A few reasonable words to start your weekend conversations. 02

Happy weekend, all! We're headed into a semi-normal weekend around here. Also, plenty of football. What are your plans?  

A dose of conversation-starters for all your weekend conversations. And if you and I happen to bump into each other in the next couple of days, I'd love to hear what you think after these reads! (or, you could always leave me a comment below!)

• A stunning essay on the beautiful humility of caregiving and how much God loves us, via Image Journal

• Free February Calendar Desktop and iPhone Wallpaper (which makes me want to shop Etsy for all the transferware) via Giants & Pilgrims

• Beautiful, even in winter. via The Box Canyon

• We've talked a lot here about Austin's new neighborhood for the chronically homeless. I found Portland's emerging solution to be somewhat similar to Community First! Village. I do think some of the differences in philosophy (e.g., the city of Portland does not allow residents of the tiny house village to stay longer than 2 years) via Yes! Magazine

• I'm as patriotic as the next girl, but this newly-formed Olympic team's going to be  hard to ignore in 2016! via The NY Times 

* You can talk about the Iowa caucus if you want, but maybe it'd be a good idea to read this first? via First Things

• Are you planning any sort of fast during Lent?  Apparently, a lot of people are, and here's a great suggestion from Pope Francis (especially if you're dreading giving up the regular sorts of things like chocolate or alcohol). via Time

• Five years ago this week, I wrote one of the early posts in my now-defunct Sacred Practice series. I also love that a book I talked about in 2009 and read in 2010 is going to (finally!) become a movie in 2016.  Just remember you saw it here first, folks!

Here's my happy playlist to get you in the mood for our next holiday:  For my funny Valentines playlist on Spotify.  What songs do you think I should add? 

If all else fails, here's the "Prevent Small Talk Question of the Week":

Repeat the following quotation to people you meet over the weekend, and then ask them to share some of the greatest lessons they've learned from hard experiences in their lives.

On the blog last week:

• Epiphany, week 4: promises to all nations, hope to all peoples
• Epiphany, the Presentation (Candlemas)
• What I'm Into Lately (January 2016 edition)
• What's In the Book Pile for 2016
• WALKING EPIPHANY in inner city Rochester: neighborhood notes from Suzanne Day
• WALKING EPIPHANY in suburban PA: neighborhood notes from Kaley Ehret

Epiphany, the Presentation (Candlemas)

My Epiphany daybook for these 5 weeks of witness. Join me, won't you? 

(Read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Epiphany. See previous Epiphany daybook 2016 posts here)

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look

Simeon Holds the Christ Child
Rembrandt, 1666

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read

Psalm 84:1-4 / Luke 2:27-33, 36-38:  How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah. / Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple... (read the rest here) / And there was a prophetess, Anna...She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day...(read the rest here)

all readings for the day: Malachi 3:1-4  • Psalm 84 or Psalm 24:7-10  • Hebrews 2:14-18  • Luke 2:22-40

You are welcome, also, to read my reflection on Anna, the prophetess: Seeing Salvation by the Light of Candlemas

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pray 

God of steadfast love, you sent your Son to be the light of the world, saving people everywhere from sin and death. As Anna gave thanks for the freedom he would bring, and Simeon saw in him the dawn of redemption, complete your purpose once made known in him. Make us the vessels of his light, that all the world may glory in the splendor of your peace. Amen. (source)

We give you praise with your servant Simeon:

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

Your word has been fulfilled.

My eyes have seen the salvation

You have prepared in the sight of every people,

A light to reveal you to the nations 

and the glory of your people, Israel.

Amen.

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listen

Listen to a recording of T.S. Eliot reading A Song for Simeon

Candlemas playlist

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Epiphany playlist.)

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do

Light candles, give thanks for the season of light,
pray for the Light of Christ to go out into your neighborhood and the world

February 2 is Candlemas -- also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. In Jewish custom, parents would bring their newborn children to the temple 40 days after their birth, and thus, February 2 is the closing out of the season of Light (Advent, Christmastide, Epiphanytide).

Since the 4th century, special candles are lit during communion services on Candlemas and all the parish Church candles are blessed to remind us of this season. The tradition grew and people brought their candles from home to be blessed so that now each time a candle is lit we remember the light of Christ coming into the world. (source)

February 2 is also the mid-point between winter and spring. We head toward the light of longer days, even as we head toward the dark nights of Lent.

This week, light candles each night, recall together the joys of the weeks of light since Advent began, pray for eyes to see the light of Christ in your neighborhoods and in the world.

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Epiphany, week 4: promises to all nations, hope to all peoples

My Epiphany daybook for these 5 weeks of witness. Join me, won't you? 

(Read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Epiphany. See previous Epiphany daybook 2016 posts here)

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look

The World
Paula Scher
source

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read

Jeremiah 1:8-10 / Luke 4:24-28:  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD." Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, "Now I have put my word in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over the nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and pull down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." / And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.

all readings for the day: Jeremiah 1:4-10  • Psalm 71:1-6  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13  • Luke 4:21-30

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pray 

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (source)
O God, you spoke your word and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ. Fill all creation with that word again, so that by proclaiming your joyful promises to all nations and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples, we may become one living body, your incarnate presence on the earth. Amen. (source)

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listen

Epiphany 2016/4 playlist

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Epiphany playlist.)

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do

This week, find a resource to help grow your understanding of God's plan for all nations to worship him.  The following resources have become invaluable for Brian and me as we pray for His "kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  

Operation World: the definitive prayer guide for every nation 

Join people from every nation, praying for people in every nation, sign up now and pray that the glory of God would fill the earth! You will receive daily prayer reminders for a different country or need somewhere in the world. 

Joshua Project: praying for unreached people groups. 

Subscribe to pray for an unreached people group every day.

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: be a part of God's plan for Him to be loved by every people 

Find a class near you.

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Epiphany, week 3: he has anointed me to bring good news

My Epiphany daybook for these 5 weeks of witness. Join me, won't you? 

(Read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Epiphany. See previous Epiphany daybook 2016 posts here)

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look

Christ Preaching In the Temple
Jan Polack, 1500
source

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read

Nehemiah 8:5-6 / Luke 4:16-19:  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. / When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

all readings for the day: 

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10  •  

Psalm 19  • 

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a  • Luke 4:14-21

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pray

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (source)

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listen

Arise, Shine For Your Light Has Come
Jered McKenna (via Canticles from Cardiphonia)

Epiphany 2016/3 playlist

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Epiphany playlist.)

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do

This week walk your neighborhood, the neighborhood where you live, work or worship of your workplace or your church, and pray. Pray the collect for this week (above) and ask God to open your eyes to the people and places He's asking you to "proclaim the Good News of His salvation". Ask a friend to pray for you to "answer readily" to what the Spirit reveals to you during your prayer.

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Epiphany, week 2: Of bridegrooms, good wine & signs of better things to come

My Epiphany daybook for these 5 weeks of witness. Join me, won't you? 

(Read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Epiphany. See previous Epiphany daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

The bridegroom breaking the wine glass.
January 2, 2016
source

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read 

Isaiah 62:5 / John 2:1-11:  For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. / [Jesus] said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 

all readings for the day: 

Isaiah 62:1-5  • 

 

Psalm 36:5-10  • 

 

1 Corinthians 12:1-11  • 

 

John 2:1-11

 

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pray

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illuminated by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (source)

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listen

We Will Dance

Epiphany 2: Good Wine & Wedding Feasts playlist

(Also, feel free to listen with me to my ever-evolving Epiphany playlist.)

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do

This week have a good conversation with a friend who knows you and knows Christ well - perhaps over a glass of wine. Talk and pray together about any area of your life that you have overlooked as "too ordinary" or "too secular" or "too unimportant" for the changing work of Christ to reveal himself.  Is it in you work, your home, your health, your neighborhood?  Where might you invite Christ to make something new in your life and in the world around you? End your time giving thanks for all of the ways Christ has already revealed Himself as the true God in the world around you. 

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