Wisdom words

Black History Month

What words do we use to lift up the history of oppression, current struggles and future hopes? How is our language in worship shaped by race? What colours do we see as we speak the words of our faith? Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. -Psalm […]

Read full text

Psalm 119 Renewed — Duncan Wilson, UK

Lection for Epiphany 6, Year A To be read responsively, by two voices or by a solo voice How happy we could be if we could reach perfection, if we could just keep to the rules. How happy if we could follow orders with a willing heart. Some people do manage to steer a straight […]

Read full text

Reflection & confession of the Magi — Jim Burklo, USA

Reflection of the Magi A Christmas & Epiphany Poem What wisdom I have Awakens me to my blindness. I cannot see light itself What I know of light Is only an alluring shadow Of what it is and does. From billions of years away in space-time, Through darkness intervening, At its inconceivable speed The light […]

Read full text

God in Solidarity — Anna Blaedel, USA

God in solidarity God takes on flesh and joins life in the struggle – this is what radical solidarity feels like. Lives and souls and bodies entangled. Risks and possibilities shared. We’re in this together. The mess, the beauty, the work. Don’t be afraid to feel hopeful. God’s promises are kept. God won’t opt-out or […]

Read full text

Yes! to Care — Anna Blaedel, USA

Care. Tender care. Soul care. Spiritual care. Material care. Collective care. Not self care, no. Or, rather, not only self care. Because no self is separable from the multitude of our relations, and we are made for murmurations, and our lives and legacies and futures are bound up together, even now, even now. So, yes, […]

Read full text

Matthew 25:1-13, Questions — Gerardo Oberman, Argentina

Questions for the teacher By Gerardo Oberman, Argentina Re-interpretation of Matthew 25:1-13 (the foolish maidens), lection for Proper 27 (usually 23rd Sunday after Pentecost), Year A Translated from Spanish by Katie Fiegenbaum Ready-to-download:  Questions for the teacher PDF Questions for the teacher WORD Perhaps you are asking me, teacher to be numb to the needs […]

Read full text

8 May – Julian of Norwich

May 8 marks the Feast of Julian of Norwich. Julian of Norwich (1342-c.1416), mystic and author of The Revelations of Divine Love, is considered the first woman to write a book (that has survived) in English.  Revelations of Divine Love arises from a series of sixteen visions she received on the 8th of May 1373. […]

Read full text

The Ten Amendments — Jim Burklo, USA

Exodus 20:1-17 Jim writes… ‘The ten commandments endure as a foundation for morality, after thousands of years. But just like other guiding/governing documents, from time to time we need to add amendments to them. The ten commandments are a short list, and that is a very good thing. They mostly tell us what not to […]

Read full text

Sacred time — Annie Heppenstall, UK

Let this be a sacred time, O God, in which I let what has begun, gradually grow, finding within me the patience and trust that allows me to tend my concerns with wisdom. This prayer by Annie Heppenstall was distributed at Gloucester Cathedral during the ‘Museum of the Moon’ exhibition in October 2019.

Read full text

Rainbow of God’s design — Wellingtone Bawalya, Zambia

Inspired by 1 Corinthians 4:3-6 (Eighth Sunday after Epiphany, Year A) This prayer arises from a homily given at Morning Chapel, United Church of Zambia University.  Wellingtone’s words have been adapted as a prayer by Ana Gobledale. My parents, sisters and brothers in Christ, join me in prayer. Creator God, how wonderful it is that […]

Read full text

Who is Jesus? — Eleanor Hubbard, Colorado USA

For Emalyn whom Eleanor mentored… Who is Jesus?  A little boy born in a barn in a small village to poor parents. Two thousand, sixteen years ago. I wish I understood how and why he came still influencing billions of people today.   What I do know is that Jesus healed people. Jesus taught, prayed, […]

Read full text

A slow dawning — R S Thomas, UK

The first king was on horseback. The second a pillion rider. The third came by plane. Where was the god-child? He was in the manger with the beasts, all looking the other way where fourth was a slow dawning because wisdom must come on foot.   R. S. Thomas, Counterpoint (1990) Shared by Sarum College, […]

Read full text

Tinged with Greed — Joyce Dent, Hampshire UK

Creator of the Universe, Lover of all that you make, We thank you for this marvellous world Which you have given us for our home. Help us to show our gratitude As much by our lives as by our words. We acknowledge that so often Our best efforts are tinged with greed, The desire for […]

Read full text

Psalm Before Beginning Work — E Hayes

From Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim, Fr. Edward Hayes To You, O Divine One, from whose hands comes the work of creation, so artfully designed, I pray that this work I am about to do may be done in companionship with you. May the work that I will soon begin sing praise to you, as songbirds […]

Read full text