Darkness, Light, and an Evening Prayer – 13 August 2021

Thought inspiring

Pastor Michael Moore's Blog

There are times when I find myself in a low spiritual energy place. There are also times when my depression overwhelms me. Yet even in the midst of that darkness I am able to find light and hope. When I let go of my own need to be in control and surrender myself the the Lord of Light and Love, the spiritual dawn of a new day comes.

I found this quote from Thomas Merton that was helpful to me as I ponder these things tonight.

O God, teach me to be satisfied with my own helplessness in the spiritual life. Teach me to be content with Your grace that comes to me in darkness and that works things I cannot see. Teach me to be happy that I can depend on You. To Depend On You Should Be Enough For An Eternity Of Joy. To Depend On You By…

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Our Sister Bodily Death – A Reflection

This is so beautiful

Pastor Michael Moore's Blog

A visitor when we went to spend some time with Mom tonight ❤️❤️

I have been reflecting on the many people that I have walked with through the Valley of the Shadows as a military chaplain and pastor. I have also been reflecting on the parishioners and friends that Denise and I have walked with together through the same Valley. I have also been reflecting on the gift that Denise gave to both of our mothers by her loving and steadfast presence with them through their own Valleys.

One of our musical companions on the drive from Georgia to Minnesota was our dear and beloved friend, Simon de Voil Home Page. One particular piece that he offered was his interpretation of Saint Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of Creation.”

When speaking about our Sister Bodily Death whom Francis embraced wholeheartedly, Simon shared the following:

Most High, all-powerful, precious God,
through…

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The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: Those Who Lived To Tell The Tale!

This is very powerful – a must read.

THE CHRONICLES OF HISTORY

“I was choking. The fire was in the hall… I put my muff around my head tightly and I ran right through the fire. The fur caught on fire. When we got down stairs they kept us in the hall… Not the street, because the bodies were falling down. I saw one woman jump and get caught on a hook on the 6th floor and watched how a fireman saved her.” – Rose Hauser 

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Human Liberty: A Reflection with Thomas Merton

Powerful

Pastor Michael Moore's Blog

Church door at St Joseph On the Mountain Episcopal church in Mentone, Alabama

I have been reading Thomas Merton’s book, Seeds of Destruction and its focus is on civil rights and the fight for equality for, as Merton says, the Negro. Written in 1964, it is still sadly relevant today as the words of the prophet and mystic’s words continue to speak fifty-seven years later. I believe that Merton would on the one hand not be surprised at all by this sad fact. On a deeper level, I believe that he would be saddened by the lack of progress on the Civil Rights front. As the #BlackLivesMatter continues to work towards racial equality and fight against the so-called “heritage” movement, Merton’s words speak volumes.

The Negro finally gets tired of this treatment and becomes quite rightly convinced that the only way he is ever going to get his rights is…

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The Journey

Wow – very inspiring

Pastor Michael Moore's Blog

Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia

Life can indeed be interesting at times. The roads which we travel and the experiences we have can be life changing if we let them. They can also paralyze us and keep us from moving forward… if we let them. In May of 1986 I graduated from seminary. The summer of 1986 I went to Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for my second summer tour as a Chaplain Candidate, Second Lieutenant. In September, 1987 I took my first call as a pastor. Thirty-three years later I am still “at it” so to speak.

Warfare (the entire time I was on Active duty this nation was at war), constantly moving (from 1987-2011 the longest I lived in one place was four years… the shortest, a year plus a few four to six month deployments), a Pandemic… yes, a lot has happened.

There has been much to reflect…

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Evening Prayer – 1 June 2021

Totally Awesome

Pastor Michael Moore's Blog

The sun has set and the Vesper lights flicker and glow

Flowers remind us of God’s refreshing and re-creating love

I am reminded of the love, mercy, grace, and renewal which the Spirit of God offers us

Thomas Merton wrote the following in his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain.

There is not a flower that opens, not a seed that falls into the ground, and not an ear of wheat that nods on the end of its stalk in the wind that does not preach and proclaim the greatness and the mercy of God to the whole world. There is not an act of kindness or generosity, not an act of sacrifice done, or a word of peace and gentleness spoken, not a child’s prayer uttered, that does not sing hymns to God before his throne, and in the eyes of men, and before their faces.

May the flowers…

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and yet . . . HERE WE ARE!

Great Blog

A Bit of Brian's Brilliance

Living with #AlzheimersDisease, #VascularDementia, #Type2Diabetes, as well as other ailments, is not exactly how I envisioned my older years. Yet, HERE I AM, BUT NOT GIVING UP! So many other Diseases now have cures, ways to slow progressions, and have ways to assist individuals to live a good life. However, WE DON’T have those things so HERE WE ARE, STILL WAITING PATIENTLY . . . VERY PATIENTLY.

For those of us who are Living with a Dementia-Related Illness, we’re not just standing by and letting time slip away. We raise awareness, talk to the newly diagnosed to give them some hope as to what the future looks like for them. We also assist others who are further on with their disease, many now living in a Care Community. Sadly, most are forgotten and that adds to their progression. Then there are the lucky individuals who have consistent visits from their…

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Evening Prayer – 22 May 2021

I so ❤ ❤ ❤ reading this blog.

Pastor Michael Moore's Blog

The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow

Thank you for a day of reflection

Thank you for this time with my sweetheart and our puppy

Thank you for the opportunity to Be Still

Thank you for the beauty of Sister Moon tonight

Thomas Merton shared these words about darkness and life which bring comfort this night:

And it is in this darkness, when there is nothing left in us that can please or comfort our own minds, when we seem to be useless and worthy of all contempt, when we seem to have failed, when we seem to be destroyed and devoured, it is then that the deep and secret selfishness that is too close to us for us to identify is stripped away from our souls. It is in this darkness that we find liberty. It is in this abandonment that we are made strong…

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Evening Prayer – 4 May 2021

Amen

Pastor Michael Moore's Blog

Are you going to share your food, Daddy?

The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow

It has been a long and full day

A day of reflection

A day of worship preparation

A day for study

A day to simply Be Still

Lord, to you I raise

Wide and bright

Faith-filled eyes

You are my protection

Bring me home.

And receivemy prayer

Sweet as incense smoke

Rising from my heart

Free of care.**

Now as my eyelids grow heavy

I lift this humble prayer to you

Dona Nobis Pacem

Grant Us Peace

A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…

**Collected Poems, from Thomas Merton: A Book of Hours, p. 112

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Sojourners Verse and Voice – 6 May 2021

Amen

Pastor Michael Moore's Blog

Verse of the day   I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.  – Psalm 120:7

Voiceof the day And when the pain of gun violence begins to overwhelm me, I remember nature, that it groans with us and sings with us. Even the rocks cry out. – Cassidy Klein

Prayerof the day Guide us in the path of discipleship, so that, as you have blessed us, we may be a blessing for others, bringing the promise of the kingdomnear byour words and deeds. – From Revised Common Lectionary Prayers

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