Comments on: The Painted Prayerbook http://paintedprayerbook.com Artist and writer Jan Richardson explores the intersections of word & image & faith. Fri, 04 May 2012 01:41:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Linda http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-6725 Linda Fri, 20 May 2011 14:37:00 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-6725 Jan, Your work, together with your husband's music, moved me to tears. Thank you for your expressions of beauty and grace. May the Spirit continue Her exquisitely lovely work through you. Linda Jan,

Your work, together with your husband’s music, moved me to tears.
Thank you for your expressions of beauty and grace.
May the Spirit continue Her exquisitely lovely work through you.

Linda

]]> By: Diana Brune http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-5931 Diana Brune Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:26:30 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-5931 Jan, During this Lenten season I have been richly and deeply touched by your writings and I thank you. For me it is deep calling to deep. In gratitude, I thought to share with you a few favorite books of mine that you might enjoy. Perhaps you already know them. You mentioned one of my favorite authors in your blog, J. Ruth Gendler. Her The Book of Qualities is a treasure. Also, Becoming Bread, Gunilla Norris The Prayer Tree, Michael Leunig Life of the Beloved, Henri Nouwen Everyday Sacred, Sue Bender Joy and Strength, Tileston Jesus Son of Man, Kahlil Gibran --and anything by Brian Andreas Blessings to You and to You and Gary, Diana Brune Jan,

During this Lenten season I have been richly and deeply touched by your writings and I thank you. For me it is deep calling to deep.

In gratitude, I thought to share with you a few favorite books of mine that you might enjoy. Perhaps you already know them. You mentioned one of my favorite authors in your blog, J. Ruth Gendler. Her The Book of Qualities is a treasure.

Also,
Becoming Bread, Gunilla Norris
The Prayer Tree, Michael Leunig
Life of the Beloved, Henri Nouwen
Everyday Sacred, Sue Bender
Joy and Strength, Tileston
Jesus Son of Man, Kahlil Gibran
–and anything by Brian Andreas

Blessings to You and to You and Gary,
Diana Brune

]]> By: Annie Heppenstall http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-5373 Annie Heppenstall Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:16:09 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-5373 Hi Jan, I just found your site while researching ready to prepare for a St Brigid / Imbolc / Candlemas celebration in a 13th century country church; your work is really inspirational and well organised and curiously similar to a lot of things I've been working on here in England for a while as a freelance writer / artist / worship leader - thought you might be interested in connections - I've got a couple of books on Christian spirituality published with Iona, 3rd on the way soon, (The Healer's Tree) and we've just begun a website http://holyground.org.uk/ as a gathering of Christians exploring Celtic and earth-spirituality connections using ancient holy sites. Wondered if you'd mind us putting a link to you on our site? would be great to hear from you, thanks for all your wonderful creativity, Annie Hi Jan, I just found your site while researching ready to prepare for a St Brigid / Imbolc / Candlemas celebration in a 13th century country church; your work is really inspirational and well organised and curiously similar to a lot of things I’ve been working on here in England for a while as a freelance writer / artist / worship leader – thought you might be interested in connections – I’ve got a couple of books on Christian spirituality published with Iona, 3rd on the way soon, (The Healer’s Tree) and we’ve just begun a website http://holyground.org.uk/ as a gathering of Christians exploring Celtic and earth-spirituality connections using ancient holy sites. Wondered if you’d mind us putting a link to you on our site?
would be great to hear from you, thanks for all your wonderful creativity, Annie

]]> By: Indira http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-553 Indira Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:46:14 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-553 This site is terrific. I will certainly keep coming back to it. Thanks for your efforts!!! Very best regards, Indira This site is terrific. I will certainly keep coming back to it. Thanks for your efforts!!!

Very best regards,
Indira

]]> By: Jan Richardson http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-545 Jan Richardson Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:44:58 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-545 Thanks, Lesley. Wow, that <strong>is</strong> holding a lot! Three whole minutes, huh? What a lot to weave together, but what a richness of images. I'm particularly intrigued by the fact that this Sunday includes the blessing of a tent that your congregation is sponsoring for Darfur. I find myself thinking of the "tent of meeting" described in Exodus 33.7-11, the tent that Moses would set up outside the camp, and in which "the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." The term "tent of meeting" also came to refer to the portable tabernacle that was built as a dwelling place for God during the Israelites' sojourn in the wilderness. (The tent is described in rich detail starting in Exodus 25.) The tent/tabernacle became a powerful, liturgical reminder that the presence of God goes with us even in the deepest, strangest wildernesses. Exodus describes the creation of the tent/tabernacle specifically as an offering that God is calling the people to make; for instance, "And they came, everyone whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and brought the Lord's offering to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the sacred vestments. So they came, both men and women; all who were of a willing heart.... All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord" (Exodus 35.20-21, 29). That resonates for me with your congregation's blessing and giving of the tent as an offering. Particularly with this being a Communion Sunday for you, it's especially cool to note that the tabernacle was where the bread of the Presence was kept. But here's the kicker, for me: in the Christian tradition, Jesus himself becomes the tent of meeting: we meet God in him. Hebrews 9-10 offers one perspective on this. Communion is a place, and a ritual, that powerfully and vividly reminds the Christian community of this---of the extreme hospitality that Christ extended to us in opening his own self to us. But Communion doesn't simply <strong>remind</strong> us of this; it calls and compels us to participate in that hospitality. We are the body of Christ, called to continue his radical hospitality, in places near and far. Like Darfur. And how cool that this falls around All Saints. When I think of saints, I think in particular of those who have extended this kind of hospitality to others across the ages and to my own self. We are called to shelter one another in all kinds of ways. You are one of the living saints who has done this for me. What a powerful image the tent is! Not only for all its scriptural richness but also for the basic fact that in that place and time, the tent was the common form of dwelling, as it continues to be in many places. To share one's tent was, and is, a profound act of hospitality in a hazardous world. Blessings to you as you prepare for a wondrous Sunday. May you and your congregation find yourselves "standing in the center of something rare and fine" (as Carrie sings) as you bless pledges and break bread and bless the tent and remember the saints. Thanks, Lesley. Wow, that is holding a lot! Three whole minutes, huh? What a lot to weave together, but what a richness of images. I’m particularly intrigued by the fact that this Sunday includes the blessing of a tent that your congregation is sponsoring for Darfur. I find myself thinking of the “tent of meeting” described in Exodus 33.7-11, the tent that Moses would set up outside the camp, and in which “the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” The term “tent of meeting” also came to refer to the portable tabernacle that was built as a dwelling place for God during the Israelites’ sojourn in the wilderness. (The tent is described in rich detail starting in Exodus 25.) The tent/tabernacle became a powerful, liturgical reminder that the presence of God goes with us even in the deepest, strangest wildernesses.

Exodus describes the creation of the tent/tabernacle specifically as an offering that God is calling the people to make; for instance, “And they came, everyone whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and brought the Lord’s offering to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the sacred vestments. So they came, both men and women; all who were of a willing heart…. All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord” (Exodus 35.20-21, 29). That resonates for me with your congregation’s blessing and giving of the tent as an offering.

Particularly with this being a Communion Sunday for you, it’s especially cool to note that the tabernacle was where the bread of the Presence was kept. But here’s the kicker, for me: in the Christian tradition, Jesus himself becomes the tent of meeting: we meet God in him. Hebrews 9-10 offers one perspective on this. Communion is a place, and a ritual, that powerfully and vividly reminds the Christian community of this—of the extreme hospitality that Christ extended to us in opening his own self to us. But Communion doesn’t simply remind us of this; it calls and compels us to participate in that hospitality. We are the body of Christ, called to continue his radical hospitality, in places near and far. Like Darfur.

And how cool that this falls around All Saints. When I think of saints, I think in particular of those who have extended this kind of hospitality to others across the ages and to my own self. We are called to shelter one another in all kinds of ways. You are one of the living saints who has done this for me.

What a powerful image the tent is! Not only for all its scriptural richness but also for the basic fact that in that place and time, the tent was the common form of dwelling, as it continues to be in many places. To share one’s tent was, and is, a profound act of hospitality in a hazardous world.

Blessings to you as you prepare for a wondrous Sunday. May you and your congregation find yourselves “standing in the center of something rare and fine” (as Carrie sings) as you bless pledges and break bread and bless the tent and remember the saints.

]]> By: Lesley Brogan http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-542 Lesley Brogan Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:06:13 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-542 Leaning into the sermon for this Sunday and I'm aware that it is "holding a lot." It's All Saints. It's the blessing of the pledges for this year's stewardship season (no "words" for that, if you have any ideas). It's communion. And last night i learned we're also blessing the tent our congregation is sponsoring for Darfur. So more and more my (3 minute) sermon needs to be about RITUAL. Or maybe, as I'm writing I'm wondering about the image of vessels -- or bowls. I'm all ears to your wisdom :) -- and LOVE the "gathering of spirits" -- have you sent a picture to Carrie? Be well and breathe deeply. Leaning into the sermon for this Sunday and I’m aware that it is “holding a lot.” It’s All Saints. It’s the blessing of the pledges for this year’s stewardship season (no “words” for that, if you have any ideas). It’s communion. And last night i learned we’re also blessing the tent our congregation is sponsoring for Darfur. So more and more my (3 minute) sermon needs to be about RITUAL. Or maybe, as I’m writing I’m wondering about the image of vessels — or bowls.

I’m all ears to your wisdom :) — and LOVE the “gathering of spirits” — have you sent a picture to Carrie?

Be well and breathe deeply.

]]> By: Sheridan Hannah http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-394 Sheridan Hannah Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:59:32 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-394 Jan, I had finished my sermon but felt it lacked something - a lot - and then I read 'the thin man'. Your comments about Peter still being in formation and Jesus seeing in him a habitation for the holy just came at the right time and I was able to rework the sermon. So thank you once again for your insight and beautiful writing. I am enriched each time I read your words. Such a precious gift thank you! Sheridan Jan,
I had finished my sermon but felt it lacked something – a lot – and then I read ‘the thin man’. Your comments about Peter still being in formation and Jesus seeing in him a habitation for the holy just came at the right time and I was able to rework the sermon. So thank you once again for your insight and beautiful writing. I am enriched each time I read your words. Such a precious gift thank you!
Sheridan

]]> By: Diane http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-379 Diane Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:40 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-379 wow...thank you... wow…thank you…

]]> By: Randy Lubers http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-263 Randy Lubers Mon, 12 May 2008 20:21:58 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-263 Thank you for the gift of the triple spiral! I found your blog on this Monday after Pentecost... as I and many other pastors begin the week praying (pleading) for the Spirit to somehow make Trinity Sunday come alive for us and our congregations. Perhaps we should call it Journey-in-Community Sunday. Grace and peace, Randy aWelcomingChurch.org Thank you for the gift of the triple spiral! I found your blog on this Monday after Pentecost… as I and many other pastors begin the week praying (pleading) for the Spirit to somehow make Trinity Sunday come alive for us and our congregations. Perhaps we should call it Journey-in-Community Sunday.

Grace and peace,
Randy
aWelcomingChurch.org

]]> By: Nancy Phipps http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-255 Nancy Phipps Wed, 07 May 2008 06:06:44 +0000 http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/#comment-255 I just happened to see a link as I was reading something else. Yippeee! It's wonderful. Thanks for the imaging both for the eye and mind. Blessings, Nancy I just happened to see a link as I was reading something else. Yippeee! It’s wonderful. Thanks for the imaging both for the eye and mind. Blessings, Nancy

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