A Concord Pastor Comments

Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 10/24

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 04:53:58 +0000

There's something different, Lord,

these crisp October days

- something different in the sunshine...

Old Sol, up in the sky,

assumes an arced autumnal angle,

warming a true lustrous glow

on branches brushed with beauty,

on leaves alive in light

no summer's green could ever match...

The light's above, Lord,

but I would swear the leaves are glowing

from within...

In my reverie, the trees,

still warm with sun soaked in from August skies,

now turn heavenward,

offering up a psalmody

of color, light and shadows...

Could it be, Lord? Can it be

that summer's warmth and light are rising still,

in praise of you, their maker?

Driving down long, arbored roads

I find the glow is here and there,

not everywhere and -well, of course!

it's the evergreens -

backdrop for October's gift,

of glowing leafy finery...

Your light's above and all around,

from every angle shining

and from deep within me, warming

to the depths of who I am...

I join the prayers of trees and leaves

and lift to you a psalm to praise

the beauty you reveal, Lord,

the beauty that you are…

There's something different, Lord,

these crisp October days,

- something different in the sunshine...

And for this - I give you thanks...

Amen.

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On the move!

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:36:39 +0000

I'm planning on moving to my new home in Boston on November 2. As you'll note on the map, I'm only moving 23.5 miles away although I think the estimated drive time of 33 minutes should be closer to 50 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day.

So... I'm in the midst of the sorting-through/cleaning-out/saving-pitching purge of a life time! This work is partly physical, partly emotional and most of all filled with anticipation, excitement and peace!

Between now and my moving date, my posting here will be less regular than usual - probably along the lines of once instead of twice a day. Thanks for your patience and I look forward to returning to my regular schedule soon!

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NIght Prayer: THURSDAY 10/22

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:27:27 +0000

The first scripture for t0day's mass seemed just what I needed to read as I was planning to go to town hall and vote in the midterm elections. I found myself wishing that everyone could read this before voting - not because it's political but because it speaks so beautifully of who we are before the power the majesty and the governance of God over creation... Let's begin by spending some time with St. Paul's words - and then we'll pray through them again, with our own words interlinear...

I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit

in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more

than all we ask or imagine,
by the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named..

We need to remember, Lord,

that you are our Creator, Maker of all that is good,

all that is true, wise, pure and beautiful,

that all power and glory are yours,

that we are your children, your family,

all of us brothers and sisters...
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit

in the inner self...

How blessed are we, Lord,

that from your divine generosity

you should choose to share with us

- the riches of your glory!

that you choose to share with us, even now, on earth,

the mercy and grace, the pardon and peace

that belongs to realms beyond our reach,

beyond what we could ever earn, merit or deserve

- and all of this - through

through Christ who dwells in our hearts through faith...

through Christ, your Word, spoken in love,

through Christ, your Son, made flesh for us,

through Christ, our Lord, who offered his life

for us, your chosen,

rooted and grounded Jesus' love
that we might find strength, might have strength

to comprehend with all the saints

the breadth and length and height and depth,

the love of Christ whose wisdom surpasses

all that we know of your fullness, O God,

the fullness of grace that dwells in our hearts...

To you, O God,

who are able to do, to create and bring forth

more than we in our dreams might hope

or in our works might accomplish,

to you, O Lord, be power and glory

in the church, in the world and in every age

forever and ever and ever...

Protect us, Lord while we're awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

What better song could there be for tonight's prayer?

Dwelling Place by John Foley, SJ

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I fall on my knees to the Father of Jesus,
The Lord who has shown us the glory of God.

May he in his love give us strength for our living
The strength of his spirit the glory of God.

May Christ find a dwelling place of faith in our hearts

May our lives be rooted in love, rooted in love

May grace and peace be yours

in God our Father and in his Son

May Christ find a dwelling place of faith in our hearts

May our lives be rooted in love, rooted in love

I fall on my knees to the Father of Jesus,
The Lord who has shown us the glory of God

May Christ find a dwelling place of faith in our hearts

May our lives be rooted in love, rooted in love

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Civic duty done!

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:00:14 +0000

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 10/22

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:13:53 +0000

I need some peace and quiet, Lord...

I need a quiet place,
free of noise, free of sounds,
- and I know that with a little work
I can make that happen..

But I need more than a quiet room:
I need some quiet in my head,
in my heart and in my soul...

I need to hush
the jumbled thoughts that fill my mind,
the worn worries that clog my heart,
the useless fears that plague my soul...

I need to mute the work
that shouts from screen and desk,

the obligations calling for my time,
the unsolved problems crying for
and needing my attention...

I need the quiet peace Lord,

that comes from you and only you,
from your heart and from your grace,
the peace I know
that only you can give...

So I'll make a quiet time, Lord,
and find a quiet place
and pray you'll hush

the furies in my mind
brush the worries

huddled in my heart
and shush the fears

that haunt and taunt my soul...

I need some quiet time, Lord,
and the peace I know you'll help me find,
the peace that only you can give,

the peace my heart desires...

Amen.

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Night Prayer: WEDNESDAY 10/21

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Today is the feast of Saint Hilarion (c. 291 – 371), considered to be the founder of Palestinian monastacism. Known for his wisdom and deep insight, he often went on journeys to escape the crowds who followed him. This icon (from the Menologion of Basil II) pictures Hilarion having finally found some peace and quiet:

So I'm proposing Hilarion as the Patron Saint of Those Who Want to Get Away From It All (or whatever/whomever you need to get away from! )

Sometimes, Lord,

sometimes I just need to get away!

Sometimes, Lord,

I just need the peace

of some time by myself,

with no interruptions:

just the sweet solitary peace of being alone

- with you -

for I know you're always with me,

that your gentle, calming presence

offers me the very peace

my soul so much desires...

Sometimes, Lord,

I just need to get away

from all the busyness

that clutters up my days

and complicates my life...

Sometimes, Lord,

I need a respite

from my worries and my fears:

a time and place to sit, in peace,

secure in knowing you're right there,

to calm and soothe my anxious heart...

Sometimes, Lord,

I just need that blessed quiet

where my soul in stillness waits

- for you -

and for the warmth of your presence

and the wisdom of your word

and for the gift of your Spirit,

breathing deep within me,

filling me with grace...

Sometimes, Lord,

I just need to get away

and to be alone with you:

to reveal my hurt and pain,

to lay bare my need for healing,

for your mercy and forgiveness

and to cry the tears that well up

from a place that's deep inside me,

tears I know you'll keep and treasure

as a measure of my faith...

Sometimes, Lord,

I just need to get away,

to run away,

to flee into your arms

and find there what I long for

in the quiet of your presence,

in the stillness of my prayer...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen.

You Are My Hiding Place
by Michael Ledner

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You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

with songs of deliverance

whenever I am afraid

I will trust in you

Let the weak say

"I am strong

in the strength of my Lord"

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Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:04:34 +0000

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 10/21

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 04:20:56 +0000

Here's Michael Garrepy's arrangement of Amazing Grace sung by my favorite vocal group, Ensemble Altera!

Amazing Grace - Ensemble Altera

arranged by Michael Garrepy

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Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come
'Twas grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun

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Night Prayer: TUESDAY 10/20

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:54:44 +0000

Sometimes, Lord,

I pray that you'll help me get through

a rough patch, a hard time, a difficult moment...

And sometimes I look back, Lord, in gratitude

for how you helped me negotiate

a rough turn of events,

or navigate

some rough and stormy seas,

or endure

what I feared I might not withstand...

But tonight I'm aware of all the times

- how all of the time -

I'm held in the palm of your open hand;

embraced in the warmth of your strong arms

sheltered under your unfurled wings;

safe and secure in the power of your grace;

watched over, cared for, tended and led

by your wisdom and counsel,

your light and your love...

You're there for me, Lord

you're with me and 'round me

in good times and bad,

in all times, Lord,

and all of the time...

So, protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen.

Tonight's song begins very softly and end with great strength!

Lord, You Are Always There
lyrics: Bishop Robert Solomon
music: Justin Yeo and Leong Shengyu

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When troubles come my way

And my life is in dismay,

My heart – herein battles rage

And I’m like a bird within a cage;

Then, in my soul Your words awake:

That me You’ll never leave nor forsake.

Lord, You are always there,

My burdens to help me bear;

And in the darkest night,

To bring the glow of Your eternal light.

The waters that I pass,

They may threaten me alas,

But You turn my fear to hope

When You promise, Lord, to help me cope;

For o’er me waters will not sweep

And me, Divine Shepherd, You will keep.

My soul looks up again –

There are clouds that will bring rain;

The parched landscape of the soul

Will be drenched with joy and songs will roll

To greet the new morn bright and fair,

And You, the Friend who is always there.

Lord, You are always there,

My burdens to help me bear;

And in the darkest night,

To bring the glow of Your eternal light.

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Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 10/20

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:54 +0000

Our nation is divided, Lord,
by bitterness, anger and mistrust,

by animosity, prejudice and ill will,
by sarcasm, hostility and snark,
by name calling, rancor

and hardness of heart...

It's so painful to see
how broken and divided we are,
how deep our common wounds,
how great our need for healing

and how we're too stubborn to yield:

our opinions to the facts,
our comfort to self-sacrifice,

our partisanship to consensus...

our fraudulence to justice,

our lies to the truth...

We need healing, Lord,

and we need to pray for healing

because we'll never right these wrongs

all on our own;

or salvage Amereica's honor

by our self-determination;

or rescue this land's liberty

apart from feedom's laws...

We will not - we cannot -

do this by ourselves

but only with your help, Lord,

with your mercy and your grace...

And so, we pray:

send your Spirit to shape us

to mold us in your image,

and to strengthen and refresh us

for the work that's ours to do...

E pluribus unum

From the many - make us one, Lord!

From the many we are, Lord,

call us to be one...

from the diversity we embody,

call us to be one...

from rumors and rash judgments,

call us to be one...

from our prejudice and bias,

call us to be one...

from our factions, camps and enclaves,

call us to be one...

from the differences we manifest,

call us to be one...

from our colors, creeds and races,

call us to be one;

from beyond the grip of politics

call us to be one...

out of all that might divide us, Lord,

call us to be one..

Amen.

Unity Hymn by Mike Donehey

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Night Prayer: MONDAY 10/19

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Every once in a while it's good to clean out your backpack, your purse, your brief case, your computer bag... We carry around a lot of junk we don't need, stuff that weighs us down and complicates our lives... These autumn days, even Mother Nature is doing some fall cleaning: the strength of her wind stripping leaves from tranches...

Help me rummage through my heart, Lord,

for a seasonal fall cleaning...

Help me sort the good stuff from the junk,

the "keepers" from the trash...

Help me drop what weighs me down,

what over-complicates my life...

Help me trash what I don't need, Lord,
- all that clutters up my way...

Help me pitch what steals my joy,

all that burdens me with worry...

Help me lose

what keeps my heart from yours

and clear a space

for grace to make its home...

Teach me, Lord, until I learn

to simplify, to simplify,

to simply simplify!

Help me rummage through my heart, Lord,

the time has come again

for a seasonal fall cleaning...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen.

Create In Me by Terry Talbot

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Create in me a clean heart, O God

Let me be like you in all my ways

Give me your strength, teach me your song

Shelter me in the shadow of your wings

For we are your righteousness

If we die to ourselves and live through your death

We shall be born again to be blessed in your love!

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Monday Morning Offering: 10/19

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 06:59:45 +0000

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

Today, Lord my basket is filled

with some unhappy offerings...

I'm offering you my irritations,

my annoyances, my trigger points,

my short fuse, my aggravations,

my temper, my resentments,

my grudges, my irritability

and anything else that sets me off

and brings to the fore

those parts of me

I'd rather no one see

or hear or feel...

I offer what's in my basket, Lord,

for your healing touch,

and your kind and gentle

steady hand

to guide, adjust,

to soothe and calm,

to cool and temper

all that's troubled

in my mind

and heart....

Bring peace, O Lord,

to all within me,

all that's anxious,

angry and afraid...

Put me at peace with you

and with myself

and with all those

whose paths cross mine

this day and all this week...

Accept what's in my basket, Lord,

and make of all my brokenness

a gift of grace and mercy

to refresh, restore and magnify

your presence in my life...

Amen.

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Homily for October 18

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 03:49:30 +0000

The rebus above provides some hints about my homily this weekend but you'll probably need to give it a read or listen in order to understand what the three images above represent. You can link to the gospel on which my homily is based here and to a video of my homily here. (There are two moments in the video when I stumbled over my own words so following along with the text (below) might be helpful!

We hear these same scriptures every 3 years on the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, which always falls sometime in October. So it's not my plan or design that we read this gospel just 15 days before the midterm elections! But it may prove to be a blessing, that just before we cast our votes, we hear these familiar words of Jesus once again, that “we pay, that we give back, that we render to Caesar what belongs to the state. and to God what belongs to the Creator.”

So, let's spend a few minutes just considering what this teaching means, beginning with the question, “What belongs to God?” Or conversely - if you will, on the other side of the coin: “Is there anything that doesn't belong to God?” Is there anything that is so much my own that - should the Lord demand it of me - I might say, “Sorry, God, that's mine. You'll have to get your own.”

I have nothing - I have nothing - that belongs exclusively to me. Everything I have, everything is a gift from God. Everything I might think I own belongs to God - and is on loan to me as a precious gift given to help me grow, to become the person God made me to be; and given to me so that I might share what I have with others - especially with those in need.

It's not for nothing that we all acknowledge that “You can't take it with you…” That when we leave this life, we will leave everything behind, taking nothing with us - since none of it truly belonged to us in the first place.

All the things we have are given to us as tools, devices, implements, instruments, equipment, hardware, and software - to help us to become who we were created to be; to help us care for the world, care for creation, to conserve the world entrusted to us by God. And to share what we have with those who have less.

So, what's left for Ceasar?

What belongs to Caesar is that share of our possessions and allegiance, which might contribute to, and even collectively, more effectively, enhance, augment and ensure the pursuit of the common good, which the Church defines as “the sum total of social conditions, which allow people, either as groups or individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully. and more easily.” That's what the Church teaches.

Do see what's happening here? Even what belongs to Caesar truly belongs, first belonged, and will always belong - to God.

But I wonder if there isn't even a prior question deserving our attention. Is it possible that the reality that first stakes a claim on my allegiance and loyalty might be neither God nor the state, but rather – me, myself.

Many of us (and at sometimes all of us) give first allegiance to the self.

How often is it a consideration of myself and my own interests that largely determines what I render to Caesar? When I'm choosing a political party or a candidate to support… When I'm pondering the complex and critical differences between freedom and license, justice, and mercy, liberty, and law… Or when I'm simply deciding whether I'm too busy or too lazy - to go out and vote...

Fidelity to my own interests and comfort often plays a large part in shaping my allegiance to the state and its role in my life.

And likewise, how often is it a consideration of myself and my own interests that largely determines what I render to God? When I wrestle with difficult moral issues, personal or social… When I determine how much of all I have I'm going to share with the poor… When I choose between speaking out in faith or concealing my beliefs in silence… When I weigh the wisdom of God with the folly of the times… When I'm simply deciding whether I'm too busy or too lazy - to go to church on a given Sunday…

Fidelity to myself and own interest often plays a large part in shaping my allegiance to God and God's role in my daily life.

It's often to myself that I pay out the first coin of duty. My strongest allegiance is often to my wants and my needs; my fantasies, plans, and desires; to the choices and decisions that favor my circumstances; to self-preservation and the comfort of those I love; to ensuring a pleasant future for myself…

My most blinding loyalty might well be neither to Caesar, nor to God - but rather to myself.

We might even rephrase today's gospel dialogue to sound like this:

“Tell us, Jesus, what is your opinion?

Is it lawful to pay allegiance to oneself - or not?”

To which Jesus might reply,

“Show me the checkbook with which you provide for yourself.

Whose inscription, whose name is on each check?”

“It's my name, Lord.”

“Well, then - give to yourself what belongs to you

and give to God what belongs to God.”

And that brings us back to where we began!

“Is there anything that doesn't belong to God?”

Is there anything I have on which I have a greater claim than God? The answer is simple: everything belongs to God who has first claim on my allegiance, my loyalty, my duty, my fidelity, and all my possessions.

Everything I have is God's gift to me, to be used for good - for the common good… to be shared - and shared especially - with those who have so much less than I do.

So, in light of all that, it's clear that there's no simple division of reality between what I do in the ballot box and what I do in church - because faith and politics deal in the same reality. There can be no facile separation between the two. It's not as if I take care of “Caesar's business” at the polls, and my “God business” in church. I don't somehow conduct my life's business between those two venues.

When the Lord looks at my soul, he doesn't look to see if it's red or blue. He looks to see how I have shaped my life according to his word and the wisdom of the gospel. And, if and how I have broken my life open, like bread, to feed others - if and how generously I have shared myself and my possessions with those in need.

It's to the business of the life I live between the voting booth at the polls, and the pews in church that the Lord looks to see how I spend, how I return, to whom I render all the good things the Lord has given me and done for me.

This is not easy to preach - partly because I fail at this myself so often and so easily.

This would be an even more difficult message to preach, were I not preaching it in the shadow of the Cross of Jesus, under the outstretched arms of the One who gave up his claim to everything, sacrificing even his own life because sinners - like you and me - were in need of his life, of his mercy, of his love. We're in need of all of that more than anything else we might have or ever hope to have.

At this table, we give back, we return, we render to God what God first gave to us: simple gifts of bread and wine, broken wheat, crushed grapes…

Here in the Eucharist we give to God what belongs to God: as we sang in the psalm, glory and honor - praise and thanksgiving for all that we've been given to share with others. And for all that God has shared with us through, with and in Christ Jesus, the Lord.

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Night Prayer: SUNDAY 10/18

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 22:00:00 +0000

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Today's gospel calls us to render to God all that belongs to God - and that means our praise and thanksgiving for all that God has given us...

Of all that I have, Lord,

all's a gift

from your heart and hand

to mine...

My being, my life,
my heart and my soul,
my mind's best thoughts
- all your gifts to me...

My family and friends,
my home and my table,
my freedom to come and go
- all your gifts to me...

My talents and skills,

my dreams and ideas,

my creative mind and spirit
- all of these, Lord, gifts from your hand...

My faith and my trust,
my passion and love,
my joy and my strength
- all these, your gifts to me...

My desire for truth,
my hunger for peace,
my thirst for deep and lasting joy
- all are your gifts to me...

Nothing I have is truly my own,

all's on loan from you to me,

given that I might give it away

and share with any and all in need...

Of all I have, Lord,
all's a gift
from your heart and hand
to mine...

For all I've received,

for all that I have,

I render my thanks and praise to you,Giver of every good gift...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake,
and watch over my sleep tonight
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
All Is Gift by Luke Spehar

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What do I have that has not been given to me?

What do I have that is just my own?

When all vain pride is gone I see

that all is gift to me, given freely.

Now from my mother my body was taken,

my father too that's how I was made.

Creator's breath blew into this dust:

withdraw your love, Lord, I would go away.

What do I have that has not been given to me,

all my strength, clever wit or strong might?

Though I can choose what to do with all that I have,

the ability is no work of mine

What do I have that has not been given to me?

This faith I hold and believe,

this gift was withheld until my hands wearied of grasping,

slowly opened to fully receive.

What do I have that has not been given to me?

what do I have that is just my own?

When all vain pride is gone I see

that all is gift to be given freely.

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noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 20:21:09 +0000

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 10/18

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 03:09:38 +0000

Image source

I can't begin to count all the
   pardons,
   second chances,
   clean slates,
   fresh starts
   and new beginnings
you've offered me, Lord,
   in my lifetime,
   this year,
   last month,
   just yesterday
   - and since I woke up this morning!

There is no end to your
   mercy,
   to your patience,
   your indulgence,
   generosity
   and love...

Your mercy is never exhausted, Lord,
your compassion is never spent:
   your kindness is renewed each morning...*

Help me never take for granted, Lord,
the love and mercy you offer me
over and over again -
regardless of how and how often
I've failed you...

So, this day, Lord, open up
   my heart and soul,
   my eyes, my ears, my mind,
   my awareness and my imagination...

Open me wide
to all the ways you'll offer me today
   your pardon,
   a second chance,
   a clean slate,
   a fresh start
   and a new beginning...

And as you have freely given me
   the grace of starting over,
help me be free in offering all
   my patience and my pardon...

Amen.

*Lamentations 3:23

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Night Prayer: SATURDAY 10/17

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 21:00:18 +0000

I'm grateful for so many reasons, Lord,

for the blessings and gifts that come my way,

from your heart and hand to mine...

But I know there are times when,

feeling entitled,

I take your gifts for granted...

I don't always thank you for all you offer:

your constant presence,

your strength and support,

the help of your grace

and the peace I find

in my trust in you...

Looking back on this day, Lord,

I thank you now:

for the gifts you offered and I received

and the blessings I took for granted

and especially those I totally missed

for being too careless and busy...

I'm grateful for how you continue to bless me

and stay by my side as my friend and my guide

even when I'm so absorbed in myself

that I miss what you offer and grant me.

How great is your love, O Lord, my God!

How grateful am I for the gift of your mercy

- when I've been ungrateful to you...

Open my eyes, my heart and my soul

to all the blessings you send my way

especially those I so often miss,

so often the gifts I need the most...

Protect me, Lord, while I lie awake

and watch over me as I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

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All Good Gifts by Stephen Schwartz

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After another school shooting...

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 17:36:07 +0000

I'm grateful for these wise and sobering words from Christopher Duggan, a friend who, by profession, has a much deeper and more informed understanding of the Constitution than most of us who are reading this post:

It is an abomination that a few people think that America is condemned forever to accept mass shootings without being able to adopt sensible legislation to at least try to minimize the slaughter of children and other innocent people. Those who rely on the Second Amendment to come to this conclusion conveniently ignore the seven purposes that the Constitution was drafted and ratified. They are set forth right at the beginning and no amendment or statute contradicts the seven purposes of the American foundation (1) form a more perfect Union: (2) establish justice; (3) ensure domestic tranquility; (4) provide for the common defense: (5) promote the general welfare; (6) insure the blessings of liberty; (7) to ourselves AND our posterity (the kids who are being executed in a genocide). Sensible firearms legislation can be adopted that will further each one of these 7 objectives. The argument that we must accept mass slaughter of our children to put unlimited revenue in the hands of gun manufacturers undermines each and every one of these 7 goals. Until Heller in 2008, no one thought that sensible gun legislation was unconstitutional (the 2nd Amendment then was known as "the forgotten amendment") and there is no reason, none, that parents and grandparents should have to live without their children because of some false reading of the text, history and structure of our fundamental law.

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Autumn's truth...

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 17:12:12 +0000

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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 10/17

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 01:34:10 +0000

Lord, you know everything

that will happen in my life today...

Everything...

Lacking such knowledge...

I might worry and fret

over things that I don't know...

I may hide from things

I have no need to fear...

or spend my day second guessing

all I say and do...

So, give me the faith I need, Lord:

to accept this day as it may come,

no matter what it brings...

to live this day with trust

that you're always by my side...

to find in everything today

your blessing, strength and peace... ,

Lord, you know everything

that will happen in my life today...

Everything...

Help me find in everything today

the grace to hope in you...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 10/16

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:50:33 +0000

How is it possible, Lord,

that the eighth month,

the first of the year's last quarter,

- is now half gone?

I thought that when I grew older

time might pass at a slower pace

for want of the harried busyness

that once filled my days and some nights, too,

haunting my sleep and my dreams...

But no!

Time marches on and moves apace

with the planets, the sun, the moon,

the stars and the calendar's months

tracing my path and keeping account

of my life, my years and my days...

Now I have free time - and plenty, for sure!

But even my free time fills up, is consumed

by I-don't know-what

- or maybe I do...

My days are brimful with rest and time

for musing, reflecting and mulling over

all that has been, all that's been mine,

all that I've done - or didn't get 'round to

and all the love that swept me up,

held me close,

took me in,

guided my steps,

cared for my needs,

befriended my soul,

overlooked my faults,

forgave my misdeeds,

healed my hurt

and on thousands of days,

in thousands of ways

revealed and shared, and generously so,

your mercy,

your presence,

your peace...

Oh, some of my musings are not as sweet:

there've been times of hurt, loss and pain,

times of longing, need and want,

times all alone and lonely times,

times when hope was all but gone,

and times when I wondered where time had gone

and how much time was left for me...

And now, Lord - something like October -

I'm in my 80th year, at the beginning

of the last quarter of my life,

a life much more than half now spent...

And I'm pleased, now that I'm older, Lord,

to find that life moves on apace

with all that's real and passing,

with all that's true and lasting,

with all that is within your hands:

holy, broken, saved, redeemed,

wounded, healed and lifted up

by grace that knows no time...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen

In His Time by Diane Ball

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 10/16

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:16:00 +0000

Photo by CC

I've had a few unusually busy days and rather to leave this space blank this morning, I'm offering tis poem by Mary Oliver - it's definitely a place to pause for prayer!

Song for Autumn

Don’t you imagine the leaves dream now
how comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of the air and the endless
freshets of wind? And don’t you think
the trees, especially those with
mossy hollows, are beginning to look for

the birds that will come—six, a dozen—to sleep
inside their bodies? And don’t you hear
the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
the everlasting being crowned with the first
tuffets of snow? The pond
stiffens and the white field over which
the fox runs so quickly brings out
its long blue shadows. The wind wags
its many tails. And in the evening
the piled firewood shifts a little,
longing to be on its way.

- Mary Oliver

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 10/15

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:10:05 +0000

It's a lesson I'm always learning, Lord

- again and again and again -

but I wish I could finally get it

and cone to understand

that when I tackle a task I've avoided,

when I make the change I've needed to make,

when I see to the work I've neglected,

when I speak the word I've been holding back,

when I deal with an issue I've tried to ignore,

when I face a problem I've long denied,

when I pick up and carry the burden that's mine,

when I open my eyes to what's plain as day,

when I get off my duff to make my move,

and finally do the next right thing

then

strength I thought I'd lost returns,

grace restores my faith in you,

a stillness calms my troubled soul,

the peace I've longed for calls my name,

the load I bear is less by half,

healing pays my heart a visit,

hope begins to softly whisper,

light appears to pierce my clouds,

and tomorrow comes, a welcome guest...

It's a lesson I'm always learning, Lord

- again and again and again -

but I wish I could finally get it

and come to understand

that my taking care of business

bares my soul for healing grace...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen.

BTO's Taking Care of Business just didn't seem fit the bill here! Here's a tune I found that comes closer to the mark...

God Will Take Care of You by Aohad King

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 10/15

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:13:29 +0000

Photo by Mark Penta

Lord,

help me remember,

help me see

and help me believe

that this tree's beauty can't compare

with the glory of grace within my heart...

Lord,

help me remember,

help me see

and help me trust

that your Spirit afire, deep in my soul,

outshines a forest of autumn glow...

Lord,

help me remember,

help me see and understand

how fading leaves, in letting go,

fall to find new life in you...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 10/14

noreply@blogger.com (Concord Pastor) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 20:13:48 +0000

Can you imagine living

1,693 nights and days

under full-scale war?

Ukrainians don't have to.

Ukraine's colors frame my Night Prayer candle:

a weak nod to the nightmare

of bloodshed and destruction

suffered by my family, 5,000 miles away...

My family? Yes, my family...

We're brothers, sisters, one and all:

we share a common bloodline

flowing from the Cross:

our DNA and lineage are royal and divine;

we're children born of water

and the Spirit who unites us,

who makes of us a family,

the whole of humankind...

Don't let the distance shield me, Lord,

from what my brothers suffer,

from the loss my sisters bear,

from the nightmares of my grandkids,

from the bombing and the shelling,

from the ruins and the rubble

that were once my family's home...

My family's not that far away,

twelve hours on a plane,

and faster still with just a click -

to reach and offer needed help

from those who gather here in prayer

'neath Ukraine's blue and gold...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

As my own nation

withdraws its support from Ukraine,

I must ask again and again:

My family? Yes, my family

- and your family, too.

We Are One by Emu Music

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