01 Sunday Sep 2019
Posted in Prayers, Worship Liturgy
A morning prayer for the Spirit to move us:
Tender powerful Spirit,
who goes wherever you will,
like a flowing fountain soothe us,
like a mighty river transport us,
like a mountain lake enchant us,
like a gentle rain wash over us,
like a boundless ocean draw us into the deep. Amen.
Words (c) 2019 Mark Lloyd Richardson
04 Friday Dec 2015
Posted in Poems
Tags
disciplined life, eternal now, eternity, goals, God, Ground of all Being, morning prayer, mystical experience, nature, presence of God, spirituality, work
On the road
work beckoning
a daily duty
to be productive
to be hard at work
to be diligent in all things
to be focused on the important
to be tied to the meeting of goals
to be steadily progressing in the disciplined life
Only to be stopped in my tracks
stalled into awareness
dared to open my eyes
to the morning unfolding
in the periphery
where the land rises from the depths
in ways that mirror our own emergence
as living beings
within the large and beautiful Ground of all Being
Here the stillness refreshes
and releases me
to live
in the now
in the now of eternity
Words (c) 2015 Mark Lloyd Richardson
19 Wednesday Aug 2015
Posted in Justice, LGBTQ, pastoral integrity, Reflections
Tags
gospel of Jesus, Inclusive church, Jesus, LGBTQ community, love your neighbor, marginalized, marriage equality, ordination, same-sex attraction, social justice, spirituality, United Methodist Church
Altar at First United Methodist Church, Santa Barbara, CA
Adorned by Julie Hayward
Our congregation has been engaging in learning and conversation about what the Bible and the Christian faith say about hospitality and welcome within the Body of Christ, specifically as these relate to LGBTQ persons. It has not been an easy process thus far. We have looked at the words of Scripture related to same-sex activity and tried to understand their cultural and historical context. I have led a teaching forum on the United Methodist Church and the LGBTQ community, specifically addressing how our denomination has characterized homosexuality as sin and yet many of us experience a deep tension between institutional loyalty and obedience to Jesus’ teachings in the gospels to love our neighbors. We have gathered in a worshipful setting to listen to the personal stories of what our experience and reason tell us about same-sex attraction. I have preached sermons on the necessity of changing the United Methodist stance on marriage equality, ordination, and the full inclusion of our LGBTQ neighbors, friends, and families in the life and ministry of the church.
After a time of Holy Conversation recently, in which over fifty people gathered prayerfully to listen to one another’s stories, I shared my heavy heart about a few matters. A day or two later, someone in the church sent me the following poem/prayer. It was an encouragement to me, so I share it now with you. The words below are not my words (though I wish they were). I hope you find them meaningful for whatever paths God is leading you on today.
May I become at all times, both now and forever,
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those without shelter
And a servant to all in need.
~Anonymous
Jesus is the one who illumines my spiritual path. When others assign false motives to my leadership, I keep my eyes on Jesus. When they question my fidelity to the gospel of Christ, I keep my eyes on Jesus. I let the bigger picture of those who have been marginalized and excluded in church and society remain in my sight, and I remember the pain this has brought to their lives. I pray that in some small way I can give voice to Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Words (c) 2015 Mark Lloyd Richardson
10 Thursday Oct 2013
Posted in Centering Prayer, Prayers, Reflections
Tags
Centering Prayer, contemplative prayer, Divine presence, gratitude, Plumeria, prayer, sacred mystery, spirit, spirituality, the Holy, Thomas Keating, Trinity
Photo credit: Debbie Gara
While living in Hawaii, the scent of Plumeria flowers permeated our yard and infused the air with a kind of lingering sweetness that stirred up within me a sense of gratitude for the gift of life. It also serves as a metaphor to me for the permeating presence of the Divine (or the Sacred or Holy) in all human experience.
My spirituality is rooted in the practice of contemplative prayer, and specifically a prayer method known as Centering Prayer, because this is the spiritual practice that I have found to be most nourishing to my soul. Like other people of faith, I naturally also say many other quick prayers throughout each day – prayers of intercession for the needs of people with whom I have some relationship, as well as prayers for the common good of society and our world. Yet I return again and again to the simple practice of “resting in God” that is the essence of Centering Prayer. I think I am drawn to this form of prayer communication because it is the most reassuring and restorative for me. It is less about my own process of thinking or feeling, and more about simply trusting in the sweetness of this life that is imbued with holiness and beauty because it is born within God!
Recently I was touched by something Father Thomas Keating wrote about the theological basis for Centering Prayer in his book Intimacy with God:
“Where does Centering Prayer come from? Its source is the Trinity dwelling within us. It is rooted in God’s life within us. I don’t think that we reflect about this truth nearly enough. With baptism comes the entire uncreated presence of the most holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We participate as human beings in God’s life just by being alive, but much more through grace…. This stream of divine love that is constantly renewed in the life of the Trinity is infused into us through grace. We know this by our desire for God. That desire, however it may be battered by the forces of daily life, manifests itself in the effort that we make to develop a life of prayer and a life of action that is penetrated by prayer.” ~ Thomas Keating
It is important to say that Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other forms of prayer. Rather it casts them in a new light and reminds us of the need to listen for the movement of the Spirit within us and around us. It recasts our actions into prayerful actions.
Here is a simple outline for a period (20 to 40 minutes) of Centering Prayer:
May God bless you as you seek to be present to the Sacred amidst the ordinary!
Words (c) 2013 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photo credit: Debbie Gara
26 Tuesday Feb 2013
Posted in Poems
Tags
boldness, breathe, gratitude, love, Sacred quality of life, spiritual practice, spirituality, wonder
Sometimes
When I turn the volume down
I hear the earth breathe –
An unmistakable longing
Reverberating from deep in the center of being
Its source unbound from all the limits we know –
And in the twinkling of an eye
I am overcome with gratitude
For the pure boldness of such love.
Words (c) 2013 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photo (c) 2013 Dallis Day Richardson
05 Saturday Jan 2013
Posted in Poems, Reflections
Tags
compassion, Epiphany, faith, gifts, grace, gratitude, interfaith cooperation, Jesus Christ, light of Christ, ministry, progressive Christianity, re-creation, spirituality
Today is the eve of Epiphany, a day celebrating the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world, and especially to religious outsiders and seekers. It also marks the one-year anniversary of this blog, in which I have endeavored to share a word of grace, hope, and peace with my readers. My posts have included prayers, poems, portions of sermons, and other reflections on spirituality and the life of faith from a progressive Christian perspective.
Pastoral ministry is demanding. Most of the time I feel as though I’m way behind in doing what needs to be done to strengthen the church I serve and help people become more faithful and fruitful in ministry to the world. So my posts have sometimes been few and far between. Still I value those who read, and especially those who trouble themselves to make a comment or offer feedback.
For me the most important qualities of Christian disciples are humility, compassion, a desire to serve humankind, and a heart for all God’s children. Beliefs and theologies can vary. Religions and traditions can vary. If you are convinced that every human being is a child of God and you want to bring people together to build a shared humanity and strengthen the common good, then I don’t care if you are an atheist, an agnostic, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Sikh, a Muslim, a Christian, or a Jew! Please, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, for the sake of the natural world and all its creatures, and for the sake of our future on this planet, let us work together to make a better world.
I am a Christian pastor, but I have great admiration and respect for people of all faiths and people of no faith, because I have been around long enough to understand that religious beliefs don’t always make people more compassionate or kind or loving. Sometimes, in fact, religious beliefs just inoculate people into thinking they don’t need to change or embolden them to be boisterous in their condemnation of those who think differently than they do. Sometimes religious beliefs make people less tolerant, less trusting, less loving, and (to be honest) a pain in the neck. Still I believe in the power of love to transform the world.
On this twelfth day of Christmas and Epiphany Eve, I share a poem I wrote ten years ago.
What Gift Can We Bring?
No one dare boast of her place in God’s Kingdom.
No one dare brag of his place in God’s Realm.
We are but children reborn of our Mother,
And in the arms of our Father beheld.
Still, in this season we sing out God’s glory —
We who have come to experience God’s grace.
Still, in this time when a star shines out brightly —
We come rejoicing, and look on Love’s face.
How is it that we can sing when we’re lonely?
How is it that we can stand while afraid?
How is it that we still love the Old Story
Of all creation made new and reclaimed?
We are not brighter or richer or stronger,
We are not privileged alone to know Love.
We are with all of God’s children together
Graced by the Christ here on earth and above.
What can we bring to the Child born among us?
What can we offer our Savior and King?
All that we are is a gift we’ve been given —
Our grateful hearts the best gift we can bring.
Words (c) 2002 Mark Lloyd Richardson
08 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in Reflections
Tags
compassion, Dalai Lama, faith traditions, gospels, Jesus, Marcus Borg, Religious pluralism, salvation, spirituality
On Facebook recently I posted this quote from the Dalai Lama and commented that I wish more Christians believed this about people of other faith traditions. I agree with something Bishop John Shelby Spong said: “God is not a Christian. God is not a Jew or a Muslim or a Hindu or a Buddhist. I honor my tradition. I walk through my tradition. But I don’t believe my tradition defines God. It only points me to God.”
After posting the above photo a friend commented, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). This friend considers this a definitive statement with no ambiguity. Another Facebook friend, my niece Kaitlynn, agreed that “God speaks very clearly through scripture and specifically in John 14:6 about how to be reconciled and receive salvation.” She didn’t see any other way to interpret that verse.
Facebook is many things, but perhaps it is not the best place to carry on a theological dialogue! However, because I want my Facebook friends (and relatives) to know that I respect and care about them, I offered the following response:
For me following Jesus is about trying to see the world through his eyes of mercy and relating to others with compassion more than it is about adhering to a particular set of beliefs. I believe in Jesus – it’s just that I don’t think my belief saves me. Christians often confuse faith and a faithful life with belief. I think of faith as trust in God. To confess “Jesus saves” is to acknowledge that we are not saved by a creed, a set of spiritual laws, or a particular view of scripture. We enter salvation by placing our ultimate trust in the Source of our life and Ground of our being. Nor are we saved so that we can personally enjoy a happy eternal future. Our lives are saved from meaninglessness and self-centeredness and saved for the purpose of living for God and loving the world that God loves.
The early Christian movement of the first few centuries was all about taking care of one another, showing radical hospitality to strangers, and being a countercultural witness of the power of God. God is much bigger than the Bible, and Jesus’ message of salvation goes way beyond individual concerns to address the whole of God’s creation and all the systems that we take for granted that have nothing whatsoever in common with God’s kingdom or Jesus’ way.
The gospels are human documents written decades after Jesus’ death expressing how particular evangelists understood Jesus. The gospels are not verbatim transcripts of historical events so much as they are stories of how the pre-Easter Jesus changed peoples’ lives and how the post-Easter Jesus continued to reveal the nature of God’s power in the world – the power of self-giving love and unconditional acceptance. They are meant to point us to the God of Jesus, the God in Jesus. The goal of the evangelists was to have their hearers receive the good news and permit God’s grace and power to transform their lives, and through them to transform their world.
The gospel of John includes many “I am” statements on the lips of Jesus. Jesus claims to be true bread, a gate, a good shepherd, the vine, and the light of the world, and I affirm by faith the truth in these claims. But they are metaphors, not statements of literal fact. In many ways they speak of a mystical relationship that exists through faith, which itself is a gift from God, lest anyone should boast.
So … I choose to see the Christ of the gospels as someone whose love embraces the whole of humanity and all of creation, and that choice moves me beyond self-interest in my own personal future to seek to embrace the whole world that is loved by God.
In this religiously pluralistic world, where people of many traditions seek the sacred and long to know God, I am helped by something New Testament scholar Marcus Borg wrote in his book The Heart of Christianity: “To say ‘Jesus is the only way’ is also the language of devotion. It is the language of gratitude and love. It is like language used by lovers, as when we say to our beloved, ‘You’re the most beautiful person in the world.’ Literally? Most beautiful? Really? Such language is the poetry of devotion and the hyperbole of the heart, but it is not doctrine. . . . [He concludes,] We can sing our love songs to Jesus with wild abandon without needing to demean other religions.”
Again, I respect those who don’t share my views, and I in no way question your faith or devotion to Jesus. I too seek to follow Jesus in my life, and my spiritual path has led me to see the meaning of faith in a different light. I trust we can still be friends.
Words (c) 2012 Mark Lloyd Richardson
12 Friday Oct 2012
Posted in Prayers, Reflections
Tags
courage, depression, Francesca Battiselli, Healing prayer, hope, Mental health, Mental Illness Awareness Week, Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, spirituality, wholeness
The first full week of October each year is Mental Illness Awareness Week. Tuesday was National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding, a day we are asked to seek God’s guidance as we “recommit ourselves to replacing misinformation, blame, fear and prejudice with truth and love in order to offer hope to all who are touched by mental illness.”
Each of us is touched by mental illness at some time in our lives, either personally or through the struggle of someone we know. In my work as a pastor and counselor I have seen firsthand how mental illness affects individuals, families, and communities. I have witnessed emotional devastation and suffering and I have witnessed deep courage and resilience, often in the same people.
In my personal life I have known periods of severe depression, and moments when I felt all hope was lost and I was in such desperate pain that I considered ways to end my life. I am very grateful that the resources of faith, community, and treatment saw me through.
Mental illness is just that … an illness! It is diagnosable, it is treatable, and it is not a sign of weakness or failure.
A memorial in the local newspaper this past August from someone whose sister took her own life moved me deeply, so I share some excerpts here.
“This is my sister, Kim. I love this picture. This is how I want to remember her – carefree and unencumbered by life. I really miss her….
“Outwardly, she always seemed so tough, so in control and organized. But inwardly, she was fragile and emotionally destitute. It was 10 years ago that she took her own life.
“I wish she could have seen what was around the bend. I wish the love of her family had inspired her to get help. I wish she had shared the private hell she was going through so we could have been there for her.
“I wish I could have given her one more hug. I wish I could have told her I loved her one more time…. I wish I could have thanked her for the fun and joy she brought to my life. I wish….
“I am telling you all this because if you are depressed and can’t see a brighter tomorrow, please get help….
“Reach out! Reach out to your loved ones. Talk to a professional. Your depression is not something to be embarrassed about or ashamed of. It is a treatable disorder….
“My sister and I spent a week together every summer, and each summer we had a theme song. This summer I dedicate the song ‘Blue Sky,’ by Francesca Battiselli, to my sister and to you” [The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, CA, August 12, 2012].
Click here to play the song: Blue Sky
One of my colleagues, the Reverend Susan Gregg-Schroeder, has written a beautiful Pastoral Prayer for this week, a portion of which I share with you here:
“Loving Creator, we come … seeking your presence, comfort and guidance. We come as individuals living with mental illness, family members, friends, co-workers and mental health professionals.
“We come this day because we believe that you, Divine One, love each one of us just as we are. You walk with us on our individual journeys through life. You see the ignorance and injustice that divide and separate persons living with mental illness and you weep with us.
“Give us courage to face our challenges and open us today to the many ways you are already working in our midst. Help us to identify mental illness as the disease it is, that we might have courage and wisdom in the face of ignorance and stigma. Inspire us as we seek to overcome fear, acquire knowledge and advocate for compassionate and enlightened treatment and services….
“Sometimes, Divine Spirit, we feel discouraged and hopeless in the face of so many challenges. Help us to see ourselves as you see us – persons of value and worth, persons of creativity and potential.
“May we come to understand the interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit in bringing about health and wholeness. And may we go forward into our communities with a renewed sense of vision, hope and possibility for the future. Amen.”
Words (c) 2012 Mark Lloyd Richardson (except where attributed to others)
23 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in Prayers, Worship Liturgy
Here’s a prayer for use in worship this coming Sunday or for your personal use anytime.
Invitation to Prayer
The miracle is that God made us for a divine purpose. We are chosen, blessed, called and equipped to be God’s ambassadors of grace and peace in this world. Such duty requires that we be people of prayer who regularly turn to the One who sustains us. In prayer, we seek God’s will and presence to guide our actions. Let us enter now into a time of prayer.
Prayer for One Voice
God of seaside and mountain,
God of Gentile and Jew,
God of miracle and mundane,
You enter our lives in the most ordinary places.
You meet us in our everyday needs and concerns.
You come to us in our waking and our sleeping.
You feed us in our deepest longings.
You guide us on the paths of righteousness.
You bless us with your steadfast love.
You grace us with your incarnational presence.
For all of these places of meeting, we give thanks.
We pray that you will continue to teach us
what it means to live whole and holy lives.
We pray that you will open our eyes to
the everyday miracles of grace in an ungracious world.
We pray that you will lead us into your peace
so that we become instruments of peace
among our sisters and brothers of all races and nations.
We also pray that in the abundance of your mercy,
you would bring comfort to the grieving this day,
peace of mind to the troubled,
encouragement to the hurting,
wholeness to the sick and dying,
hope to all the world’s people.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Words (c) 2006 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photo (c) 2011 Dallis Day Richardson (Monterey, CA)
25 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in Reflections, Sermon portions
Tags
Christ, faith, God's presence, Gospel of Mark, peace, Sea of Galilee, spirituality, Stand by Me, storms of life
The geography of the Sea of Galilee – a low-lying area surrounded by hills – makes it especially susceptible to sudden and sometimes violent storms. Lake storms can be swift and terrifying, even to those who make their living on them, like the fishermen in Mark 4:35-41.
There are storms in life as well – storms of weakened health or prolonged illness, storms of job loss or mounting debt, storms of troubling global events, storms of emotional upheaval, storms created by the normal aging process, the human journey toward death or the grief of losing someone we love. Most of these storms are uninvited. They appear suddenly on the horizon, like dark gathering clouds, and move toward us while we consider what to do.
The story in Mark’s gospel gets interesting, because Jesus falls asleep on the trip over. This may not seem like a big deal. After all, he’s the carpenter, the rabbi, the landlubber. Some of his disciples have spent their whole lives fishing on this very lake. They are the experienced ones here. They are the ones who understand the variations in weather, and know how to handle them.
But here’s what happens. A great windstorm arises, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat is being swamped. The disciples do their best to remove the water, but it is getting into the boat faster than they can bail it out. They panic. These men who have always been comfortable on the water are now having their confidence tested.
Isn’t that how life treats us sometimes? Don’t we have our comfort zones, our places of safety, our circles of family and friends? Don’t we have our country – where the ideals of democracy and freedom have guided us for over two hundred years? And then something happens – a storm brews, divisions arise, an enemy approaches – and we are suddenly in fear for our lives.
In the midst of the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee, the seaworthy disciples find themselves afraid that this might be the day that their time runs out.
They are at the moment of truth.
Life is about to overwhelm them.
Death, they fear, is about to swallow them up.
And Jesus is asleep.
Pastor Kevin McHarg poses this question for us to consider: Am I willing to trust a sleeping Jesus?
When I’m in the doctor’s office awaiting a diagnosis, am I willing to trust a sleeping Jesus?
When I’m in the throes of a difficult divorce, am I willing to trust a sleeping Jesus?
When I’m making a change in my career path, am I willing to trust a sleeping Jesus?
A Jesus on the road to Jerusalem I might be able to trust.
A Jesus opening the eyes of the blind I might be able to trust.
A Jesus teaching on a hillside or in the synagogue I might be able to trust.
But – a sleeping Jesus? I’m not so sure.
The disciples, fearing for their lives, wake Jesus from his sleep, and say to him, “Teacher! The boat’s going down. Don’t you care?”
Jesus wakes up, rebukes the wind, and says to the sea, “Peace! Be still!”
All becomes calm. The wind stops howling. The water lays so still that it reflects the starlight. There is nothing but silence, until Jesus speaks, and asks the question that is asked of us as well, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”
It is as though Jesus is saying, “I am right here in the boat. I am right here in the midst of your lives. What more do you need before you will trust me?”
Charles Tindley wrote a hymn a century ago titled “Stand By Me.” The opening stanza reads: “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me; … When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me.”
Faith, you see, is a willingness to let God be God. Faith means that even in the storms of life we know that Christ stands with us. Faith assures us that we are never more than a whispered prayer away from the powerful Presence whom even the storms obey!
Words (c) 2012 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photo (c) 2012 Dallis Day Richardson
