Author Archives: Rachel Hackenberg

Wilderness

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We long for your voice
like a deer longs for water,
but no, Lord — do not put your voice
in our ears and our hearts, for it might
split us open and rend us from
the comforts and assumptions
with which we have clothed faith.

We long for your presence
like a ship longs for the shore,
but no, Spirit — do not be an anchor
to our wandering spirits, for you might
disrupt our restless living with the call
to faithfulness; we would
rather battle the storms.

We long for your help
like an eagle longs for the wind,
but no, Mercy — do not lift us up
with story and song, for we prefer reason
to imagination and your provocation
might shatter the certainty
by which we cling to you.

cross-posted with RevGalBlogPals

Trinity Sunday Prayer

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When you pray, say:

Our Creator,
our Justification,
our Advocate in heaven —

hallowed be thy Name,
thy Body,
thy Presence.

Your Realm come,
your Imagination fulfill,
your Peace arrive
in all ways & all places.

Be our Bread,
our Breath,
and our Beckoning.

Jealous One,
forgive our self worship.
Just One,
save us from abuses of power.
Joyful One,
restore us to participation.

For yours is the Delight,
the Authority, and
the Relationship
now and always.

Amen.

cross-posted at RevGalBlogPals

Pentecost

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Holy Spirit, Wild Wind,
on this day of Pentecost
we are gathered.

We are alternately
full of fire and fizzling,
courageous and tentative,
gifted by dreams and haunted by worries.

In other words,
this holy day finds us to be
still wholly human.

Will you fill us up?
Will you awe our hearts
so that we too might understand
your word & work of power in the world?

Will you declare the assurance
that our souls long to hear,
the peace that all your children need,
the renewal that is creation’s hope?

Let it be so,
and we who aspire to be fire
would settle for being your kindling
in this world that needs love.

Let it be so,
and we who dream of flying
would settle for bending in your breeze
like flowers dancing their praises
in a world that needs whimsy.

We ask in wonder.
We pray in astonishment.
We wait for heaven to come among us
like a rush of roaring wind, like a flame
that ignites without ceasing.

Amen.

cross-posted at RevGalBlogPals

Melted

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What the hell do any of us know, O Eternal Mystery?

While we worship constancy and might,
mountains melt and remold like wax.

While we sing hymns in echoing caverns,
the Spirit waits upon those in prison.

While we pray to love our enemies,
the Church itself nurtures violence.

While we thirst for truth and order,
we get drunk on self-righteousness.

While we say “Believe us — here is God, and there too!”
a prescient slave girl is considered a threat to orthodoxy.

While we await God’s redemption from evil,
our loyalties fly high for military domination.

While we stake our place “so help me, God,”
creation is wise enough to tremble and bow.

While we die the daily death of change,
your love remains in all and through all.

You tried to make it known and living;
we preferred to make it certain and stagnant.

What the hell do any of us know, O Eternal Mystery?

on the Narrative and Revised Common Lectionaries,
cross-posted at RevGalBlogPals

Psalm 148

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The angels have every reason to boast:
in their mission beyond time and form,
in their gift of eternal song.
But see: they brag on God alone.

The sun has every reason to puff its chest:
all eyes turn toward it with every day,
its dawn is the hope of every heart.
But no: it praises the Creator.

The mountains and hills know their swagger:
they are parabolic obstacles and havens,
mysteries and revelations of folklore.
But note: they glorify God’s name.

The fire and hail, snow and wind know their fame:
as life measures its seasons by their impact,
as they toy with comfort and fear.
But listen: their tribute is made to the Sovereign.

So our egos aggrandize themselves in vain:
we who wilt under the sun and rain,
who stumble and wander in need of guides.
Take heed: exaltation belongs to God.