Daily Devotions

Meditation, Prayers, and Assorted Stuff for June 22, 2020

Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, “Words That Become Flesh”

Words are important. Without them our actions lose meaning. And without meaning we cannot live. Words can offer perspective, insight, understanding, and vision. Words can bring consolation, comfort, encouragement, and hope. Words can take away fear, isolation, shame, and guilt. Words can reconcile, unite, forgive, and heal. Words can bring peace and joy, inner freedom, and deep gratitude. Words, in short, can carry love on their wings. A word of love can be one of the greatest acts of love. That is because when our words become flesh in our own lives and the lives of others, we can change the world.

Jesus is the word made flesh. In him speaking and acting were one.

Today’s prayer is from ‘Awed to Heaven, Rooted to Earth,” a collection of prayers by Walter Brueggemann.

Start Again

You are the One who has brought our Lord Jesus Christ again to life from the dead; You are the One who by your summoning imperative has caused the worlds to be; You are the One who by your faithfulness has given a son to our vexed mother Hannah; You are the One who has the will and power to begin again, to start anew. You are the only self-starter whose name we know. And so we bid you, start again, start here, start now, start with us and with our school, start with your mercy, and with your justice, and with your compassion, and with your peace. Make the world new again, and young again, and innocent again …

Start … before it is too late. Amen.

Dad Jokes

Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl go the bathroom? Because the “p” is silent.

Why did the invisible man turn down the job offer?, Because he couldn’t see himself doing it.

How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? ten-tickles

Today’s links!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seVJao4ZXNQ&feature=youtu.beNever play golf with Ben the Cat. He always wins.

 https://agoraimages.prowly.com/99539-the-worlds-best-photos-of-aerial2020Here are some of the world’s best aerial photos from 2020.

 https://www.facebook.com/faunlee.harle/videos/10220919365228863/Watch this toddler dance to, “Good Golly, Miss Molly.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/ A growing number of farmers are learning how to turn manure into money.

https://thehustle.co/why-sports-stadiums-are-suddenly-full-of-cardboard-fans/ Take me out to the ballgame—as a cardboard cut-out? It could happen.

 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/sports/baseball/coronavirus-red-sox-organist.htmlSpeaking of baseball: Josh Kantor, the organist at Fenway Park in Boston, livestreams daily concerts from his living room. They start at 3 p.m., except on Sundays, when they begin at 4. Find out more about Josh here; listen to one of his concerts on Facebook here.https://www.facebook.com/7thinningstretch2020/

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL5zjX82Ee0Satan sings Queen…no, really.

Sunday worship at 9 AM, with “Doughnut room” time starting at 8:30 AM. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/815064120, Meeting ID: 815 064 120 Dial in to participate at +1 312 626 6799.

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Copies of “Our Daily Bread” have arrived in the church office. Feel free to stop by and pick up a copy, or help distribute them to others.

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Don’t forget communion at Zoom church on July 12! Stop by the church office to get a prefilled cup and wafer set. Help distributing them is much appreciated as well.

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Bible study resumes this Wednesday, June 24. We will cover chapters 14 and 15 in the Acts of the Apostles. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84557340979, Meeting ID: 815 5734 0979 Dial in to participate at +1 312 626 6799.