1Kings 8:22-30; Psalm 84:3-11; Mark 7:1-13

you cannot be held
by walls
or named
by our careful prayers

yet you lean
toward the cry
that rises
from an honest heart

even the sparrow
knows where to rest
the swallow
where her young are safe

not in perfection
but near
your altar

how easily
we polish the outer cup
while love waits
unserved
at the door

you are not impressed
by clean hands
if mercy is withheld
from mother or father
neighbor or stranger

teach our hearts
your way
bend them gently
toward what matters

let our lives
be a threshold—
close enough
to hear your breathing
yet far enough
to stay humble

better one day
awake to your presence
than a lifetime
busy
and distant

stay with us,
Spirit of truth—
make your home
where our longing lives.

Are your hands open with God’s love and mercy?

1Kings 8:1-7,9-13; Psalm 132:6-10; Mark 6:53-56

in the dark 
cloud of unknowing
we come
to be healed-
healing for ourselves
and all those
we love
even our enemies
as we see God’s word
as life
long have we followed
with hearts
of endless need
seeking only
our daily bread
and God’s will
for love

Who do you offer up to God’s healing touch?

Matthew 5:13-16

a light
that shines
within
drawn out
to meet another
drawn out
to meet
our God
we are guided
by this-
our prayers
for love
and healing
are answered
as we provide
each other
with sustenance
creating
a culture of Life
from a culture of death
we are the salt
of the earth

Are you guided by your inner light?
What is the source of your light?

1Kings3:4-13; Psalm 119:9-14; Mrk 6:30-34

our hearts
are moved
with His
for wisdom and
understanding
of God’s way
for a love
and mercy
and compassion
that finds
all the lost
and heals
all divisions
releasing
all sin
suffering
and death
into His hands

How is your heart moved by Him?
Do you seek God’s wisdom?

Sirach 47:2-11; Psalm 18:31,47 and 50, 51; Mark 6:13-29

coming
to the morning
in darkness
with heavy hearts
we pray
and are met
with songs
of praise
that resound
on earth’s altar
opening our hearts
to God’s generous spirit
all is forgiven
as we see
the face of God
and live
in love and hope

Is your heart touched by God’s generous spirit?
What is your hope

Mark 6:7-13

sent out
two by two
no money
no food
only
their Faith
and a walking stick
they lived
on the kindness
of strangers
who opened
their hearts
and homes
to Good News
seeing
a new way
to live
not in fear
but in the love
written
in their hearts

What do you carry on your journey?
What is written in your heart?

2Samuel 24:2,9-17; Psalm 32:1-2,5-7; Mark 6:1-6

thinking
we know
we miss
God’s voice
in the familiar
and the ordinary
wanting
to control
we plan against
God’s desire
until
in a light
of awareness
we see
and are struck
with a great sorrow
that becomes
mercy

Have you missed God’s voice in the familiar and the ordinary?
How does it feel to know you have been wrong?
How have you experienced the mercy of God?

2 Samuel 18:9-19:3; Psalm 86: 1-6; Mark 5:21-43

subjected
to the violence
of war
there is no victory
only the cry
of mourning
a father’s moan of loss
our own plea
for mercy

yet in time
healing comes
from the reach
to touch
His garment
and the plea
from the faith
of a father’s heart
that raises the child
to new life

What is this power that brings new life?
Do reach out to his healing power?
Do you ask from faith and love for the healing of another?

Mal 3: 1-4; Psalm 24: 7, 8, 9, 10; Hebrews: 2: 14-18;

Luke: 2: 22-40
Holy Spirit
preparing
the way
guiding our lives
opening
our praying eyes
to Glory
we see the one
we have longed for
who saves us
from our fear
of death
and the sin
that enslaves us
our hearts are opened
and revealed
as we endure
the purifying
flame
of love
and mercy
through
His tested faith
and give thanks

Do you see His Glory?
Do you experience His saving power?
How are you guided by the Holy Spirit?

Zephaniah 2:3-3:12-13; Psalm 146; 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31; Mt 5: 1-12

seeking
the Lord
seeking
wisdom
we find
what the world
sees
as foolish
lowly
and humble
we know
our need
our blessedness
in hunger
in mourning
in purity
in peace
we turn
from ruin
and enter
the joy
of the
Lord

Where do you seek God?
Where do you seek wisdom?
How do you find blessedness in hunger, in mourning and poverty?