"Fall Equinox" Haiku

 

Imagining a small fire in a backyard fire pit under a dark sky the first night of fall.

Fall Equinox
 
Creating
New
Stars
 
Rising
Into
The
Dark
Sky
 
Fall
Constellations

"Chrysalis" Haiku

 

Chrysalis
 
Tall
Thistles
Invite
 
Fluttering
Monarch
Wings
 
And
Summer
Courting
Dances

"Sunset" Haiku

 

Sunset
 
Warm
Golden
Sunlight
 
Red
Pines
Glow
Bright
Tonight
 
July
Twenty-ninth

"Summer Solstice" Haiku

"Summer Solstice"

Marked

By

The

Firelight

A

Summer

Solstice

Delight

Embers

Rise

To

Night

A Prayer for West Virginia Day

West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. I composed this original prayer for the 2022 celebration of West Virginia's birthday. I used it in worship at the Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church, Wheeling, WV on Sunday, June 19, 2022.

Shine, O Lord, upon our Mountain State,
from the rocky summit of Spruce Knob
to the waters of the Potomac and Shenandoah at Harpers Ferry,
from Chester to Bluefield,
and from Cabell County to Jefferson County,
and all places in between.
Shine, O Lord, upon all Mountaineers,
that armed with only our freedom,
and with a single purpose,
we may live, work, and worship
among your West Virginia Hills. Amen.

Unofficial Haiku of the 2022 West Virginia Writers Conference

Writers
Writing
Words
 
Co-creating
With
I
Am
 
Spring
Has
Sprung
Anew

Words of Grace and Inspiration

I was asked if I would be willing to say a few words of grace before the West Virginia Writers 2022 Conference Banquet. I appreciate all those who thanked me for them afterward. Here are the words.

I invite you to focus your heart and mind
on The Transcendent around and among us.

Wonderful Weaver of ageless mysteries,
who centuries ago, inspired writers of sacred texts
and today still fills authors with amazing words;
 
We give thanks for the bounty of the earth
and for the those who have labored to prepare and serve this evening’s banquet,
farmers and migrant workers,
truck drivers and distributors,
cooks, servers, and those who will clean up after us.
 
We are grateful for the opportunity to assemble here this evening
to celebrate our craft,
to hear our keynote speaker,
to honor award winners,
and to renew old friendships and make new acquaintances.
 
Bless this meal,
from our food and drink to our table conversations.
And let all those so moved say, Amen.

Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 Links to Trinity Sunday through Christ the King/Reign of Christ (Year C)

 Trinity Sunday

2nd Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 7

3rd Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 8

4th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 9

5th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 10

6th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 11

7th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 12

8th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 13

9th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 14

10th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 15

11th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 16

12th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 17

13th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 18

14th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 19

15th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 20

16th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 21

17th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 22

18th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 23

19th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 24

20th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 25

21st Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 26

22nd Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 27

23rd Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 28

Christ the King/Reign of Christ

ADDENDUM

I am a Minister Member of Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and am now serving as the Pastor of the Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church, Wheeling (Bethlehem), WV. Sunday Worship at Bethlehem begins at 10:45 AM. Some of my other blog posts have appeared on PRESBYTERIAN BLOGGERS and The Trek.

15th Annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour Opening Prayer

Clergy are sometimes asked to pray at non-religious community events. I composed and prayed this opening Prayer at the 15^th Annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour, Wheeling, WV,  May 30, 2022 

Great God, by whatever name we call upon you,
however we know you,
we thank you for the opportunity to cycle on our local rail trails, streets, and roads.
As we cycle this Memorial Day,
in the 15^th Annual Wheeling Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour,
keep our rims true, our tires strong,
our chains lubed, our gears aligned,
and the wind always out our backs.
Keep us safe from accident or incident,
and without any of us suffering harm,
return us back here to Heritage Port later today
with 100 kilometers, 30 miles, 10 miles, or whatever
under our wheels.
As we cycle this Memorial Day holiday,
may we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,
and with their lives paid the price for our freedom,
including the freedom to gather here today
to cycle for fun, for exercise,
and to support local trails and the Ohio Valley Trail Partners.
And let all the cyclists and people say, Amen.

The Reverend Dr. John Edward Harris,
Pastor, Bethlehem United Presbyterian Church, 
Wheeling (Bethlehem), WV

Reinterpreting the Second Amendment

 

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights, reads:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The mass shooter who took the lives of so many in Uvalde, Texas, like most other mass shooters and other perpetrators of gun violence in the United States, was not part of any sort of well regulated Militia. Members of well regulated Militias generally do not kill innocent people, especially with military style guns designed primarily for use by well regulated Militias such as the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard, and Law Enforcement.

I favor common sense gun safety legislation, including limiting sale and ownership of most guns, other than those used for hunting, to current members and retired and honorably discharged members of the United States Armed Forces and Law Enforcement agencies. Let anyone who wants to purchase a gun, other than a gun used primarily for hunting, present proof of service or former service in the Military or in Law Enforcement.

Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 Links to 1st Sunday in Lent through Day of Pentecost (Year C)

 Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 is a further revision and refinement of my Lectionary Ruminations and Lectionary Ruminations 2.0.  Focusing on The Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the upcoming Sunday from New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, Lectionary Ruminations 2.5 draws on over thirty years of pastoral experience.  Believing that the questions we ask are often more important than any answers we find, without over reliance on commentaries, I intend with sometimes pointed and sometimes snarky comments and Socratic like questions, to encourage reflection and rumination for readers preparing to lead a Bible study, draft liturgy, preach, or hear the Word. Reader comments are invited and encouraged.

1st Sunday in Lent - Year C

2nd Sunday in Lent - Year C

3rd Sunday in Lent - Year C

4th Sunday in Lent - Year C

5th Sunday in Lent - Year C

Palm/Passion Sunday - Year C

Resurrection of the Lord/Easter Day - Year C

2nd Sunday of Easter - Year C

3rd Sunday of Easter - Year C

4th Sunday of Easter - Year C

5th Sunday of Easter - Year C

6th Sunday of Easter - Year C

7th Sunday of Easter - Year C

Day of Pentecost - Year C