What’s a Playlist?
May Playlist
Holy Spirit
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
5/1/24
Introduction
Discussing the Holy Spirit makes some of us uncomfortable. Maybe our discomfort is because it’s difficult to put into words our experience with the Holy Spirit. It’s so personal. So unique. So powerful. Take some time to explore the Holy Spirit through this month’s Playlist and see where and how the Holy Spirit is guiding you.
Holy Spirit & Prayer
The following prayer is from the ELW. Use it as your prayer this month as you work your way through the Holy Spirit Playlist.
By your word, eternal God, your creation sprang forth, and we were given the breath of life. By your word, eternal God, death is overcome, Christ is raised from the tomb, and we are given new life in the power of your Spirit. May we boldly proclaim this good news in our words and our deeds, rejoicing always in your powerful presence; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
Holy Spirit & Scripture
When I think of the Holy Spirit, I think of Jesus promising the Holy Spirit to the Disciples and to us. We are never alone. God is with us. Use the link below to read John 14:15-30. Revisit this passage throughout the month.
Holy Spirit & Meditation
Below is a twelve-minute meditation on the Holy Spirit offered by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest and writer. Sit comfortably and settle in for a reflection on the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit & Enter the Bible
Below you’ll find a links to Enter the Bible. It’s a website from Luther Seminary. The links help us understand the work of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit & The Bible Project
Folks at The Bible Project help us understand the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible. Click the link below to watch the video.
Holy Spirit & Living Lutheran
The article linked below is from Living Lutheran. “Acts of the Holy Spirit” challenges us to see the Holy Spirit at work in the world today.
Holy Spirit & Symbolism
The link below is to Loyola Press, a Catholic publishing company. It provides some explanation of different symbols of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit & Poetry
Below is a poem by Hildegard of Bingen, also known as Saint Hildegard. She is known for her contributions to music, medicine, theology, and botany during the Middle Ages.
“Antiphon for the Holy Spirit”
Hildegard of Bingen
Translated by Barbara Newman
The Spirit of God
is a life that bestows life,
root of world-tree
and wind in its boughs.
Scrubbing out sin,
she rubs oil into wounds.
She is glistening life
alluring all praise,
all-awakening,
all-resurrecting.
Holy Spirit & Music
Here’s some music with connections to our Holy Spirit theme.
April Playlist
Shepherd
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
4/1/24
Introduction
Our theme this month is Shepherd. I don’t have a lot of experience tending sheep. I do remember going to some kind of storybook forest park as a child. I think it was in Pennsylvania. They had statues and models of different fairy tales. You could climb on The Old Woman’s shoe and walk through the cottage with Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. There were statues of Little Red Riding Hood and The Wolf. The thing I really remember about the place is the petting zoo. They had sheep, and kids could feed the sheep with bottles. I remember they were greedy, aggressive eaters, and I got a little freaked out in the pen. There’s an old family picture of me with a forced smile on my face waiting to get out of there! Pretty sure I wouldn’t make a very good shepherd!
Shepherd & Prayer
The following prayer is from the re:Worship website. It’s inspired by Psalm 23, and it’s written by Brian Draper. Use it as your prayer this month as you work your way through the Shepherd Playlist.
You, Lord, are the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.
Thank you, that you know me and call me by name.
Thank you that you would search and search
just for one missing sheep out of a hundred—
even it were me—
and not rest until it was back in the fold.
And thank you, too, for the great words of the psalms,
which comfort, challenge and inspire us.
We shall not want, Lord, for we are yours,
and you have given us what we need.
You have given us all we need.
Thank you for green pastures.
Thank you for quiet waters.
Thank you for refreshing my soul.
Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear.
You, Lord, are my shepherd.
You have called me by name.
And you have searched, until you have found me.
Enfold us in your love. Amen.
Shepherd & Scripture
Our theme word, Shepherd, appears throughout the Bible, but Psalm 23 is probably the most familiar. Let’s spend this month focusing on the text and seeing these well-known verses with fresh eyes. Maybe try reading it in several translations. Perhaps the very traditional King James, the New Revised Standard Version we hear in worship services at Desert Cross, and the modern language in The Message. You’ll find links to all three below.
Psalm 23–King James
Psalm 23–New Revised Standard Version
Psalm 23–The Message
Shepherd & Psalm 23
Below is Psalm 23 presented in song by Gloriae Dei Cantores.
Shepherd & Poetry
The following poem is by William Blake, the English poet. Blake did etchings for some of his poems. You’ll find a link below to the art he created for this poem.
“The Shepherd”
How sweet is the shepherd’s sweet lot!
From the morn to the evening he strays;
He shall follow his sheep all the day,
And his tongue shall be filled with praise.
For he hears the lambs’ innocent call,
And he hears the ewes’ tender reply;
He is watchful while they are in peace,
For they know when their shepherd is nigh.
Shepherd in Today’s World
The New Yorker produced a short documentary a couple of years ago featuring Wilf Davies, a Welsh farmer. In the film, Davies tends his sheep and offers life lessons. Click the link below to watch a shepherd living in today’s world.
Shepherd on the Rock
Franz Schubert composed “Shepherd on the Rock” for a friend, but he didn’t live to see it performed. You’ll find the lyrics printed below. You’ll also find a link to some history offered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and a performance of the work.
“The Shepherd on the Rock”
When on the highest cliff I stand,
gaze down into the deep valley
and sing,
the echo from the ravines
floats upwards from the dark valley
far away.
The further my voice travels,
the clearer it returns to me
from below.
So far from me does my love dwell
that I yearn for her more ardently
over there.
With deep grief I am consumed,
my joy is at an end;
all hope on earth has left me;
I am so lonely here,
I am so lonely here.
So longingly sounded the song in the wood,
so longingly it sounded through the night,
drawing hearts heavenwards
with wondrous power. Spring is coming,
Spring, my joy;
now I will make ready to go journeying.
Shepherd at the Movies
One Life was released in theaters last month. It stars Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton. As the movie trailer describes it, “he was an ordinary man with an extraordinary mission.” It’s the true story of how Winton helped “shepherd” hundreds of children out of Czechoslovakia as Hitler was preparing to invade the country. Click the link to watch a clip from the film.
Shepherd in the Kitchen
When my husband and I went to the UK a few years ago, we ate many of our dinners in pubs. I think Mike had Shepherd’s Pie in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Each place makes it a little differently, and, of course, each thinks it makes it the right way! On St. Patrick’s Day this year, I decided to try making it myself. Here’s a picture from my kitchen and a picture of Mike taking his first bite. You’ll find a link below to the recipe and to a history of the dish. Happy cooking!
Shepherd & Music
Here’s some music with connections to our Shepherd theme, including two different versions of the same song.
“Shepherd”–CeCe Winans
“Good Shepherd of My Soul”–Keith & Kristyn Getty
“Shepherd”–Nashville Life Music
Lenten Playlist
Wandering Heart
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
2/14/24
Introduction
Have you ever wandered away from the Church? I have. When I was in college, I wandered away. I wasn’t upset about anything. I wasn’t making a statement. I’m not sure I even really decided to do it. I just drifted away. If we’re not paying attention, it’s easy to do. God asks us to be in a relationship, and building a relationship takes time and energy and intention. Practicing our faith is a lifelong process. We may have gaps in that process . . . times when we wander. We may have times of great growth in that process . . . times when we feel close to God. Always . . . God is waiting for us to wander back.
Our Lenten theme is Wandering Heart. How is God waiting for you with an open heart? How might you wander back this Lent?
Wandering Heart & Prayer
The following prayer is from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Use it as your guide as you work your way through the Lenten Playlist this season.
God of grace, you have given us minds to know you, hearts to love you, and voices to sing your praise. Fill us with your Spirit, that we may celebrate your glory and worship you in spirit and truth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Wandering Heart & Scripture
Below you’ll find a list of the lessons you’ll be hearing during worship at Desert Cross this Lent. Perhaps you might read the lessons before worship as part of your Lenten discipline.
First Sunday in Lent—Luke 5:1-11 | Psalm 25:1-10
Second Sunday in Lent—Matthew 14:22-33 | Psalm 22:23-31
Third Sunday in Lent—Matthew 16:13-20 | Psalm 19
Fourth Sunday in Lent—Matthew 16:21-23 | Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Fifth Sunday in Lent—Matthew 18:15-22 | Psalm 119:9-16
Palm Sunday—John 12:12-16
Maundy Thursday—John 13:1-20
Good Friday—John 13:31-38, John 18:1-11, John 18:12-18, John 18:19-27, John 19:1-30
Easter Sunday—Luke 24:1-12
Wandering Heart & Peter
The following excerpt comes from A Sanctified Art. It explains the inspiration and focus on Peter throughout Lent.
”This Lent, we are focusing on the life and faith of one of Jesus’ most famous disciples. In Peter, we see a person who is both steadfast and unsteady, a dear friend and a betrayer, a follower and a wanderer. In Peter, we often see ourselves. By following Peter’s journey, we watch the story of Jesus unfold through the eyes of a very normal human trying to figure it all out—just like us.
As we were studying Peter’s faith journey, the lyrics of “Come Thou Fount” came to mind. It’s as if Peter himself wrote this song. And so, for each step in Peter’s journey, we have selected a phrase from this hymn. As we follow Peter’s story, we will sing our way through Lent, binding our wandering hearts to God.
In this series, we want to affirm that faith is a constant journey of steadfast pursuit, one that ebbs and flows. We want to affirm that wandering is exploration, not necessarily distance from God. We want to affirm the ways Peter keeps going: he drops his nets, he walks on water, he runs to the empty tomb, he swims to the shore to meet the risen Christ. He keeps searching and yearning and loving, even after missteps or mistakes. Ultimately, in Peter’s story, we are reminded that God loves imperfect people—in fact, time and again, that’s precisely who God claims and calls.
This Lent, we will look for ourselves in the stepping stones of Peter’s story. We will reflect on the stages of our own faith journeys as well as who and what has shaped us along the way. As we wander, let us tune our hearts to sing God’s grace. May we rest in streams of mercy, never ceasing.”
Wandering Heart & Theme Logo
The following excerpt is the “branding story” from A Sanctified Art about the theme logo. Take a few moments to look at the logo at the top of the playlist and then read the story behind the image.
“When designing the logo, we wanted to emphasize that the journey of faith for Peter—and for us—is not necessarily linear. Instead, our journeys often feel like wandering. The logo features a whimsical dashed line that weaves and meanders through the typography. Even though the journey is not predictable, we are always tethered to the heart of God—no matter how far we wander. Along the dotted path are sub-icons, like geotags, that symbolize moments in Peter’s journey. The backgrounds feature paintings by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity inspired by warm earth tones. The washes of ochre, red clay, and blue-gray tones recall the sand and earthy pigment that were surely underfoot for Peter throughout his travels, throughout his pursuit to follow Jesus with his heart on his sleeve.”
Wandering Heart & The Wilderness
Click the link below for an article from Living Lutheran. It offers some lessons from God’s people wandering in the wilderness.
Wandering Heart & The Wilderness
Wandering Heart & Listening
Desert Cross is celebrating 40 years of ministry this year. I’ve been interviewing folks for our 40 years/40 weeks/40 stories series. After interviewing one of our subjects, he sent me a link to this talk by David Brooks. He told me that our conversation was “healing” because he felt “listened to” and reminded him of this video. Brooks is a columnist for The New York Times and a commentator with PBS. His most recent book is How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. His main argument is that we need to listen to each other and be open-hearted with one another. Maybe we’ve wandered away from those skills, and we need a reminder about their importance. A couple of notes: The talk is nearly an hour, and it ends with some questions about politics. So, set aside some time to watch it and skip the last part if you’re bothered by political talk.
Wandering Heart & Hiking
Maybe you’d like to practice “wandering” this Lent. You can do that by taking a hike. Mind you that we don’t want you to wander off the trail! Below is a link to the Maricopa County Parks website. My husband and I especially like San Tan Mountain Regional Park and Usery Mountain Regional Park.
Wandering Heart & Poetry
The following poem is from A Sanctified Art and is the guiding poem for our Wandering Heart theme.
“Tune My Heart”
Rev. Sarah Speed
Tune my heart.
Like an old violin,
Like a worn down piano,
I have been left out in all manners of weather,
I have been left alone for far too long.
So like a concert master
with a steady hand,
tune me up.
Listen and learn
the cracked keys,
the broken strings.
Memorize the forgotten intervals
That even I did not know.
And then, when you’re ready,
When this creaky heart is tuned,
teach me a new song.
Wandering Heart & Netflix
Check out American Symphony on Netflix. It’s a documentary chronicling a year in the life of Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad. Batiste is a Grammy-winning musician, and Jaouad is the bestselling author of Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted. The film follows the husband and wife as one career soars while the other experiences a recurrence of cancer. As A Sanctified Art describes it, “there are several ways this film resonates with this series, as Batiste shows us a steadfast, heart-forward faith in the midst of a wandering journey.
Wandering Heart & Music
Here’s some music with connections to our Lenten theme.
“Come Thou Fount”—Celtic Worship
“Where He Leads Me”—Kirk Whalum
“Straight Road”—Jennifer Knapp
“Hopeless Wanderer”—Mumford & Sons
Epiphany Playlist
Invite
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
1/1/24
Introduction
Mike and I were invited to a neighborhood Christmas party last month. We didn’t know anyone there and were a little hesitant, but we went. Turns out the gathering has been happening for a several years, but this is the first time we were invited. The hosts started doing this to help folks in the neighborhood meet each other, and each year they add more to the guest list. We met Mark who lives around the corner from us. We’ve been neighbors for a decade plus but never met. We met Lydia and Don. When we said where we live, Lydia said, “Oh, you’re Crayon Boy’s parents!” Crayon Boy? She remembered the year our son wore a red crayon costume for Halloween! Andy was a preschooler then, but she remembered! It was an enjoyable evening of meeting new people and making new connections, and we’re grateful for the invite.
Invite is our theme for Epiphany this year. As you work your way through the Invite Playlist, think about where you might invite and make new connections.
Invite & Prayer
The following prayer is from Kindred Church, a United Methodist community. Use it as your guide as you work your way through the Invite Playlist this month.
Gathering God, you call us to follow your example of reaching out and inviting others into the community of your love. We trust that you’re providing us with opportunities to do that. Open our eyes to recognize those moments when our invitations might be well-received. May our invitations be a faithful echo of your own. Amen.
Invite & Scripture
The post linked below from Enter the Bible website is written by Diane Jacobson, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. In it, she discusses how Psalm 121 invites us into prayer.
Invite & ELCA
You’ll find a document link below from the ELCA. It offers some basic, practical ideas on how to invite someone to church.
Invite & Neighbors
Click the link below for an article from Living Lutheran. It has some great ideas for ways to reach out to your neighbors.
Invite & Invitations to Church
Below you’ll find an article discussing the who, what, where, when, and how of inviting folks to church. Take the time to read it and see if you’re feeling called to invite someone.
Invite & Invitations to Church
Invite & Connections
The article linked below highlights research on expanding our invitations to connect more people from more areas of our lives. For example, inviting your neighbors, coworkers, and friends to the same party rather than having separate gatherings for each group. Click the link below to read the latest research on how this might help all of us make more connections.
Invite & Poetry
The following poem is “Invitation” by Mary Oliver. Below it you’ll find a link to a reflection of the poem.
“Invitation”
Mary Oliver
Oh do you have time
to linger
for just a little while
out of your busy
and very important day
for the goldfinches
that have gathered
in a field of thistles
for a musical battle,
to see who can sing
the highest note,
or the lowest,
or the most expressive of mirth,
or the most tender?
Their strong, blunt beaks
drink the air
as they strive
melodiously
not for your sake
and not for mine
and not for the sake of winning
but for sheer delight and gratitude –
believe us, they say,
it is a serious thing
just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in this broken world.
I beg of you,
do not walk by
without pausing
to attend to this
rather ridiculous performance.
It could mean something.
It could mean everything.
It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:
You must change your life.
Invite & Music
Here’s some music with connections to our Invite theme.
“Come to the Table”—Sidewalk Prophets
“Invitation”—Percy Faith
December Playlist
Rejoice
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
12/1/23
Introduction
Rejoice. It’s an interesting word. It sounds so celebratory, and yet, I don’t always feel like rejoicing. Paul writes in Philippians that we should rejoice always. Really? Rejoice? Always? As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned to look for the good, to look for the positive, to look for some light. Sometimes it feels like work, and sometimes I fail at it. Then I remind myself that tomorrow is a new day, a new day to Rejoice.
Rejoice & Prayer
The following prayer is from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymnal. Use it as your guide as you work your way through the Rejoice Playlist this month.
All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brightened our weary hearts with peace. Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Rejoice & Scripture
Below you’ll find a list of the lessons we’ll be hearing during worship services at Desert Cross this Advent Season. Take some time to read the lessons before worship. I find it helps me see connections throughout the worship service to the text.
First Week of Advent: Luke 1:1-23 & Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Second Week of Advent: Luke 1:24-45 & Isaiah 40:1-11
Third Week of Advent: Luke 1:57-66 & Psalm 126
Fourth Week of Advent: Luke 1:46-55 & Luke 1:67-80
Christmas Eve: Luke 2:1-20
Rejoice & The Logo Story
Take a close look at the image at the top of the Rejoice Playlist. It comes from A Sanctified Art. Here’s the story of how the image for “How Does a Weary World Rejoice” came to be.
“How does a weary world rejoice? This is a difficult question to image, much less to answer. The world was the first tangible image that emerged from our brainstorming. This theme feels all-encompassing; it feels important to highlight its expansiveness with a visual reference to the globe. The other design problem to solve was how to reference both weariness and joy. How do you visually hold these contrasting emotions together? What feels connective about these emotions is that they are very human. We decided on the image of a comforting embrace, and perhaps in the space between the people, continents and bodies of water come into view. These two people could represent characters we follow this Advent season: Elizabeth & Zechariah, Mary & Elizabeth, Mary & Joseph. Or maybe the figures are more broadly representative of God & humanity or of the personification of joy & weariness. Two people—one radiating joy and the other wading into weariness—hold the world together.”
— Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman, designer of the theme logo and branding
“As Lauren and I discussed the visual branding for our Advent theme, we talked about visuals, textures, and color palettes that might communicate the idea of a weary world rejoicing. As we talked about images of the world, the scope of our brainstorming widened into the cosmic realm. We soon found ourselves peering into galaxies by sifting through the new images captured by NASA and the Hubble telescope. We were reminded of how captivating and breathtaking these images are; viewing them invites you into worlds unknown. As we looked through the renderings of nebula and star clusters, we were mesmerized by the colors and luminescent textures. These images have the power to lift every weary bone in your body. When you gaze upon the beauty of the cosmos, how can you keep from rejoicing? And so, for our theme branding, I decided to create acrylic paintings inspired by the Hubble telescope images. I painted washes of vibrant colors and metallic gold amidst a backdrop of beautiful blackness. In these paintings, I hope you see the vastness of God.”
— Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity, painter/photographer of the theme backgrounds
Rejoice & Hard Times
The article linked below is from Gather magazine, a publication of the Women of the ELCA. Rev. Twila Schock writes honestly about how sometimes it’s difficult to Rejoice. Click the link below to discover how even hard times can reveal reasons to be grateful.
Rejoice & Poetry
The following poem is the theme poem for the “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” Advent theme from A Sanctified Art.
“The Last Time I Saw God”
Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed
The last time I saw God
face to face
I was looking at a bed of tulips.
God was every color of red.
I was merely a mortal,
in awe of it all.
The time before that,
we were tying back
the curtains,
looking for stars.
God was the deepest purple
and the brightest light.
The time before that,
the city was soft with snow.
God was the quiet
that tucked us all in.
And in between these
small gifts there were
newborn babies,
and sapling trees,
homemade bread,
the sound of a church
singing on Sunday.
…
Why, yes, we are lucky.
We are more than lucky
for the moments when
delight and awe
unzip the weight we carry around.
Rejoice & Shout
Rejoice and Shout is a documentary that tells the story of the history of Gospel music. You can find it on YouTube. Click the link below to get a taste of it.
Rejoice & Relax
I’m not much of an artist, but I’ve always liked to color. I liked it as a kid, I liked it as a mom, and I like it as a grandma. I find it relaxing to sit with my grandkids and talk and laugh while we color. Click the link below for a Rejoice coloring page. Print off a copy or two and set aside some time this busy season to Rejoice and relax.
Rejoice & The New Year
Click the link below to read an essay encouraging us to adopt the idea of Rejoice as part of our prayer practice in 2024.
Rejoice & Music
The title for the “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” Advent theme comes from a line in a song. Click the link below to listen to “O Holy Night” performed by Nat King Cole.
And for a different style of music . . . and to check out some great 80’s hair, click the link below for “Rejoice” by U2.
November Playlist
Community
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
11/1/23
Introduction
How do you define Community? Where do you find Community? To me, Community is about making connections. Community is about building bonds. Community is about sharing life. I’ve found it in different places throughout my years. When I was a child, the kids in our neighborhood were a Community. We played together and enjoyed meals at each other’s houses. When I was in college, my roommates and I built a Community. We were all away from home and living the college experience together. When I was teaching, I found Community among my fellow teachers. We shared ideas and supported each other in and out of the classroom.
So, where do I find Community at Desert Cross? That’s an easy answer. It’s in our ChristCare Small Group Ministry. While I’m writing about my experience in ChristCare, I think others would say they’ve had the same experience. My ChristCare Group supports each other through the challenges of life, and we celebrate the joys of life too. We’ve been through parenting, health issues, divorce, job changes, and deaths. We’ve lifted each other up and carried each other through. We’ve celebrated births, new homes, graduations, and any and all good news! I know I can pick up the phone, and someone from my group will answer. That’s Community.
Community & Prayer
The following prayer is from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymnal. Use it as your guide as you work your way through the Community Playlist this month.
God our creator, by your holy prophet Jeremiah you taught your ancient people to seek the welfare of the cities in which they lived. We commend our neighborhood to your care, that it might be kept free from social strife and decay. Give us strength of purpose and concern for others, that we may create here a community of justice and peace where your will may be done; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Community & Scripture & The Bible Project
The blog linked below is from The Bible Project. It discusses Community and fellowship in the Church. Read through it, and you’ll understand that fellowship is far more than a potluck! The article includes many references to the Bible related to these topics. Each verse cited is a live link, so you’ll be able to read the passage from the Bible.
Community & Living Lutheran
Click the link below to read an article from Living Lutheran and learn how a Community is coming together to form a unique partnership designed to help students in Lake County, Illinois.
Community & Poetry
Building Community takes time. That time may take you away from something else, but the message of this poem is that it’s time well spent.
“A Time to Talk”
Robert Frost
When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don’t stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven’t hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.
Community & A Prison Hospice
The article linked below is from The New York Times Magazine. It chronicles a hospice located in a California prison. It’s an incredible story about how Community forms in an unusual place. Click the link below to read it.
Community & Broadway
Thirty-eight flights and seven thousand people. Come From Away is the Broadway musical that tells the story of a Community coming together on the tragic day of September 11, 2001. The residents of Gander, Newfoundland united to feed and house thousands of people, showing the world light during a dark time. You can watch the performance on Apple TV+. You’ll find a clip below.
Community & Music
Here’s a mix of songs that explore the idea of Community. Caring for one another. Sharing beliefs. Gathering around a table. Living a common experience. Enjoy the music!
“Will You Let Me Be Your Servant”—Mutual Kumquat
“Blest Be the Tie That Binds”—Nashville Bluegrass Ensemble
“Crowded Table”—The Highwomen
“Same Boat”—Zac Brown Band
October Playlist
Blessings
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
10/1/23
Introduction
My sister called me a few weeks ago. Barbara called to tell me she has cancer and that she’ll be having surgery this month. It took my brain a moment to absorb what she was saying. I was confused because she said this is “a good thing” and this is “a blessing” repeatedly. A good thing? A blessing? Yes, her doctors believe they found the cancer early. They believe it’s treatable. There’s hope, and hope is a great Blessing.
Our Playlist theme this month is Blessings. Blessings can come in the beauty of a sunrise or sunset. Blessings can come in the snuggle of a newborn baby. And, yes, Blessings can come in dark times when there’s some light, when there’s some hope.
Blessings & Prayer
The following prayer is from Barbara Brown Taylor. Use it as your guide as you work your way through the Blessings Playlist this month.
“A Blessing for an Ordinary Day”
Lord, here I am.
How strange it is, that some days feel like hurricanes
and others like glassy seas
and others like nothing much at all.
Today is a cosmic shrug.
My day planner says,
rather conveniently,
that I will not need you,
cry for you, reach for you.
Ordinarily, I might not think of you at all.
Except, if you don’t mind,
let me notice you.
Show up in the small necessities and everyday graces.
God, be bread.
Be water.
Be laundry.
Be the coffee cup in my hands
and the reason to calm down in traffic.
Be the gentler tone in my insistence today
that people pick up after themselves for once.
Be the reason I feel loved
when I catch my own reflection
or feel my own self-loathing
fluttering in my stomach.
Calm my mind,
lift my spirit,
make this dumb, ordinary day
my prayer of thanks.
“Earth is so thick with divine possibility
that it is a wonder we can walk anywhere
without cracking our shins on altars.”
Blessings & Scripture
Years ago I remember one of the annual stewardship campaign themes at Desert Cross was titled Blessed to be a Blessing. It comes from Genesis 12:1-3. It reads, “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” You’ll find a link below to a discussion of these verses and others. Take some time to read it then ask yourself some questions. How are you being called to serve others? How are you being called to share God’s Blessings? How are you Blessed to be a Blessing?
Blessings & Living Lutheran
Click the link below to read an article from Living Lutheran and learn how one congregation put $125,000 to use as Blessings for others. It’s an amazing story of generosity!
Blessings & The Bible Project
Our friends at The Bible Project have a video tracing God’s Blessing from the Garden of Eden to Jesus. Click the link below to watch it.
Blessings & Poetry
The following poem was written by the American poet, James Wright.
“A Blessing”
Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.
Blessings & Film
The link below is to a short film by Andrew Hinton. It’s a visual interpretation of the poem “Blessings” by David Whyte. The music is by Owen Ó Súilleabháin. Enjoy the Irish landscape!
Blessings & Music
To me, “Blessings” by Laura Story sounds like a prayer put to music.
Bob Dylan wrote “Forever Young” as a lullaby after the birth of one of his children. The video below is a recent recording of the song. As one of the comments on the video puts it, “This beautiful song is reinvented as an old man’s lament. It is reflective, poignant, moving, and beautiful.”
September Playlist
Gather
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
9/1/23
Introduction
To get some ideas on where to start with the Gather Playlist, I did what we all do these days. . . I googled it! What popped up were multiple local businesses with the word Gather in their names. Gather Mercantile is a home goods store in Tempe. Local Gather is a boutique in Mesa. Gather Loft is a salon in Chandler. Gather Estate is an event venue in Mesa. Gather Concepts is a designer in Gilbert. There are loads and loads of restaurants around the country with the word Gather in their names. What does this tell us? I think it tells us that Gathering is viewed as a positive thing. We long to be together. We want to be a part of something else. We need to be connected to others. Join us this month as we explore the Gather Playlist, and Gather with us at Worship Services and at Faith Formation each week.
Gather & Prayer
The following prayer comes from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Use it as your guide as you work your way through the Gather Playlist this month.
Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ into every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Gather & Scripture
The words Gather, Gathering, Gathered, etc. appear in the Bible more than 400 times. Gathering stones. Gathering people. Gathering grain. Gathering sheep. Gathering manna. Gathering disciples.
Use the link below to visit Bible Gateway. Enter the word Gather and see where your search takes you.
Gather & Living Lutheran
The link below will take you to an essay in Living Lutheran titled “Gathering, Word, Meal and Sending” by Bishop Eaton, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA. She writes about how the liturgy used during our worship services Gathers us together to be sent out to serve. Click the link below to read it.
Gather & Poetry
The following poem is by Robert Frost.
“Gathering Leaves”
Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons
I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.
But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.
I may load and unload
Again and again
Till I fill the whole shed,
And what have I then?
Next to nothing for weight,
And since they grew duller
From contact with earth,
Next to nothing for color.
Next to nothing for use,
But a crop is a crop,
And who’s to say where
The harvest shall stop?
Gather & The Sioux Chef
Sean Sherman, better known as The Sioux Chef, is the co-founder of Owamni, a Minneapolis restaurant. The restaurant won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2022. He has spent his career Gathering experience, Gathering knowledge of Native American tribes, and Gathering knowledge of Native American foods. He’s put all of that experience to work cooking indigenous foods in his restaurant.
Click the link below to listen to an episode with Sean Sherman from the How I Built This podcast.
Gather & Science
You remember “Octopus’s Garden” by The Beatles. Well, scientists found the real thing. 6,000 octopuses! Click the link below to listen to a story about this incredible Gathering of these creatures.
Gather & Art
Gatherings are depicted in art throughout history. You’ll find links to several examples below. Each includes the image and a discussion of the work.
Gathering of the Clans @ Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Gathering of the Clans
The Fates Gathering in the Stars @ Art Institute Chicago
The Fates Gathering in the Stars
Gathering Storm @ Seattle Art Museum
Gathering Storm
Gather & Music
Here’s some music for you to enjoy as you Gather with others.
“Gather Us In”
“All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly”
“Shall We Gather at the River”
“Room at the Table”
May Playlist
Holy Spirit
Denise McClellan, Director of Adult Ministries & Missional Service
5/1/24
Introduction
Discussing the Holy Spirit makes some of us uncomfortable. Maybe our discomfort is because it’s difficult to put into words our experience with the Holy Spirit. It’s so personal. So unique. So powerful. Take some time to explore the Holy Spirit through this month’s Playlist and see where and how the Holy Spirit is guiding you.
Holy Spirit & Prayer
The following prayer is from the ELW. Use it as your prayer this month as you work your way through the Holy Spirit Playlist.
By your word, eternal God, your creation sprang forth, and we were given the breath of life. By your word, eternal God, death is overcome, Christ is raised from the tomb, and we are given new life in the power of your Spirit. May we boldly proclaim this good news in our words and our deeds, rejoicing always in your powerful presence; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
Holy Spirit & Scripture
When I think of the Holy Spirit, I think of Jesus promising the Holy Spirit to the Disciples and to us. We are never alone. God is with us. Use the link below to read John 14:15-30. Revisit this passage throughout the month.
Holy Spirit & Meditation
Below is a twelve-minute meditation on the Holy Spirit offered by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest and writer. Sit comfortably and settle in for a reflection on the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit & Enter the Bible
Below you’ll find a links to Enter the Bible. It’s a website from Luther Seminary. The links help us understand the work of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit & The Bible Project
Folks at The Bible Project help us understand the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible. Click the link below to watch the video.
Holy Spirit & Living Lutheran
The article linked below is from Living Lutheran. “Acts of the Holy Spirit” challenges us to see the Holy Spirit at work in the world today.
Holy Spirit & Symbolism
The link below is to Loyola Press, a Catholic publishing company. It provides some explanation of different symbols of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit & Poetry
Below is a poem by Hildegard of Bingen, also known as Saint Hildegard. She is known for her contributions to music, medicine, theology, and botany during the Middle Ages.
“Antiphon for the Holy Spirit”
Hildegard of Bingen
Translated by Barbara Newman
The Spirit of God
is a life that bestows life,
root of world-tree
and wind in its boughs.
Scrubbing out sin,
she rubs oil into wounds.
She is glistening life
alluring all praise,
all-awakening,
all-resurrecting.
Holy Spirit & Music
Here’s some music with connections to our Holy Spirit theme.
Desert Cross Faith Formation 