Blessing a home

May God pour her grace on this house;

from front door to back door

from chimney to basement

and down every hall,

let it be filled.

May laughter and warmth

bless it by day;

and may Christ the Good Shepherd

watch over it by night.

In the name of the Holy Spirit,

we pray. Amen.

— January 25

Meditation

I am learning that

for every person who leaves my life

a new one walks in

I am learning that

for every leaf that falls in my life

a clover sprouts

I am learning that

for every beggar I ignore in life

another asks

and that, just maybe,

this is grace.

—December 29

In the evening

God of love and God of light,

 before the falling of the night,

forgive our failings from this day

 and grant us nightlong rest, we pray.

                           —December 26

If I am honest

I still do not
understand you,

O God.

Deep, quiet.

Be gentle

in your mystery.

Amen.

                         —December 26

In the Bleak Midwinter

Here's an arrangement of In the Bleak Midwinter that I wrote and recorded for three voices, clarinet, & piano. Words: Christina Rossetti. 1871. Tune: Gustav Holst.  Click to listen.

For folks facing loss at Christmas

Dear God,

There’s an empty chair at the table this year,

an weight in our hearts,

an absence in the room.

 

Things are different this Christmas

and we struggle to accept them.

And although things have changed,

you, O Lord, have not, and we thank you.

 

Remind us that our beloved has a home in your heart

and a seat at your table.

Bless us with memories of our missed one

and the reassurance that they are with you this year.

 

Teach us to depend on friends in these seasons

and be with those who do not have any,

so that they might find company in you.

 

Comfort the afflicted and alone,

like you did the grieving sisters Mary and Martha,

as we remember the promises you made to us ages ago.

 

Gather us in, O God,

for you are our mother, and we are your children.

Your table is always set.

 

Amen.

 

                          —December 25

 

Confession and assurance

Officiant

God who understands our mistakes, we know that you are eternal, always-present, and boundless

in your love. But we do not always remember these things about you in the commotion of our

day-to-day lives. Sometimes we become so caught up in things we need to do and places we need to go

that we fail to be our best selves.

So forgive us, Lord, 

for the times we have failed to notice you around us this week

for when we have been unkind or ungracious

for when we have been too quick to judge

for when we have spoken without concern for our neighbors

for when we have ignored someone near us

for when we have rushed so quickly that we forget to pay attention

for when we have idolized something unimportant

for when we might have spoken too much

for when we did not speak up when it was needed

and for all other times where we have failed to see you in our neighbors this week.

Forgiving and compassionate God, we bring you these prayers and come before you in

in silence, confessing, as needed, other times in which we've passed you this week

without saying hello. Let us pray in silence.

Silence is held

Officiant

The psalmist tells us that “the LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love...

God will not always accuse,

    nor will he keep his anger forever.

 God does not deal with us according to our sins,

    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

 For as the heavens are high above the earth,

    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” 

Sisters and brothers, hear now this assurance: As far as the East is from the West, God has removed

our transgressions from us. Let us go forward into this new week, ready to take up this work again,

refreshed and renewed, knowing that, although we cannot do everything right, we are always bound to get something right. For after all, we are made in your image. Amen.

Wedding prayer

Loving and eternal God, you are a God of beginnings. As we gather together at this new beginning, we thank you for [names]. In scripture, you remind us that no one starts a journey alone. So go forward with [names] as you did with Sarah and Abraham, Mary and Joseph, and Ruth and Naomi, showing them the way as you keep your promises to them. We know that few journeys are easy, but that we can always count on you to meet us at the beginning. So as [names] set out on this road together:

Keep their communication open

and grant them patience, humility, and compassion.

Fill their hearts with humor,

open them to adventure,

and let them always see the best in each other,

even in tough times. 

Bless them with unforgettable memories

and the courage to deal with the hard ones,

as they grow stronger together. 

Give them strength to carry one another’s burdens,

the humility to ask for help,

and the wisdom to share this responsibility. 

Let them be equal partners in this work,

serving one another equally and eagerly,

an example for their friends and family. 

And may their love be a circle,

which, like the rings on their fingers, never ends. 

Go with them now the whole way

and pour your joy on the home they will build together—

From front door to back door

from chimney to basement

and down every hall,

let the place be filled.

Let laughter and warmth

bless it by day;

and may Christ the Good Shepherd

watch over it at night.

Let all that they do, and all that they are, 

remind them of the One who holds things together

and makes things good.

Hold them tight, O God,

and never let them go. 

Amen.

                    —December 12

At the Table

For health and strength and daily food;

for broken bread and spilled wine;

for friends and family who make life fun;

we thank you, Lord God.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

—December 26

Only a mirage (piano watercolor)

Here's a fragment from a piano improvisation I wrote on a long, languid day in August. Tune: Benjamin Smith. 2020. Click to listen. 

Creation hymn

Here's a creation hymn about wonder and birds: 6.4.10.8.8. Text: Benjamin Smith, Tune: David Harrison. 2019. Downloadable without permission. Click to listen.

All together (piano impressions)

Here's an improvisation based loosely on a weekend spent with family. Benjamin Smith, 2021. Click here to listen.

Near a campfire

Creator God,

You are the Spirit in the wind

                    the crackle in the fire

                                        the trickle of the creek

                                                            the howl of the coyote

                                                                                the crunch of snapping twigs

                                                                                                   the hush of growing moss

                                                                                the chant of groaning bullfrogs

                                                            the warble of cicadas

                                        the whisper of the leaves

                     the echo of the woods

creator of these things.

Amen. 

Centering hymn

Here's a hymn of gratitude for peace and stillness. 9.8.9.8. Text: Celtic 1st. c. Tune: Benjamin Smith. 2019. Downloadable without permission. 

Hymn of lament

Here's a hymn of justice and lament for LGBTQ victims of violence. 10.10.4.4.8.8. Text and tune: Benjamin Smith. 2019. Downloadable without permission. Listen.

For Father’s Day

Blessed is the man

who believes the stories of women,
whose gentleness puts

his neighbors at ease,

whose kindness looks like Jesus,

and whose children follow his example.

                           —December 26

For Mothers Day

Blessed is the woman

who speaks her mind,

whose strength gives

her sisters courage,

whose love stands tall and proud

and whose children follow her example.

                          —December 26

A creation hymn about outer space. Downloadable without permission. 2015.

 

A hymn based on Psalm 100. Downloadable without permission. 2017.