Friday, March 19th, 2021
“The Glory” by Madeleine L’Engle
Without any rhyme
without any reason
my heart lifts to light
in this bleak season
Believer and wanderer
caught by salvation
stumbler and blunderer
into Creation
In this cold blight
where marrow is frozen
it is God’s time
my heart has chosen
In paradox and story
parable and laughter
find I the glory
here in hereafter
We are anticipating being together again, but we want to do that as safely as possible. Thus, we are going to begin occasionally having outdoor worship! In order to prepare for that, we will have an outdoor clean up and gardening day on Sat. March 27th at 12 pm for the beautification of our outdoor space at Brookmeade. This will be a fun day to see each other and work together on our beautiful property! Let us know if you can help in any way by emailing brookmeade@comcast.net or calling the office: 615-352-4702 . Thank you!
Thursday, March 18th, 2021
“Prayer for Overcoming Indifference” by Chaim Stern, Ed.
For the sin of silence,
For the sin of indifference,
For the secret complicity of the neutral,
For the closing of borders,
For the washing of hands,
For the crime of indifference,
For the sin of silence,
For the closing of borders.
For all that was done,
For all that was not done,
Let there be no forgetfulness before the Throne of
Glory;
Let there be remembrance within the human heart;
And let there at last be forgiveness
When your children, O God,
Are free and at peace.
Wednesday, March 17th, 2021
“Imperatives” by Kathleen Norris
Look at the birds
Consider the lilies
Drink ye all of it
Ask
Seek
Knock
Enter by the narrow gate
Do not be anxious
Judge not; do not give dogs what is holy
Go: be it done for you
Do not be afraid
Maiden, arise
Young man, I say, arise
Stretch out your hand
Stand up, be still
Rise, let us be going…
Love
Forgive
Remember me
Tuesday, March 16th, 2021
“The Avowal” by Denise Levertov
As swimmers dare
to lie face to the sky
and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air
and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain
free fall, and float
into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns
that all-surrounding grace.
Monday, March 15th, 2021
“Do you think it possible” by Tyler Knott Gregson
Do you think it possible
that some people
are born to give
more love
than they will ever
get back
in return?
Sunday, March 14th, 2021 (4th Sunday in Lent)
“Sabbath Poem V” by Wendell Berry
How long does it take to make the woods?
As long as it takes to make the world.
The woods is present as the world is, the presence
of all its past, and of all its time to come.
It is always finished, it is always being made, the act
of its making forever greater than the act of its destruction.
It is a part of eternity, for its end and beginning
belong to the end and beginning of all things,
the beginning lost in the end, the end in the beginning.
What is the way to the woods, how do you go there?
By climbing up through the six days’ field,
kept in all the body’s years, the body’s
sorrow, weariness, and joy. By passing through
the narrow gate on the far side of that field
where the pasture grass of the body’s life gives way
to the high, original standing of the trees.
By coming into the shadow, the shadow
of the grace of the strait way’s ending,
the shadow of the mercy of light.
Why must the gate be narrow?
Because you cannot pass beyond it burdened.
To come in among these trees you must leave behind
the six days’ world, all of it, all of its plans and hopes.
You must come without weapon or tool, alone,
expecting nothing, remembering nothing,
into the ease of sight, the brotherhood of eye and leaf.
We are having an Outdoor Easter Service on April 4th at 10:30am at Brookmeade! It’s been such a long time since we got to worship together in person! Luckily, many of us have had the COVID-19 vaccine and more of us will have it by the time Easter comes around. So, while we are not yet to the point of having worship together in our sanctuary, we feel that we are able to have occasional outdoor worship together, beginning Easter Sunday morning! Please make sure to wear masks and bring lawn chairs for your safety and comfort. We will have hand sanitizer and extra masks available for visitors and are taking precautions as we prepare for the service. We ask that everyone RSVP for this time of worship so that we can be best prepared to receive everyone! RSVP to brookmeade@comcast.net or call the church office: 615-352-4702 . We so look forward to being together! Let us know if you have any questions or requests. This service will be livestreamed on our Youtube channel if you are unable to attend in person.
RAIN PLAN: If we expect heavy rainfall Easter morning, the in-person service will be postponed until the following Sunday, April 11th. We will send an email and post on our website early Sunday morning to let everyone know what the plan is.
Click on the video below to view the Livestream starting at 10:15 am CST on Sunday, April 4, 2021:
Saturday, March 13th, 2021
“Via Negativa” by R. S. Thomas
Why no! I never thought other than
That God is that great absence
In our lives, the empty silence
Within, the place where we go
Seeking, not in hope to
Arrive or find. He keeps the interstices
In our knowledge, the darkness
Between stars. His are the echoes
We follow, the footprints he has just
Left. We put our hands in
His side hoping to find
It warm. We look at people
And places as though he had looked
At them, too; but miss the reflection.
Friday, March 12th, 2021
“The Ballad of Mary’s Son” by Langston Hughes
It was in the Spring
The Passover had come.
There was feasting in the streets and joy.
But an awful thing
Happened in the Spring—
Men who knew not what they did
Killed Mary’s Boy.
And the Son of God was He—
Sent to bring the whole world joy.
There were some who could not hear,
And some were filled with fear—
So they built a cross
For Mary’s Boy.
brookmeadeucc.org 