spirituality Archives - Page 4 of 7

Bewildered in the Wilderness

I wonder if that is the true definition of wilderness: places where we find ourselves unprepared and bewildered. No solution seems obvious or forthcoming. Sometimes we can’t even name the problems. We wander like those other wilderness-dwellers, the Israelites, disorganized and ill-equipped, chasing after some…

Debra RienstraMarch 10, 2017

liturgical year spirituality

Notes from the Lament Team

The mood is oddly chipper considering we are about to play for a funeral. This is what we do at our church: when someone dies, a call goes out to all our regular musicians to play at the funeral. We don’t have praise teams, but…

Debra RienstraFebruary 24, 2017

liturgical year spirituality

A Prayer for Christmas Eve

Come, Savior. Come amid the salt-crusted cars lined up at the light, amid the clamor and bustle of commerce, the grocery store cash drawer rings, the have-a-nice-days.

Debra RienstraDecember 24, 2016

cultural commentary spirituality

Ritual Studies

It would be easy to scoff. Her website says she’s a “Life-Cycle Celebrant®.” Note the registered trademark. She is ready to help you mark the significant passages of your life—wedding, funeral, coming of age, pet adoption—with a ritual that she will design specifically for you…

Debra RienstraAugust 5, 2016

cultural commentary spirituality

Rowan Williams for Dummies: On Human Sexuality

I definitely recommend brewing up a pot of strong coffee and reading through the piece yourself. But wouldn’t it be nice to have a dumbed-down version, with commentary, by your elbow as you read? An executive summary of sorts?

Debra RienstraJuly 23, 2016

arts review spirituality theology

Mystery in the Minster

Ron and I happened upon a remarkable endeavor while visiting York last month, and I’m so glad we spotted the posters, plunked down our pounds sterling, and settled ourselves into tight seats on scaffolded risers for a three-and-a-half hour spectacle: the York Minster Mystery Plays.

Debra RienstraJuly 8, 2016

memoir spirituality

Adamant Ties

When babies are new and tiny and soft, they curl perfectly into a certain place on your chest. If you’ve ever held a newborn, you know what I mean. Here’s what I wrote about my third baby shortly after he was born: hen I hold…

Debra RienstraMay 15, 2016

memoir spirituality

A Memoir in Psalms

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” — Psalm 84:5 Combine Bono, Eugene Peterson, and the Psalms, and you can have 27,400 shares on social media in just a few days. We know this because an outfit…

Debra RienstraApril 30, 2016

liturgical year memoir spirituality

A Lenten Update

Dear Jesus, Just thought I’d send a quick note and let you know how things are going this Lent. Actually, not so good tbh. I don’t know. I just wasn’t feeling it this year, you know? I didn’t give up chocolate or carbs or anything.…

Debra RienstraMarch 18, 2016

liturgical year spirituality

No Words Fall

It must begin with Zechariah’s silence. Nothing against poor old Zechariah. Who can blame him for asking a decent question? The text tells us that both he and Elizabeth were upright and blameless before the Lord. So even if Gabriel comes off as a little…

Debra RienstraDecember 11, 2015

spirituality

Bewildered in the Wilderness

Notes from the Lament Team

A Prayer for Christmas Eve

Ritual Studies

Rowan Williams for Dummies: On Human Sexuality

Mystery in the Minster

Adamant Ties

A Memoir in Psalms

A Lenten Update

No Words Fall

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