Reflection on a Service of Darkness I was seven years old that spring and I remember that I had been thinking a lot about Easter, as the weeks of Lent embraced the coming of a North Carolina spring. Winter had been bad that year, resulting in uncommon missed days of school and even more uncommon … Continue reading Reflection on a Service of Darkness
This past week, I have been thinking about Jesus’ commandment to love our enemies. I began thinking about it in earnest when the breaking news flash from the BBC came across my phone announcing to me that there had been an attack in London. Like the rest of the world, after reading the news, … Continue reading Loving Our Enemies
Recently, as I was recovering from surgery, our bird feeders were moved so that I could see them from the windows of the living room. This was the space where I spent most of my time during that period and I had hoped that the birds would keep me company. However, no birds appeared. And … Continue reading Of More Value
Some weeks, finding something to write about is not always easy for me. Some weeks, I can think of all kinds of themes to focus on and then when I get to Saturday morning, my writing time, those themes that I have thought about all week no longer feel right. This week has been one … Continue reading Seeking Solace
Thoughts at the Beginning of Lent By Rev. Alicia Randolph Rapking On Wednesday of this week we arrive at the beginning of Lent, that period of time for spiritual reflection of our lives and spiritual preparation for resurrection morning when once again we are reminded that Christ is alive and death has been swallowed up … Continue reading Thoughts at the Beginning of Lent
Bringing the Outside In Over the past several weeks I have been recovering from surgery. A running injury from nearly two years ago led to the need for a hip replacement. The recovery period has been a time to read and reflect, but it has also been a period for spending too much time on … Continue reading Bringing the Outside In
You Are a Lifeline “In the face of suffering, no one has the right to turn away, not to see.” –Elie Wiesel I have been thinking about lifelines lately, since October 16, actually. And throughout the fall and then Advent and Christmas and now, as we move into the week of official change of power … Continue reading You Are a Lifeline
photo by my friend Terri Cofiell by Alicia Randolph Rapking “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (From “The Sermon on the Mount,” Matthew 6:26) This year, Christmas in our household … Continue reading Feeling our Worth
Lighting a Candle for a Holy Night This afternoon (Saturday, the 17th), at 4:30 pm, I will be lighting a candle. I am lighting this candle as a prayer for mercy, protection, and peace, because these are the words that have formed as I have prayed for the people of Aleppo over the last several … Continue reading Lighting a Candle for a Holy Night
Learning Magnificat By Rev. Alicia Randolph Rapking Magnificat. My soul magnifies the Lord. These are the long ago words of a strong, young woman name Mary, who gave birth to a baby and named him Jesus. These words are the beginning words of Mary’s song, words and ideas that she borrowed from the prophets that … Continue reading Learning Magnificat
prayers of my heart, a collection of articles and writings by C. Alicia Randolph 