Author Archives: Rachel Hackenberg

Praise

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Let us do what is right, with prayer and praise:

We rejoice in your renewal, O Creator
— alleluia, amen —
and we celebrate the labor to which we are called.

We rejoice that we are not surrendered to death
— alleluia, amen —
and we celebrate your name on this day.

We preach the women’s witness, O Christ
— alleluia, amen —
and we testify to the grace of life.

We preach the tears through which we recognize you
— alleluia, amen —
and we testify to your glory to spite death.

We claim the resurrection power of freedom, O Spirit
— alleluia, amen —
and we heed the call to tend vineyards instead of lynching trees.

We claim the healing of your steadfast love
— alleluia, amen —
and we heed the trembling of earth to bless all creation.

Let our praise be unbounded, alleluia and amen.

cross-posted at RevGalBlogPals

Hearts

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I followed Yours because it was so full of life,
so strong and resolute with every pulse.
Now it is silent. Mine is too.

I fixed mine upon Yours so that it might flower,
but now Yours has withered like grass.
Must hearts always fade?

Has Love’s river withdrawn its lifeblood?
Death has no impulse to replace it
so I will not rise again.

on Job 14:1-14








Betrayal

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When we have shouted ourselves hoarse
and returned home from the parade,
forgive our wavering commitment to love.

When we have finished our hymns
and departed from the comforts of worship,
forgive our fickle faithfulness.

When we have passed the plate of bread
and swept up all the last crumbs,
forgive our refusal to extend sanctuary.

When we have draped flowers on the altar
and bathed in their perfume of death,
forgive our neglect of our neighbors’ suffering.

And when we have waited through the night
and paced all day in disappointed prayer,
forgive our denial of your revelation.

cross-posted at RevGalBlogPals

Ostriches

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On this Lenten way,
O God of every good way
we pray for all that is to come:

for the path through stormy waters
and for those pummeled by the storm
until the path becomes clear;

for the avenues toward peace
and for those surrounded by warring chariots
until the rage of war is quenched;

for the riverbeds of restoration
and for those parched in the wilderness
until the rainy season comes;

for the intersections of community
and for those bypassed for their imago dei
until the crossroads are the heart.

Make a holy way
through this Lenten way,
we pray. Amen.

on Isaiah 43:16-21

cross-posted on RevGalBlogPals








Choosing with Teresa of Avila

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Christ has
no focus                       no eyes                 no nightmare
but yours                   but yours                     but yours

Christ has
no delight                     no body                 no distraction
but yours                 but yours                 but yours

Christ has
no tenderness                 no hands                    no isolation
but yours                 but yours                 but yours

Christ has
no melody                 no tongue                  no denial
but yours                 but yours                  but yours

Christ has
no foundation                 no feet                 no lifelessness
but yours                 but yours                 but yours

Christ has
no peace                no presence             no violence
but yours                 but yours                 but yours

naught but yours