you say to that person? What does the church have that this young person would respond and that you can help them find or reclaim? (you can use a real scenario, or you can make one up)
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
#30 We Are Family
Lenten Writing Prompt #30
Write about a family in the Bible that you can identify with because there is some parallel in your stories. Or, you can write about a Biblical family that fascinates you.
Write about a family in the Bible that you can identify with because there is some parallel in your stories. Or, you can write about a Biblical family that fascinates you.
Monday, March 14, 2016
#29 Pray for Your Enemies
Lenten Writing Prompt #29
Write a prayer for your "enemy". Find an incident that is bothering or upsetting you in current events (politics, human rights, environmental issues, etc). Gently and respectfully find a way to pray for them and to heal the brokenness that puts you and your enemy on opposite sides.
Write a prayer for your "enemy". Find an incident that is bothering or upsetting you in current events (politics, human rights, environmental issues, etc). Gently and respectfully find a way to pray for them and to heal the brokenness that puts you and your enemy on opposite sides.
#28 Finding God Between the Notes
Lenten Writing Prompt #28
Write about a pop-culture (any decade), non-religious song that feeds your faith.
Write about a pop-culture (any decade), non-religious song that feeds your faith.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Sunday Picture Prompt #4
Saturday, March 12, 2016
#27 Woof/Meow/Tweet - Amen.
Lenten Writing Prompt #27
Write about the connection of spirituality and animals. Do they know there is a God? Do they go to Heaven? What can animals teach us about God, grace, and Spirit?
Write about the connection of spirituality and animals. Do they know there is a God? Do they go to Heaven? What can animals teach us about God, grace, and Spirit?
Thursday, March 10, 2016
#26 Nice to meet you!
Lenten Writing Prompt #26
Today, write about a person in the Bible who the rest of us may not know about. What's their backstory and how are they important to the bigger story, and/or influential to your faith.
Today, write about a person in the Bible who the rest of us may not know about. What's their backstory and how are they important to the bigger story, and/or influential to your faith.
# 25 Imagine
Lenten Writing Prompt #24
How does imaginatio5 strengthen your faith? Are they linked? Or are they two separate things? Is one real and one fake? Write about a faith-filled imagination today, or write about how they are different.
How does imaginatio5 strengthen your faith? Are they linked? Or are they two separate things? Is one real and one fake? Write about a faith-filled imagination today, or write about how they are different.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
#24 Teach Me to Pray
Lenten Writing Prompt #23
How did you learn to talk to God? When is your earliest memory of praying?
How did you learn to talk to God? When is your earliest memory of praying?
Monday, March 7, 2016
#23 Lookin' For Faith in All The Wrong Places
Lenten Writing Prompt #23
Write about a song that is not religious, but has religious meaning for you. Unpack it's spiritual undertones (or overtones), and you get extra points for finding faith in the most unlikely places : )
Write about a song that is not religious, but has religious meaning for you. Unpack it's spiritual undertones (or overtones), and you get extra points for finding faith in the most unlikely places : )
#22 Vigilance and Prayer
Lenten Writing Prompt #22
In the Bible's book of Amos, the prophet says that people may act ‘good’, but they blind themselves to the plight of others living in their midst. How have you blinded yourself and how can you stay vigilant and prayerful for others?
In the Bible's book of Amos, the prophet says that people may act ‘good’, but they blind themselves to the plight of others living in their midst. How have you blinded yourself and how can you stay vigilant and prayerful for others?
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Sunday Picture Prompt #3
Reference: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ramonsaroldi/6996595615/in/photostream
#21 Closeup on a Natural Space Where You Meet God
Lenten Writing Prompt #21
This Saturday, dive deep. We know that God is everywhere, but in what natural space do you feel God most acutely. Write in detail about this experience: focus in on each droplet, each bark piece, each animal or bug, each color, smell, each emotion of that experience.
This Saturday, dive deep. We know that God is everywhere, but in what natural space do you feel God most acutely. Write in detail about this experience: focus in on each droplet, each bark piece, each animal or bug, each color, smell, each emotion of that experience.
Friday, March 4, 2016
#20 Science and Religion Face Off (Maybe)
Lenten Writing Prompt #20
Write about the relationship between religion and science. Are they at odds with each other? Do they work together? Separate but equal? Write a piece that takes both into account.
Write about the relationship between religion and science. Are they at odds with each other? Do they work together? Separate but equal? Write a piece that takes both into account.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
#19 Christ In our Hearts and Our Heads
Lenten Writing Prompt #19
What do you think about mental illness in the Bible? Is there a story that you feel illustrates an aspect mental illness? How can we mirror Jesus in including mental illness in our lives and our community or loving others or ourselves as God's unique creations?
What do you think about mental illness in the Bible? Is there a story that you feel illustrates an aspect mental illness? How can we mirror Jesus in including mental illness in our lives and our community or loving others or ourselves as God's unique creations?
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
#18 Reconnetion Connection
Lenten Writing Prompt #18
What is a ritual you do when you fee like you are far away from God and need to reconnect? How do you resolve the feeling of disconnection and distance from God? This may be from busy-ness, anger, doubt, or worry
What is a ritual you do when you fee like you are far away from God and need to reconnect? How do you resolve the feeling of disconnection and distance from God? This may be from busy-ness, anger, doubt, or worry
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
#18 Addicted to Nostalgia?
Lenten Writing Prompt #18
Is nostalgia is an addiction that is holding the church back? Even possibly destroying it?
Traditions are what the church is built on and connect the past to the future. Nostalgia is when we look back and try to hold on to the past while resisting the future. In today's prompt, sort out what elements of the church you think are holding it back with nostalgia and what traditions (however ancient) are moving forward, while keeping us rooted in Jesus Christ. What should we do about it?
Is nostalgia is an addiction that is holding the church back? Even possibly destroying it?
Traditions are what the church is built on and connect the past to the future. Nostalgia is when we look back and try to hold on to the past while resisting the future. In today's prompt, sort out what elements of the church you think are holding it back with nostalgia and what traditions (however ancient) are moving forward, while keeping us rooted in Jesus Christ. What should we do about it?