June 25, 2020

Daily Devotions


Meditation, Prayers, and Assorted Stuff for June 25, 2020

Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, “Words That Create Community”

The word is always a word for others. Words need to be heard. When we give words to what we are living, these words need to be received and responded to. A speaker needs a listener. A writer needs a reader. When the flesh—the lived human experience—becomes word, community can develop. When we say, “Let me tell you what we saw. Come and listen to what we did. Sit down and let me tell you what happened to us. Wait until you hear whom we met,” we call people together and make our lives into lives for others. The word brings us together and calls us into community. When the flesh becomes word, our bodies become part of a body of people.

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

Come to Our Shut Down Places (On Reading 1 Samuel 1)

It does not come easy to us to imagine that you closed the womb of mother Hannah and thereby foreclosed the future for a time. And yet, we can name in your presence a myriad of shut-down places around us … those shut down in poverty and despair, those shut down in fear and in rage, those shut down by abuse and violence, too hurt to speak, too frightened to appear, too scarred to dance. And closer, our own shutdowns: in anxiety, in resentment, in pretense, too weary to care, too greedy to share, too much of us for neighbor. These are not all your doing, we confess. But you are the God who opens all shutdowns: by your power, you give futures, by your goodness, you give hope, by your mercy, you make new. So we bid you this day come to our shut down places and give birth anew. We pray through the Easter opening of the Friday shutdowns. Amen.

Dad Jokes

An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at, either.

What does a Vegan Zombie ead? Grrraaaaiiiinnnnnns!)

Did you hear about the time that two antennas got married? The ceremony was boring, but the reception was great!

Today’s links! 


https://www.fastcompany.com/90518559/meet-the-summers-sleeper-hit-product-a-bag-you-pee-intoI’ll be the first to admit this is kind of gross, but I had to pass it along. The headline from this Fast Company article says it all: “Meet the Summer’s Sleeper Hit Product: A Bag You Pee Into.”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrwBc6PwAcY&feature=emb_logoWatch the story of a man who “paints” beautiful works of art using Microsoft Excel. Really.


https://www.facebook.com/maggie.smithmorgan/videos/10157480655117473/?t=42Watch and listen as a couple of young people cover some classic songs by Chaka Khan and Queen—with a little help from their dads. Brayden’s video is here, and Brooke’s is here.https://www.today.com/parents/7-year-old-girl-slays-classic-chaka-khan-song-dad-t184735


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2V0rG_4Ax4While filming the national anthem for Portland State University’s virtual commencement ceremonies on the South Park Blocks in downtown Portland, a stranger asked if he could sing with PSU graduate Madisen Hallberg. Madisen thought, “Why not?” Turns out the “stranger” was Emmanuel Henreid, a classically trained singer, dancer, actor, and pianist who currently sings for the Portland Opera. Watch and listen what happened. Learn more here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ7xRoNV3DA

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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In-Person worship resumes, July 19! Watch for more details. (Zoom church will continue to be offered as well.) **************************************************

Stay safe and stay well! 

Bob