Celebrate

Ding dong! Christ is born!

Ring out, sing out the Good News!
Jesus walks with us.

(photo: D. Matthias)

Believe

gathered here, Jesus

it is you whom we believe

our joy is in you

Child

help me be child-like
full of wonder and awe
holding onto you

(photo taken almost 27 years ago!)

Greeting

you, arms wide open,

drawing us into your heart

greeting all with love

(photo: Seward Johnson's "Day Dream" sculpture based on Matisse's "Dance" taken at Grounds for Sculpture)

Renew

despair overwhelms

our breath is siphoned away

renew us Jesus

(photo taken nearing the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, September 2011)

Embrace

keep me close to you

like a mother who comforts

embrace me, oh lord

(photo of my grandmother holding my father, 1934)

Open

break open my heart

and make yourself a home there

fill it with your love

Dazzle

that God came to earth
in human form (God with us)
takes my breath away

(photo of the eclipse taken earlier this year)

Light

shadows surround me

swallowed up by fearfulness

your light shows the way

(photo of my first attempt at painting with acrylics)

Among

you are among us

in the stranger and neighbor

help us see you there

(Photo of a water color painting I just completed this past week.)

Trust

in the day and night

i will put my trust in you

my hope, saving grace

(photo: Longwood Gardens this past week)

Wilderness

in the wilderness

of these disconcerting days

we cry out to you.

Voice

i hear mary's voice

in a song of reversals.

your kingdom come, lord.

 (Photo of one of my water color paintings)

Messenger

MESSENGER

mary speaks to me

her song, proclaiming justice

her song, for our time

(Bonus: Read this take on Mary's song from Rachel Held Evans - https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/unsentimental-advent)

Watch

i watch for you

expectantly, longingly

save us dear Jesus

(Photo: Conowingo Dam)

Prepare

i prepare to bake.

i need what ingredients

to prepare for you?

Focus

insane distractions
point me in all directions -
help me look to you

Mend

MEND

mend my broken heart

i am mired in despair

o come quickly come

(A psalm of lament for these days)

Hope

HOPE

hope, a fragile gift -

we hang in for the long haul

with you by our side

(photo taken at Kirkridge, Bangor, PA)

Simplicity

Simplify

where are you Jesus?

make space in my heart for you

remove the clutter

(photo taken at Longwood Gardens)

Gather

Gather

stir us up, oh God,

to rise up, living justice:

gathered we are strong

(photo taken this summer at Hyde Park, NY)

Journey

Journey

this is our journey:

always facing the unknown

but you walk with us

Awaken

Awaken

Open my eyes God.

Awake to injustices,

Call me to action. 

(Photo: Chihuly exhibit in Seattle, August 2016)