I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. Paid subscribers have access to liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary.

For those who celebrate Easter, I hope your weekend was filled with meaningful interactions and many signs of hope, because the little baby Jesus knows we need to feel some hope.

This past week, the world has been experiencing authoritarian whiplash as the US and Iranian administrations have been trading apocalyptic blustering. On the eve of a possible escalation, without any sign of regret, President Trump threatened that a whole civilization will die tonight. It's exhausting and sad. And while he has a track record of making threats and then backing down, I can't help but feel a sense of dread that President Trump is going to decide to use nuclear weapons.

I know that most of us will do as much as we can in every way, but these are also the days when it feels like all we can do is pray.

In Times of Dread #LetUsPray

God, why does your creation do what we do?
Why do we let the pursuit of wealth drive us?
Why do we choose violence in response to conflict?
Why are our egos so fragile?
Why can't we forgive?
Why do we hate?
Answer us, O God.

God, our spirits are filled with discouragement and dread
we kill so easily, even as we plan to kill again
we ignore the suffering that we cause others
we let hatred and power eat away at our souls
we begin to believe there is nothing we can do
and we do this at the feet of Empire

God, Empire thrives on our anguish
but we know that Empire clutches to power
when that power is threatened.
we know that Empire lashes out
when its life is coming to an end
and we know that Empire will not last
because the ways of Empire are not Yours

God, when we are feeling disheartened
sit with us in our discouragement and dread
let us embrace new life when we are able
let us see those around us who scream to be seen
let us show love and share power
and call us into holy collaboration with You

For these things we pray.

— AMEN

Peace,

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LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, April 12, 2026

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Acts 2:14a, 22-32 | Psalm 16 | 1 Peter 1:3-9 | John 20:19-31
NL439 Readings (CEB): John 20:19-31 | Psalm 145:13-21

In writing liturgy, I attempt to be economical with words while addressing the events of the day in ways that help people find grounding in their faith. For readings, I refer to the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) and The Narrative Lectionary from The Working Preacher (NL). Paid Subscribers should please feel free to use any of the liturgical resources with or without attribution.

I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. Paid subscribers have access to liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary.

First, as the Spirit moves, I will be preaching this Easter at Burlingame Presbyterian Church, so if you are in the area, I would love to see you.

As I mentioned in my Palm Sunday post, during Holy Week last year, I was in Palestine — the most violent time of the year for Palestinian Christians. Easter was spent watching Palestinan Chrsitians being blocked from attending Easter services, watching a teenager be arrested for chanting, and witnessing a senior citizen being thrown over a barrier. This was on top of the constant presence of Israeli military and police, not there to de-escalate, but to provoke.

Here are a few images and a short video from that Easter morning in East Jerusalem just outside the gate of the Old City.

And as is the case in places of conflict and suffering, there was also great hope seen and experienced. We saw the power of communal organizing and resistance against authority, we witnessed the amazing Ritual of the Holy Fire, and we gathered with the local community to reaffirm our understanding that death and hate do not have the last word — life and life do.

Here are a few shots from Easter.

Holding this tension about the possibilities that are offered in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, I offer this Easter prayer.

For Unimaginable Possibilities #LetUsPray

Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
Jesus, we say those words
but sometimes they are hard to believe

There is too much sorrow and suffering
in my body
in our communities
in our country
and in the world

And yet, amid our doubt and confusion
You return again and again and again
Reminding us that you are right here
To hear, to heal, and to love

And still, in a day of division and destruction
You are unimaginably generous with Your grace
Reminding us that evil, hatred, and death do not have the last word
but it is the promise of goodness, love, and life that rise above

So when our bodies and spirits are in pain
give us the courage to believe in the possibility of healing

When our communities are shouting and shattered
give us the humility to believe in the possibility of reconciliation

When our country is in turmoil and chaos
give us the wisdom to believe in the possibility of the common good

And when the world is at war
give us the audacity to believe in the possibility of peace

Jesus, we may not always be able to believe
But we know that when it is time
You will make Your promises known
And we will see You fully

For these things I pray

— AMEN

Peace,

NOTE: The Amalgamation is undergoing a mini glow-up. You can now purchase Gift Subscriptions and Group Subscriptions. Paid Subscribers will soon be able to gift subscriptions to friends, family, barristas, or congressional representatives :-)

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, April 5, 2026: Easter Sunday

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6 | Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 | Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43 | John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10
NL439 Readings (CEB): John 20:1-18 | Psalm 118:21-29

In writing liturgy, I attempt to be economical with words while addressing the events of the day in ways that help people find grounding in their faith. For readings, I refer to the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) and The Narrative Lectionary from The Working Preacher (NL). Paid Subscribers should please feel free to use any of the liturgical resources with or without attribution.

I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. Paid subscribers have access to liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary.

This time last year, I was in Palestine. And after spending Holy Week in Jerusalem, Palm Sunday will never be the same. I was leading a Delegation with Sabeel, and the first thing we did after crossing the border was to join thousands of others in the Palm Sunday procession.

In many ways, it was surreal. At one point, I said to one of the delegation, "We are about to actually enter Jerusalem while waving palms." Now I have no need to know that "this is exactly where Jesus walked," but to be Jesus-Was-Here adjacent was pretty cool. All those years of waving our skinny palm leaves while standing in pews pales in comparison to the monstrous palms that we waved as we made our way from the Mount of Olives to the Old City.

In some ways, it was like the Palm Sundays I have known all my life, where just underneath the parade and jubilation, there was pain, injustice, and pending suffering about to be inflicted upon the people by an empire grasping for life. Only this time, we did not have to use our imagination, speak in colorful metaphors, or convince folks that all was not as it seemed.

The evidence was all around us...

• Exclusion: What you cannot see from the feature picture is that most of the people in the processional are internationals. Absent were the thousands of Palestinian Christians who applied for permits to enter East Jerusalem for Holy Week and were denied by the Israeli Government. Now, before anyone tries to rationalize why they would deny Christians to enter the Holy City during Holy Week, the answer is simply, "Because they can."
• Intimidation: As you can also see in the photo, Israeli Occupation Forces were constantly surveilling the march from the rooftops and the ground. The biggest weapons of occupation are not the guns, but the intimidation. And yes, the answer to the question, "Why?" is again, "Because they can." And yes, the banner is complete with the white Jesus on a donkey. Colonizers gonna colonize.
• Foreshadowing: While the Israeli government would like the world to believe Israel is the only country in the region where all faiths are welcome and can practice freely under occupation, this is simply not true. Not only are there Christian celebrations in other countries, but Holy Week in Palestine is the most violent time of the year for Christians. This walk felt a little like an act of defiance, because soon, the threatened authorities would clamp down. During our time, we saw people beaten, harassed, and arrested for simply trying to go to church on Easter. Do not believe the propaganda. We were there and the violence is real.

Palm Sunday holds in tension both our joy at the coming of some kind of "savior" and the reality that this savior does not show up in the ways we had wanted or expected. And once the realities become evident, it is too late. The Jesus who comes to challenge authority and lift up the oppressed is killed; not because he had to be, but because the empire saw him as a threat that had to be eliminated. And sadly, the crowd that was cheering for him just days before would now call for his death.

It is with the holy and the horrible of the day churning in my soul in a time of war that I offer this week's prayer.

For Palm and Passion Sunday in the Midst of War #LetUsPray

Holy One, the world is filled with
beauty and brokenness
sorrow and celebration
and the holy and the horrific

As we tenderly hold the tensions of life
from the depths of our struggles
to the heights of our joy
remind us that you are here

And in a time of war
when humans are killing humans
when land is ravaged
and when hatred is multiplied
grant us the humility to know
all are worthy of Your love

For the nations of the world, we give thanks
for the beauty of their land
for the complexity of their people
and for the richness of their history

For the nations of the world, we lament
the ease with which we justify bloodshed
seeking of domination over one another
and stoking the fires of generational hatred

For the nations of the world, we hope
they will reexamine the futility of war
they will seek the global common good
and they will choose the way of peace

and

For those who hold power, we give thanks
for answering the call to public service
for their steadfastness in times of chaos and strife
and for the communities that share them with the world

For those who hold power, we lament
the gluttony that fuels oppression
the hubris that emboldens violence
and the cowardice that corrodes character

For those who hold power, we hope
they will have the courage to change directions
they will bless, feed, and clothe their enemies
and they will choose the way of peace

and

For those caught in the in-between, we give thanks
for glimpses of joy in between the bombings
for communities that bear one another's burdens
and for visions and dreams that are stronger than war

For those caught in the in-between, we lament
participating in acts of war and violence
allowing hate and judgment to infest our souls
and cherishing borders more than siblings on the other side

For those caught in the in-between, we hope
they encounter the holy more than the horrific
they live to love the many generations to come
and they soon know the day when peace has prevailed

For these things I pray

— AMEN

Peace,

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LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, March 29, 2026: Palm Sunday

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 | Matthew 21:1-11
NL434 Readings (CEB): John 19:16-22 (Opt.: John 12:12-27) | Psalm 24

In writing liturgy, I attempt to be economical with words while addressing the events of the day in ways that help people find grounding in their faith. For readings, I refer to the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) and The Narrative Lectionary from The Working Preacher (NL). Paid Subscribers should please feel free to use any of the liturgical resources with or without attribution.

If you are like me, you see this war as one more example of hubris and greed run amok. Combined with Militarized Christian Nationalism, we are witnessing avoidable death and destruction in the region yet again.

If you want to hear from people in the region, The Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, is the group that supports the delegations that I lead to Palestine. My first interaction with them was in 2015, but over the past two years, I have gotten to know Sabeel: its actions, their theology, and the humans who make up the community.

It breaks my heart and enrages my soul to see what is happening in the region and how so many are being impacted by, not only this war, but also the ongoing actions of the United States, especially those who claim the Christian faith.

Below is a statement that was just released by Sabeel. Please take a read and if you want more resources and info ways to engage, sign up for the newsletters from Sabeel, Friends of Sabeel, North American, and The Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Peace,

NOTE: As of this posting, the Sabeel site is down.

A Statement From The Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Palestine

“They shall beat their swords into ploughshares… nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” — Isaiah 2:4

We, the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, speak from Jerusalem, a city that has known occupation and the machinery of war for generations. We speak as Palestinian Christians who believe, without reservation, that violence is never a solution. International law, while imperfect, remains the only framework humanity has built to protect the weak from the strong. We aspire to governments that uphold it as a covenant, not a convenience.

We are under no illusions about the world we inhabit: an era of power-hungry corrupt leaders who govern by manufacturing hate and fear whether in Tehran, Tel Aviv, Washington, Riyadh, Ramallah, or elsewhere. We issue this statement condemning the illegal and avoidable war of the United States and Israel on Iran, and calling the peoples of this region and the world to a higher vision.

As Sabeel, we name the following realities:

A Covenant Broken.

Just hours before the bombs fell on February 28, 2026, Oman’s Foreign Minister announced a breakthrough that Iran had agreed to accept full IAEA verification and never stockpile enriched uranium. Peace was within reach. The strikes came anyway. This is not a strategy. It is the deliberate destruction of diplomacy. We name it for what it is: a moral failure of historic proportions.

An Illegal War.

The attacks violated the UN Charter, which prohibits force against another state without Security Council authorization or genuine self-defense. Iran was not attacking either state. In the US, the war also lacked Congressional authorization. The laws that protect the weak must apply equally to all. When great powers exempt themselves from the law, the message to every aspiring oppressor is clear: power is the only law that counts. We reject this with every fibre of our faith.

The Image of God Desecrated.

Children killed in strikes on schools. Patients killed in hospitals. Every life extinguished is the desecration of the imago Dei. Palestinian Christians do not need to be told what it means to see children under rubble, for we have lived it in Gaza. Any ideology or theology that denies God’s divine presence in all living creation must be confronted and eradicated.

War as Profit.

Liberation theology demands we ask who benefits. The first 100 hours of war cost an estimated $3.7 billion. Arms manufacturers’ stocks rose. Oil surged past $100 a barrel, devastating the world’s poorest nations who had no vote in this conflict. The poor pay in blood and bread while the wealthy count their returns. We call out this structural sin of colonialism that has created economies that rely on exploitation and the manufactured death of the Global South.

A History of Catastrophe.

Iraq 2003 was sold as a war of liberation, yet it destroyed one of the world’s oldest Christian communities and reduced its population from 1.5 million to under 300,000. Iran’s revolution itself was partly a response to the CIA-backed coup of 1953. The seeds of Western military intervention in this region have yielded, with terrible consistency, chaos, extremism, and the erasure of its most ancient communities. We are that pattern’s most enduring consequence. You cannot bomb your way to a stable Middle East.

The Church Emptied.

Every major Western military intervention has been followed by the persecution of Middle Eastern Christians. When states collapse, extremism fills the void with minorities paying the first price. Western Christians praying over presidents launching these wars must reckon with what they are praying for: the destruction of their own sisters and brothers in the land where Jesus walked. The church here needs the West to listen, to stop, and, as Kairos Palestine declared, “to revisit theologies that support war, occupation, and injustice.”

Two Theologies.

This war reveals a clash at the deepest level between a theology of domination modeled after colonial power and a Palestinian liberation theology that is rooted in the Suffering Servant and modeled on a Christ executed by empire. Sabeel stands on the side of the cross, not the missile. We call on every church that has been silent to ask, “Which theology are you living?”

Therefore, we make the following call to action:

We do not end in despair.

Sabeel means “a spring of water.” Springs do not stop flowing because the desert is wide. We have seen apartheid fall. We have seen dictatorships crumble when the people refused to be afraid. We believe the arc of history will bend again toward justice because ordinary people, not armies, are the ones who bend it.

To the peoples of this region.

Iranians, Palestinians, Israelis, Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Iraqis, Saudis, Kuwaitis, Omanis, Yemenis, Bahrainis, Egyptians — we who are neighbours must unite in solidarity. Our conflicts do not serve us. They serve the arms dealers and corrupt leaders who need external enemies to justify their power. When we fight, we give the greedy their markets and the tyrants their mandates. When we see each other’s humanity, we take their power away.

To citizens with a vote, we ask you to use it.

Vote for leaders with vision and integrity. Delegitimize the morally corrupt with your voice and refusal to be afraid.

To the church worldwide: speak truth to power.

The prophets were not silent. Jesus was not silent. Neither should we be.

Justice will come. We will not stop working, praying, and speaking until we make it arrive.

Sabeel is an ecumenical grassroots liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians, committed to justice, peace, nonviolence, liberation, and reconciliation. In Arabic, Sabeel means “the way” and “a spring of water.”

I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. For paid subscribers (and last-minute worship planners), I also offer some liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary. Each offering is written on Wednesday and published on Thursday, allowing me to focus on current events or issues.

Sign-Up Today

Apologies again for the late posting this week. I got caught up settling into our new home and blatantly ignored all my notifications. Apparently, task reminders are pretty useless if the task isn't actually completed. Interesting.

In any case, this week has been a doozy. There is no shortage of things to pray for and about, the aftermath from shootings at a synagogue and university, the ongoing War in Iran, politicians doubling down on anti-Muslim rhetoric, weather extremes, labor disputes, and the devastating news that Ceaser Chavez has been accused of sexually assaulting young girls, and Dolores Huerta revealing that he raped her.

I know that many, most, some of us have developed coping mechanisms to avoid being overwhelmed or burned out by the onslaught of events, but everyone once in a while, it can and does get a little overwhelming. If that is a feeling you have been having lately, this prayer is for you.

Peace,

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When We are Overwhelmed #LetUsPray

God, from all sides, the pain greets me
from the stench of violence, greed, and war
from the disappointments of life
from the struggles of our loved ones
from the sorrows that have taken root in my soul

It is all so overwhelming
Please God, meet me here

remind me that I am living and listening with empathy
when I am overwhelmed by the miseries of the world

remind me that I when I am overcome by it all
the community will share the burden of the overflow

remind me that there will be times
I will hold the deluge on behalf of another

remind me that when I am exhausted from heartache
stepping away to rest is an act of care for the holy within

remind me that there will be a time
when I will be called to re-enter the fray

remind me that, as I go, I am equipped
with wisdom, courage, curiosity, and love

and remind me that through it all
You are there always.

For these things I pray

— AMEN

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, March 22, 2026: Fifth Sunday in Lent

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): | Ezekiel 37:1-14 | Psalm 130 | Romans 8:6-11 | John 11:1-45
NL434 Readings (CEB): John 19:1-16 | Psalm 146

Weekly #LetUsPray

I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. For paid subscribers (and last-minute worship planners), I also offer some liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary. Each offering is written on Wednesday and published on Thursday, allowing me to focus on current events or issues.

Sign-Up Today

Apologies for the late posting this week. We are in the middle of a move and took a few days to escape the chaos. Albuequreque was a lovely host!

Today's prayers could be applied to most struggles against injustice, but at this moment in time, one has risen to the top. I continue to be shocked that I can still be shocked by what comes out of the mouths of officials in the current administration regarding faith. If you had not seen this quote from Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, I apologize for ruining your day.

According to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation over 200 complaints have been filed after Hegseth instructed Non-Comissioned officers to tell their troops the following,

President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.

- Pete Hegseth (reported, 2026), prompting over 200 official complaints.

For those who believe that to have a theocratic Christian state of any ilk is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, this prayer is for you. Of course, I have many, many, many thoughts about what the church should be doing in times like these, but because the most prevalent feeling that is coursing through my veins is rage, I am doing this as a series of breath prayers.

For Those Fighting Christian Nationalism #LetUsPray

God with a deep and determined breath
and with the world at war before me
I pray —

Inhale: in my rage
Exhale: grant me righteousness

Inhale: in my bewilderment
Exhale: grant me curiosity

Inhale: in my disappointment
Exhale: grant me understanding

Inhale: in my sorrow
Exhale: grant me time

Inhale: in my narrowness
Exhale: grant me humility

Inhale: in my truth
Exhale: grant me nuance

Inhale: in my resistance
Exhale: grant me tenacity

Inhale: in my alienation
Exhale: grant me community

Inhale: for those who suffer
Exhale: grant me awareness

Inhale: for saints before me
Exhale: grant me gratitude

Inhale: for the unaware
Exhale: grant me fluency

Inhale: for those new to the fight
Exhale: grant me generosity

Inhale: for my enemy
Exhale: grant me empathy

Inhale: in my pessimism
Exhale: grant me hope

Inhale: in my indifference
Exhale: grant me tenacity

Inhale: in my weariness
Exhale: grant me rest

Inhale: in my journey
Exhale: grant me joy

God, at a depth of my spirit
where only You can know
For these things I pray

— AMEN

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, March 15, 2026: Third Sunday in Lent

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): | 1 Samuel 16:1-13 | Psalm 23 |Ephesians 5:8-14 |John 9:1-41
NL434 Readings (CEB): John 18:28-40 | Psalm 145:10-13

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Where to start? Honestly, I have had so many thoughts and reactions over the past week. Listening to the mental gymnastics the politicians are using to justify the attacks on Iran, seeing the complexity of reactions of my Iranian friends who are carrying both relief and wariness, and thinking about generational repercussions that have been put into play, I am exhausted.

As I have been discerning where to direct my energy, I have been thinking a good deal about my response as a Christian during this time. Far from a follower of a militarized, conqueror version of Jesus, I simply lean into the difficult challenge he makes to us all: love your neighbor. This is not an easy task to accept, nor is it a welcome lens with which we view our "enemies" of the day, yet this is our calling.

It is in these times when it is so tempting to turn inward or lash out that I am forced to turn to prayer: to comfort, to encourage, and to challenge me to be the human that I believe God intends. This week's prayer focuses on one of the attributes that I deeply believe Jesus modeled for us and calls us to embody, especially now: Empathy.

For Empathy During a Time of War #LetUsPray

Let us pray —

God, we know empathy will not win this war
— but it will instigate a future of peace
Empathy will not topple regimes
— but it will liberate collective imagination
Empathy will not destroy weapons
— but it will disrupt our tendency toward violence
Empathy will not solve generational hatred
— but it will open us up to generational healing
Empathy alone will not guarantee peace
— but without empathy, peace is not possible

God, during this time of war
when our government wants us to choose
destruction over discourse
nationalism over faith
and mercilessness over empathy
grant us the courage to choose Your way.

When empathy is too difficult to mine from within
— God, grant Your people grace
When empathy causes chasms of conflict
— God, grant Your people persistence
When empathy solicits reactions bound by hate
— God, grant Your people fortitude
When empathy makes clear the holy within our enemy
— God, grant Your people reassurance
When empathy becomes exhausting and overwhelming
— God, grant Your people rest

And God, embolden Your people
to live a life of unapologetic empathy
in a world that would prefer it if we didn't

For these things we pray

— AMEN

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, March 8, 2026: Second Sunday in Lent

RCL Year A: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42
NL433: John 18:12-27, Psalm 17:1-7

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Forgive the unapologetic #parentbrag post, but my spouse recently stumbled upon this short story written by our youngest child when she was 12-years-old. It gave us a welcome pause during a news cycle of war. I am certain that I was not writing like this in the 6th grade, but Rooftop TK-8 had a way of drawing out the creativity and love of learning from its students.

In any case, Annie gave me permission to share this in case you also need a little distraction. It was originally written using Google Docs and there has been zero editing to correct grammar or spelling (there are some fun ones). Fair warning, this looks like it was a Halloween assignment, so it definitely takes a turn.

"The Snipe" by Analise Pugh, age 12

“Now we got bad blood, you know it used to be mad love,” my family sings as we drive to the campground. We are going camping at Big Basin National Park. my whole family is coming my dad, who is currently driving the car. My mom, who is currently telling my dad directions, and my sisters and I. We go camping every year, well it's more like glamping (glamour camping). WE have a working sink and stove. We also use heaters in our tents. The car is filled with anticipation and excitement. 

We get there and immediately start unpacking. My sisters, Evie and Abby, and I are sharing a tent. We build our tent, organize our stuff, and go help mom and dad set up the stove. We finally get the “kitchen” set up when my parents suggest my sisters and I go snipe hunting. 

“So what are we looking for exactly?” I question as we tramp through the damp woulds.

“All I know is that you have to be quiet, so you don’t scare them off,” replied Abby.

“Which means you need to stop breathing so loudly, Abby, the whole campground can hear you,” says Evie

“Then you need to stop walking like you have wooden legs,” Abby responds. 

I bend down to look at a flower as they continue to bicker. I feel a droplet of water land on my nose. “Let's go back it's starting to rain,” I say as I look up and realize my sisters have left. I sigh and start to go back to the campsite.As I walk I hear a twig break, thinking it was no big deal I keep walking. Then I hear a bush rustle. As I turn to face the noise I pick up a long stick. Ready to face the creature, I step forward.

When the creature emerges I realize I am no match for it. As it creeps closer, I don’t even try to run. I have done it, I have found the snipe, or more it has found me. But no one will ever know, that's why the snipe is a mystery. It circles around my feet, and it slowly starts climbing up my leg. Its at my torso, then neck. And finally it reaches my head, it lets out a sound, like nails on chalkboard, and then everything is black. All I see is black.

Epilogue: The snipe is an interesting creature, staying a mystery to everyone. The snipe goes unnoticed, and undisturbed for the most part. The snipe is a peaceful creature, except of course to those poor souls who disturb it. Annie’s body was found in the woods where she found the snipe. The family is devastated. No one knows what happened, to everyone it looks like she just dropped dead. The detectives are ruling hypothermia, but you and I know what really happened. Oh, and the snipe of coarse.

Not sure how the murder theme so easily flowed from her keyboard, but I am sure some parental media laxness with the young child played into it. Still, someday this kid will write a book. Thanks for indulging this proud parent, and I hope it offered a good break in the day.

Peace,

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pito = "seven" in Tagalog

It's been a minute since my last Beverages with Bruce! Thanks for hanging out and being patient. These first few months have been a doozy — of my own making and of unexpected events.

As always, Paid Subscribers get pics and a much more detail (the first one was unlocked), but here is a quick summary of today's head, heart, and gut check-in.

Like the rest of the world, we woke up this past weekend to the news that the United States and US-Backed Israel had begun a bombing campaign in Iran. Like many, I have thoughts (And will write more later), but this weekend also happened to be one that forced us to campatmentalize, acknowledge the privilege of our current situation, and get through a weekend of joyful chaos.

• Bruce's Beverage: Making myself at home at my WeWork location. I have recently become a Yeti person. Today and most days, it is filled with a sugar-free vanilla latte with an extra espresso shot.
• RCP Family Move Update: And, just like that, our time in San Jose has come to an end. This week, the movers came to take a bulk of our life to storage and then we tetris-ed the van something fierce and moved into our temporary housing in South San Francisco.
• Year of the Horse: As we do every year, we host my Chinese side of my family's annual Chinese New Year celebration. We figured that most of our furniture would be gone, so why not hold it the day before our big move? It was joyous and chaotic time of our own making.
• OrangeTheory as my Third Space: I took my final class at my home studio. While I will visit on occasion, it was bittersweet to say goodbye to the coach, staff, and members. Here is the farewell IG Reel from the studio. So sweet.
• Book Update: Books seven and eight have been turned in, and number nine is in process.
• Panini Generation: February had me at the hospital nearly every day as a family elder spent two weeks dealing with some health issues.
• Health Update: Hard to believe my bout with COVID was four years ago. My latest round of blood tests continues to show me moving in the right direction.
• Vocational Updates: More discernment than expected. Could someone just tell me which path to take, kthxbai.
• From the Camera Roll: Our worldly possessions in a 10x17 Storage Unit

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Among so much more, this past week's headlines have been overwhelmed by the Supreme Court tariff ruling, the State of the Union Address, and ongoing negotiations with Iran. In the past week there were also six mass shootings as tracked by the Gun Violence Archive. In that time, six people were killed and 26 others were injured. 32 lives. 32 lives of people connected families, friends, and communities. The total number of people whose lives have been changed forever by gun violence is too great to measure — and that was just last week.

And yet, politicians and public services are doing nothing. No, legislation alone will not solve the epidemic of gun violence and our addiction to guns in the United States, but it must be part of the solution. The conversations must be had. And yet **crickets** with not even "thoughts and prayers" offered. It is enraging, and yet, I refuse to give up hope that change can happen — even in the halls of government.

Today I offer another prayer from a contribution that I made to the upcoming resource, How Long Oh God: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence. It will be free to folks from the Office of Public Witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The next time a shooting headline whizzes by, please take a moment to pray for all involved, remembering

For Those Who Live in Terror #LetUsPray

Let us pray—
or politicians, policy makers, and legislative bodies
who have the power to address gun violence in the United States.

They offer “thoughts & prayers”
without concrete action
so even the most heartfelt condolences
are received as disingenuous & hollow

God, I plead that Your spirit intercede into the world in miraculous ways
In halls of power
In committees
In localities
In courthouses

Give them the courage to risk positions of power
Give them wisdom to find solutions that make sense
Give them the fortitude to stand up to powers that will fight them
And give them reassurance that they are doing what is
beneficial to the Body Politic and the Common Good.

God, public servants are not saviors,
but partners in the realization of what can be
a future when children can learn without active shooter drills
a future when people can gather without the ever-present spectre of gun violence lurking about
a future when guns are not so desired or accessible
a future when the response to death by gun is not more guns.
a future when, after the next tragedy strikes,
“thoughts & prayers” are offered with truth and integrity
and they are received as intended
because action has proven those words to be true.

For this future, I pray.

— AMEN

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, March 1, 2026: Second Sunday in Lent

RCL Year A: Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9
NL432: John 13:1-17, Psalm 51:7-12

🧑🏽 Your Host, Bruce Reyes‑Chow Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is a 3rd Generation, GenX, Filipino/Chinese American and an active speaker, writer, coach, and podcaster on topics of faith, leadership, activism, culture, race, and technology. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he also works with organizations on immigration, decarceration, and Palestinian liberation. He is the author of six books, most recently (https://bookshop.org/a/82176/9781506495699?ref=reyes-chow.com) Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith (https://bookshop.org/a/82176/9781506495699?ref=reyes-chow.com) with his next book, "Prophets, Priests, Pastors & Poets: Being and Becoming the Ressurected Christ," due out in Fall 2026. You can subscribe to his newsletter and podcast, The Amalgamation at www.reyes-chow.com (https://www.reyes-chow.com/) and connect on most social platforms via @breyeschow. He and his wife live a thriving empty-nesting life in the San Francisco Bay Area. ✊🏽 About Our Guest Britney Winn Lee is an author, editor, and United Methodist pastor living in Shreveport, Louisiana, with her creative husband and big-hearted son. Her books include The Boy with Big, Big Feelings; The Girl with Big, Big Questions; The Kid with Big, Big Ideas; Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice; Deconstructed Do-Gooder: A Memoir about Learning Mercy the Hard Way; and Good Night, Body: Finding Calm from Head to Toe. With a master's degree in nonprofit administration and her local pastor licensure, Lee has worked for over a decade in faith- and justice-based, creative community-building. She writes to make room for all people of all ages. 1. Website: britneywinnlee.com (https://www.britneywinnlee.com/) 2. Twitter: @britneywinnlee (https://twitter.com/britneywinnlee) 3. Instagram: @britneywinnlee (https://www.instagram.com/britneywinnlee/) 4. Facebook: @britneywinnlee (https://www.facebook.com/britneywinnlee) 🎧 Episode Summary In this episode of The Amalgamation, host Bruce Reyes-Chow sits down with author, nonprofit leader, and seminarian Britney Winn Lee to explore her newest book, Sacred Curiosity: Wondering Our Way Toward Holiness. Together, they unpack what it means to practice curiosity in a time when nuance feels scarce and certainty is often rewarded over depth. Brittany shares how asking “the next question” can open up scripture, relationships, and even ourselves. The conversation moves beyond theory into the urgency of the present moment. In a world marked by political upheaval, cultural tension, and global crises, is curiosity naïve — or is it a radical act of love? Bruce and Brittany reflect on how curiosity might sustain connection across disagreement, expand our understanding of holiness, and keep the door open to new stories when division feels easier. This episode is thoughtful, grounding, and deeply relevant, an invitation to slow down, dig deeper, and rediscover wonder as a spiritual practice. 💌 Thanks for Listening! The Amalgamation Podcast (https://bit.ly/AmalgamationPod) , paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter (https://bit.ly/AmalgamationSubscribe) , focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. It is hosted by (https://www.reyes-chow.com/) Bruce Reyes-Chow (https://www.reyes-chow.com/) , produced by Emmie Hix, and edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. The Amalgamation Podcast Bookshop Bookstore (https://bit.ly/TheAmalgamationPodGuestBooks) and all show inquiries can be sent to: theteam@reyes-chow.com. 🏷 Tags / Hashtags #TheAmalgamationPodcast #TheAmalgamation #StorytellingForChange #ProgressiveChristianity #PodcastLife #Interfaith #FaithAndJustice #SocialJustice #Solidarity #ValuesInAction #CommunityCare #SpiritualLeadership #RestIsResistance #LeadingWithValues #FaithInPublicLife #HopeInAction #GoodInTheWorld #DeepConversations #ThoughtfulVoices #MeaningfulMedia #HeartAndMind #FaithPodcast #ProgressiveFaith #PodcastRecommendations #ListenAndLearn #SacredCuriosity #SpiritualFormation #ChristianAuthor #NuanceMatters #CuriosityAsLove #Holiness #WritersOfFaith

I will be leading my fifth Solidarity Delegation to Palestine in partnership with Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (Sabeel) and Friends of Sabeel, North America.

This will be another opportunity for folks to gain depth and add texture to their Palestinian activism and advocacy by hearing from and getting to know Palestinian siblings living under occupation and apartheid. We will hear stories of injustice, struggle, and violence — and we will experience the beauty and power of the people, the land, and the culture. This will also be an opportunity for people to engage in resistance tourism by supporting Palestinian businesses that have suffered from the lack of tourism since October 7, 2023.

For more information be sure to read this entire post, attend one of the inforamational meetings below, email me directly, add your name to the Interest Form and/or watch the interview I did with a previous delegation member.

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS (60 minutes)

Registration is required. These meetings will not be recorded. If you cannot make one of these meetings, please be in touch and we can schedule something.

• Saturday, March 14, 2026, 9:00am PT
• Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9:00am PT
• Sunday, March 29, 2026, 4:00pm PT [REGISTER]
• Sunday, April 19, 2026, 4:00pm PT [REGISTER]

TENTATIVE DATES: JULY 4-13, 2026 (10 days, 9 nights)

• Thursday, July 2: Most US Departures (Due to Dateline)
• Saturday, July 4: Arrive Jordan by noon for Orientation
• Sunday, July 5: AM Jordanian Border Crossing
• July 5-13: with Sabeel
• Monday, July 13: AM Border Crossing back to Jordan
• Monday/Tuesday, July 13/14: Depart Jordan

ESTIMATED COSTS*: $3500-$4,500 depending on flights

• Room, Food, Ground Travel: $2,000 ($200/day single, $400 less for double)
• Flight: $1,500-$2,500 (We highly recommend refundable tickets)
• Visas, Border Fees, Tips, etc: $300 (These are estimates and may change)

OTHER INFORMATION:

• This delegation is a solidarity delegation, with the primary purpose of hearing stories and returning to act on and share them. We are not chasing war zones, nor will we engage in any activism unless the community asks.
• The Delegation will be around 20 people, though we will be flexible.
• Priority will be given to first-time visitors to Palestine, though all are welcome.
• Through grants, Sabeel heavily subsidizes these delegations in exchange for the advocacy delegations' pledge to undertake upon their return. There are also many grant and scholarship programs that people can apply for. Sabeel is also a Christian Ecumenical organization, so, while many faiths have been on delegations, folks must be aligned with Sabeel's mission and purpose of justice, peace, and liberation.
• My role will be to coordinate the delegation on the US side, help with orientation in Jordan, facilitate the border crossings, and generally help to lower anxieties for you all and your families/communities as needed. I may have a co-leader (TBD).

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

• All interested humans must attend an Informational meeting or have a Zoom call with me. After that, registration forms, once available, will be sent out.
• To reserve your spot, you will need to fill out the registration form, submit a non-refundable $200 deposit, and present a Passport valid through 2026.
• The Delegation will have two orientation meetings, a group chat, and lots of support from Sabeel and FOSNA staff.
• Full payment is due two weeks before the delegation begins.

If you have any questions, please email me and/or add your name to the Interest Form for ongoing updates.

Peace,

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This weekend, after months of fighting his deportation, a community organzier who many of us had been supporting was arrested by ICE. While I would love to tell you about his resilience in the face of life's struggles and his courage in the face of injustice (both true), today I need to remember that even the bravest among us have moments of terror and fear. I do not know what he felt when he was surprised by ICE as he left his home on his way to turn himself in, but for him and countless others, I can only imagine the terror that people are today. Rather than falling into the trap of "moving on" as a way to avoid conflict, this week's prayer sits in the middle of terror and fear as best as it can — maybe it will be enough to make us realize that this is no way to live.

For Those Who Live in Terror #LetUsPray

Let Us Pray —

For those who live in terror today, we pray
For those who must hide their terror, we pray
For those who have known terror for generations, we pray
And for those who have chosen to reign terror upon others, we pray.

God, in the face of struggle, the world tells us
be resilient
be brave
do not be afraid
just move on already

You know that terror and fear are real
terror traumatizes
terror intimidates
terror menaces
terror paralyzes

God, be present with your beloved
however and wherever terror is felt

be with individuals who live in terror
with the stranger who lives in terror of isolation
with the friend who lives in terror of violence
and with everyone who lives in terror of the unknown.

be with families who live in terror
with the guardian who lives in terror that they will not come home
with the child who lives in terror that their parent will not return
with anyone who lives in terror of the abuser in their home.

be with communities who live in terror
with those who live in terror of gun violence
with those who live in terror of economic betrayal
and with those whose terror has been ignored.

be with those who live in terror of poverty
the terror of hunger
the terror of eviction
and the terror of sickness.

be with those held captive by institutions of terror
the terror of incarceration
the terror of environmental injustice
and the terror of militarism.

be with those to dismiss the terrorized
the privileged
the powerful
and the perpetrators.

and be with those who terrorize
may they know Your presence in their lives
may their souls break open to see You in others
and may they have the courage to resist
when powers and principles call upon them to terrorize again.

For all these things we pray.

— AMEN

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Sunday, February 22, 2026: First Sunday in Lent

RCL Year A: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11
NL431: John 11:1-44, Psalm 104:27-30

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Please consider becoming a Free or Paid Subscriber today.

subscribe

Here is the trailer for Episode 82 of The Amalgamation Podcast — Sacred Curiosity: A Conversation with Britney Winn Lee

The full episode drops on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To gain immediate access to today's episode and for early access to all future episodes, become a paid subscriber today.

Be sure to grab a copy of Britney's book, Sacred Curiosity: Wondering Our Way Toward Wholeness on Bookshop where you can also find past Amalgamation guests' books in The Amalgamation Podcast Bookstore.

The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good.

The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron.

Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team.

Thanks for listening!

Here is the trailer for Episode 82 of The Amalgamation Podcast — Sacred Curiosity: A Conversation with Britney Winn Lee The full episode drops on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://bit.ly/TheAmalgamationOnApple) , Spotify (https://bit.ly/TheAmalgamationOnSpotify) , YouTube (https://bit.ly/TheAmalgamationOnYouTube) , Podbean (https://bit.ly/TheAmalgamationOnPodbean) , or wherever you listen to podcasts (https://bit.ly/AmalgamationPod) . To gain immediate access to today's episode and for early access to all future episodes, become a paid subscriber today (https://bit.ly/AmalgamationSubscribe) . Be sure to grab a copy of Britney's book, Sacred Curiosity: Wondering Our Way Toward Wholeness (https://bookshop.org/a/82176/9798889834694) on Bookshop where you can also find past Amalgamation guests' books in The Amalgamation Podcast Bookstore (https://bookshop.org/lists/the-amalgamation-podcast) . The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter (https://www.reyes-chow.com/about/) , focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow (https://www.reyes-chow.com/about/) , produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland (https://dessireemcfarland.com/) , with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team (mailto:theteam@reyes-chow.com) . Thanks for listening!