It feels like every conversation I have had or note I have sent over the past few years has begun with some version of "Despite the weight of the world, I hope you are finding joy." I do this because I do not want to normalize the struggles of the world around us, nor do I want any of us to allow the world's suffering to define our entire existence or our experience of it.

It is a lot to ask of ourselves, I know. It is exhausting to simultaneously seek joy, resist the normalization of cruelty, and accomplish everyday tasks that keep our lives moving forward. I am right there with you. And yet, one act of resistance against what is being inflicted upon society by the current presidential administration is to refuse to do what they want: to turn on another.

I thought about this as I stood in line at the Post Office this morning. The branch was supposed to open at 9:00, and at 8:55 there were three of us in the queue (apparently I'm English now). At 9:05, a few more joined the line, and at 9:10, a few more joined, and the grumbling began. At 9:15, the muttering increased in volume and frequency, until someone started pounding on the door in hopes of getting someone's attention. At 9:20, a few folks left in exasperation, some with colorful commentary spoken into the abyss. And then at 9:30, a counter person showed up. She thanked us for our patience, and the line of about 20 people was let in.

Yes, I was a little frustrated by the whole thing and might have had to leave if I had other commitments, but mostly all I could think of was how the Post Office has been enduring endless attacks on its very existence. Because this administration does not value the Post Office as worthy of federal support and expects it to be profitable, post offices in rural communities will close, postage is being increased, retirement contributions are being paused, and there is a self-inflicted staffing shortage.

I have no idea why the worker was late, but that doesn't matter to me. The Postal System and the workers are being set up to fail. While the worker was apologetic for being late and was efficient with all of the customers, can you imagine what it would be like to work under this kind of national microscope? If your job is no longer seen as a needed service and worthy of federal support, what is the motivation? Having a good work ethic and pride in a job well done only goes so far when you are being asked to do more with less and witnessing your own government buy into the myth that privatization is the solution.

FTR, I see the Post Office, like public education and universal healthcare, as a service for the people and should not be measured by its annual bottom line. Our government seems willing to find billions of dollars for wars of choice, gaudy ballrooms, and retaliation slush funds, so this is not about financial prudence for the people, but about prioritizing and consolidating wealth for the rich.

But back to this morning's events. What was experienced here was the convergence of hubris, saviorism, and greed, disguised as fiscal responsibility. First, this President and his administration believe that if they declare the Postal Service no longer worthy of support because of its inefficiency, it should be taken as fact, and all actions should be based on this new "truth." As planned, this creates conflict, confusion, and chaos that leads to the deterioration of services and morale – which reinforces their point. Then, when the chaos and turmoil erupt and begin to impact the public, they step in and offer "reasonable and responsible" solutions to a situation they created in the first place – all the while gaslighting anyone who calls them out. And lo and behold, those solutions benefit those who are poised to become even wealthier at the expense of those who rely on the US Postal Service for services beyond mail delivery.

And yes, I did have enough time to actually think about that this morning while waiting in line – 30 minutes, in fact. When the wait was over, and it was my turn, I approached the counter with openness and empathy. Thankfully, I was not the only one who chose a path of understanding. Since most of the really frustrated folks left, there was almost a "don't worry, this environment has got to suck" vibe from more than a few. I choose to believe folks understood the contextual complexity of the situation, found the courage not to lash out in frustration, and chose kindness as an acknowledgment of what another human must be going through.

While this was not a huge public act of resistance, it was a moment when a group of people somehow chose a different path – and, as cheesy as it may sound, many small acts of resistance can add up to outright revolution. If you were in line this morning at the Catalina USPS, thank you for doing your part.

For the rest of you rabblerousers, don't miss your chance to do likewise, whether at the Post Office, the DMV, or at the barricades.

Peace,

** While I know that no one was waiting on bated breath for my next think piece, thank you for your patience with my lack of content these past months. Honestly, as I think back over the past few months, my lack of production has been a combination of not believing I have anything helpful or new to offer and the reality that I've been swimming in a swirling pool of self-inflicted and welcomed celebrations and transitions. No complaints, just where I have been. But . . . with one kid married, one kid moved, my last book project nearly complete, and my settling in at the new church, I have cleared some writing space and will share more to honor your support.

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.

Looks like summer has begun. As I reflect on my transition to Pasadena Presbyterian Church, plan family vacations, and engage in "normal" life activities, the weight of the world continues to tug at my soul. I share this not to shame or guilt, but to simply acknowledge how easy it is for us to normalize life when others are suffering. As I reflect on the many privileges afforded to me and my family, I continue to center my life on "the work" to make this possible for all people.

A stark reminder is this note from our friends in Gaza.

[6/1, 12:36 PM]: Hello Robin, Bruce and their family
[6/1, 12:36 PM]: How are you all
[6/1, 12:39 PM]: This period is very bad. Life is tense, and there is indiscriminate bombing everywhere. We have had the worst Eid al-Adha ever. There is no joy, no Eid gifts, no sacrifice. There are no signs of happiness or celebration for the holiday. Where I live, there are frequent evacuations, destruction, and killing.

Our family does what we can to help financially, and we certainly lift our friends up in prayer, but we also vote and act in ways that we hope will make a difference in their lives. And this is yet only one family who happened to connect with us two years ago. It is overwhelming, and sometimes paralyzing, to think of so many who are suffering in isolation.

So today, I commit again to keep at it. And this week's section of my Faith Montage grounds me in that work. This week's sections: what it means to be GROUNDED in the presence of God.

Grounded in the Presence of God #LetUsPray

Let us pray —

I am GROUNDED in the presence of God.
God knows me.
God sees me.
God loves me.
And that is enough.

God is with me.
God has been with me.
God will always be with me.

Through crawling minutes and blurred decades, mundane whispers and shouts of magnificence, awkward encounters and an impassioned embrace, brisk breezes, warm skies, cool fog, living deserts, flourishing forests, living water, the farm, the field, the town, the suburb, the streets, and the city,

during protests, parties, feasts, and funerals,

at coffee shops, clubs, stages, pitches, courts, corners, classrooms, playgrounds, porches, barbershops, dining tables, couches, screens, and every unexpected holy space:

Through and in it all, God is known to my soul,
and I am reminded that I am known by God.

— Amen.

Thanks for hanging out here. You will notice that I added a section to the liturgical resources. I am having the church read through the Belhar Confession over the summer, so I have included that Affirmation of Faith. Also, I may be posting this note on Wednesdays at noon-ish from now on, as my workflow is shifting. We shall see.

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 7, 2026

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Genesis 12:1-9 and Psalm 33:1-12 | Hosea 5:15-6:6 and Psalm 50:7-15 | Romans 4:13-25 | Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
NL Summer Readings (Ruth & Esther) (CEB): Ruth 2:1-23 (Gleaning and Hope) and Luke 6:36-38 (Give and It Will Be Given)

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.

How is it almost June?

I was having a conversation with someone this week about activism, faith, and the church. We talked about the need for our actions to be rooted in and grounded in an understanding of our faith. Elements of our faith will shift and change over time, but for people of faith, we will make the strongest impact if our actions and our activities are rooted in our beliefs.

Yes, this seems pretty basic, but I have found that when I am feeling a little bit off-kilter, I need to stop, take a breath, and ask myself why I am doing what I am doing. Maybe the disorientation is justified, but sometimes it becomes clear that I have bought into motivations that are not worthy of my energy, time, or resources. That feeling inside is the Spirit poking and prodding to check myself.

This conversation, combined with the reality that there is a month of self-inflicted chaos ahead of me with our family Bay Area move and my move to Pasadena to start my time as the p/t Transitional Pastor at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

What I am going to do is to share my "Statement of Faith," or as I titled it in Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith, my "Faith Montage." I am sure you will not agree with everything, but I hope some of these passages will speak to your soul.

If you're interested, I am in the process of litanizing (Is that even a word?) the entire montage and creating slides for folks to use. Also, if you are a Paid Subscriber, you can get a PDF of the entire montage (See below) for personal or congregational use.

I begin with the belief that, in life and in death, I belong to God.

I am Known by God #LetUsPray

Let us pray —

I choose to believe that, in life and in death, I belong to God.
God stirs my soul.

In the morning, life-giving first breath fills my lungs.
God stills my spirit.

In the evening, the calm of the night flows through my body.
God moves me.

The Holy One beckons me forth,
through bands of light,
into coves of darkness,
woven into rainbows,
and amid the in-between and unknown—

All the while, with every tender breath,
I am reminded of God’s hoping, yearning, and dreaming
that I grow into all I am intended to become.

I am GROUNDED in the presence of God.

God knows me.
God sees me.
God loves me.
And that is enough.

God is with me.
God has been with me.
God will always be with me.

Through crawling minutes and blurred decades,
mundane whispers and shouts of magnificence,
awkward encounters and an impassioned embrace,
brisk breezes, warm skies, cool fog, living deserts, flourishing forests, living water,
the farm, the field, the town, the suburb, the streets, and the city,
during protests, parties, feasts, and funerals,
at coffee shops, clubs, stages, pitches, courts, corners, classrooms, playgrounds, porches, barbershops, dining tables, couches, screens, and every unexpected holy space:

Through and in it all, God is known to my soul,
and I am reminded that I am known by God.

— Amen.

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, May 31, 2026

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): 1 Samuel 2:1-10 | Psalm 113 | Romans 12:9-16b | Luke 1:39-57
NL Readings (Ruth & Esther) (CEB): Ruth 1:1-22 (Loss and Loyalty) Accompanying text: Matthew 5:3-9 (The Beatitudes)

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.

Antisemitism, Islamophobia, conflating Judaism with Israel, and the rise in anti-Muslim hate speech by public leaders have led to too many deaths, grief, rage, and trauma — that will take generations to heal.

This week, there was another shooting reportedly driven by white supremacist ideology. Just another day of gun violence in America. It seems society, as a whole, has become numb to the bloodshed and has resigned itself to the idea that our addiction to guns and the epidemic of gun violence are normal and unavoidable.

I get it, being overwhelmed by the number of issues confronting society today, but we must not become more indifferent to gun violence — the terror it causes, the grief it creates, or the retribution it generates. We must not normalize young people filled with hate, students being traumatized at school, or the growing rollcall of heroes who give up their lives protecting others. Instead, we must continue to raise our collective voices and act in ways that say there is a different way of living in a world of conflict and confrontation. We must keep working to change the political will of our public servants as well as our cultural connection to guns.

For those who continue to scream this from the mountaintops, thank you, and please don't stop.

The following prayer is one I submitted for the project, How Long, Oh Lord?: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence (Code BRC for 20% off). The number of instances of hatred being lived out through gun violence can be paralyzing and overwhelming, so if you need a prayer, I hope this prayer helps...

When Hatred and Gun Violence Collide #LetUsPray

let us pray —

god of every hue and every human,
gun violence, fueled by hate, is not your will.

the depth of our sorrow cannot be measured
as groans of grief vibrate in our bones
and the needless loss of life surpasses understanding

but what can we expect when we live in
a culture that justifies hatred
because of who one worships
because of who one loves
because of where one was born
because of what one looks like
because of what one does
because of one’s passions
because of one’s politics
because of how one simply moves through the world

. . . and, god, often this hatred is sown in your holy name.

and what can we expect when guns are so deeply embedded
in our culture when guns are gamified without discretion
when guns are glorified as tools of power
when our response to gun violence is more guns
when gun profit has more power than human potential
when guns are too easy to get
when global siblings have shown us a different way
when we have lost our ability to embody nuance, embrace sensibility, and mine wisdom.
when it feels like we have thrown up our hands and given up.

god, we have lost our way.

and yet, god, you have greater expectations for us
you expect us to choose a path of life over death
to choose possibility over profit
to choose acceptance over exclusion
to choose grace over retribution
to choose discernment over disregard
to think
to pray
to act
and above all
to choose love over hate.

for these things we pray — amen.

For those of us who have been personally touched by gun violence, whenever these things happen, feelings and memories come flooding back. If that is you, you are seen and held by many in the same way I am sure see and hold others.

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

The Day of Pentecost, May 24, 2026

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30 | Psalm 104:24-34, 35b | 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21 | John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39
NL442 Readings (CEB): Acts 2:1-21 | Philippians 4:4-7 | John 14:16-17

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.

walo = "eight" in Tagalog

It's been a minute, but I'm back. The past few months' activities have been a wee bit overwhelming with a wedding, an unexpected church gig, and our moving extravaganza 2026 — all good and self-inflicted.

Here are the public cliffsnotes with more details, photos, and chismis for Paid Subscribers to follow. In no particular order...

• Bruce's Beverage: Because corporate Philz decided to drop all pride flags (eventually reconsidering), I have not had Philz in quite a while.
• One Wedding: Eldest got married in April. We danced, we ate, we cried, we laughed. It was lovely. We are so happy for and proud of them.
• Gun Violence Prayerbook: The prayerbook has been released. I've shared a few here, but if you want to get copies, buy them here and use promo code, "BRC" to get 20% off.
• PPPP Book Update: The big edit for Prophets, Priests, Pastors, & Poets: Being and Becoming the Resurrected Christ and the accompanying Advent devotional, Possibility, have been submitted.
• RCP Family Moving Saga: Completely self-inflicted, we are in stage two of three in our move. We should land in our permanent-ish location by the end of the month.
• Middle's Adventure: Middle is moving to New York, so I am squeezing as much time in between now and the time they leave as I can 🥹
• Speaking of Adventures: June 1, I begin a part-time Transitional Pastor position at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. If you are in the area . . .
• Canceled: Sadly, the folks at Sabeel and I decided to cancel the Educators, Librarians, and Archivists Solidarity Delegation to Palestine that I was planning to lead in July.
• Bridge Pastorate: Not planning much before I head to Pasadena, I just wrapped up a quick Bridge Pastorate at the Presbyterian Church in Burlingame. My resume is going to look like I cannot hold a job.
• The Pod: The Amalgamation Podcast is really having a glow up now that I have brought on a Producer and Editor. If you have not subscribed, you can find it wherever you listen.
• Apple No More: With my Mac showing its age and the GoogleBook on the horizon, I am making this switch back to a Chromebook. My refurbished Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 arrives any day now, and once it goes into the backpack, I will be apple-free.
• Sight and Sounds: Our recent binges have been Douglas is Canceled and Hope Street on Britbox. I have also got back into K-Drama with Undercover Mi$$ Hong. Bruno Mars's newest album, The Romantic, and my Love's In the Melody Radio Playlist are repeat.

Here is the trailer for Episode 86 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Oliver Ma, Candidate for CA Lt. Governor

Disclaimer

Full transparency, our family is supporting Oliver with our social juice and our financial resources. If you like what you hear and read, please join us and give some $$ to the campaign!

Join our Team

Because election day is so close, we are releasing the both the trailer and full episode this weekend, so be sure to subscribe 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.

About Oliver: 

Oliver Ma is a Civil Rights Lawyer and Democratic Socialist running for California Lieutenant Governor. Growing up in an immigrant family in Southern California, one of his most formative memories is his grandma getting racially profiled and almost sent to an immigration detention center. He learned then that justice and change is something you have to fight for. So, to fight for his families, he went to UC Berkeley for his undergrad, and Harvard where he studied to become a lawyer. Since then, he has fought for working people in and out of the courtroom, representing families against their slumlords, training thousands of volunteers to fight ICE, and litigating lawsuits to stop illegal immigration raids in California.

Connect to the Campaign: 

• www.oliverma2026.com
• Mobilize for Oliver Ma 2026
• Give through the RCP for Oliver Team Page

Connect with Oliver on the Socials

• TikTok: OliverMa2026
• Instagram: OliverForCa
• Facebook: OliverMa2026
• YouTube: OliverMa2026

The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses onsocial justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, with 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!

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.

Apologies for taking last week off. I have been finishing up my time as the p/t Bridge Pastor at Burlingame Presbyterian Church, and it has been a wild ride with these lovely folks. I now get a few weeks' break, then head down to Pasadena Presbyterian Church to serve as their p/t Transitional Pastor.

For those who do not track my every pastoral move, I occasionally take on a short-term, part-time Bridge Pastor role. I am usually asked to pastor a church through some kind of conflict or transition that requires some pastoral tending. This has also meant that, over the years, I have had to say goodbye quite a bit.

For those going through some kind of transition (good or not-so-good) that requires leaving a place of work, worship, or anywhere you have developed relationships, this prayer is for you.

For those interested, here is my farewell sermon at Burlingame Presbyterian.

For When We Leave #LetUsPray

let us pray —

god, as i leave this place
let me leave with grace
let me leave with generosity
and let me leave with wisdom

with the grace you offer
allow me to release responsibilities i no longer carry
allow me to let go of resentment that may never be resolved
and allow me to move into what is next, unburdened by what was

with the generosity you grant
make known the places where I have grown here
make known the depth of relationships that i leave behind
and make known to others the gratitude i have for them

with the wisdom you instill
grant me the foresight to take time to breathe
grant me the courage to reflect from deep within
and grant me the discipline to leave well

for these things we pray — amen.

One of the most important words of counsel that I have ever received is this: "The strength of your legacy is determined by how you leave." As I have worked with departing pastors and have gone through this myself with varying degrees of success, these are good words to hold onto during any time of leaving.

Peace,

PS: If anyone already had this Hamilton diddy ringing in your ears . . .

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 17, 2026

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Acts 1:6-14 | Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 | John 17:1-11
NL442 Readings (CEB): Philippians 2:1-13 (CEB)

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.

How Long, Oh Lord?: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence

For prayers that address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States, purchase a copy of How Long, Oh Lord?: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence and use promo code “BRC” for 20% off.

Purchase How Long, Oh Lord

If you find this weekly prayer, liturgy, or any other aspects of The Amalgamation meaningful, I would not hate it if you shared the joy with others through giving Gift Subscription or purchasing a Group Subscription.

Here is the trailer for Episode 85 of The Amalgamation Podcast — We Mend with Gold: A Conversation with Kristin T. Lee

The full episode drops on Tuesday, May 12, 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 Kristin's book, We Mend with Gold: An Immigrant Daugter's Reckoning with American Christianity on Bookshop where you can also find past guest books at The Amalgamation Podcast Bookstore.

The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses onsocial justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, with 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!

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.

We are quickly approaching high school graduation season.

Honestly, after walking three kids through the ever-intensifying college admissions process, I do not miss it. As much as we tried, we all got sucked into the admissions rates game and did our best not to gauge our level of excitement by external (and manipulative) numbers. We were pretty good, but every once in a while, one of us, parents or graduates, caught ourselves wondering how so-and-so got into X University with a 5.7% admission rate. It was not always pretty 😔

Our kids were set up with all of the privileges that allowed them to attend four-year schools, but not all graduates go to college, and not all young people even graduate from high school. These folks are often forgotten during these times when we sometimes let our genuine pride make others feel excluded.

To be clear, I am not anti-college (though in the age of A.I. one may want to rethink that Computer Science major). Higher education is important, even vital for some, but we must be careful not to communicate that a young person's worth is not based on graduating from high school, going to college, or even having a clue about what they want to do next.

With all of these things stirring the souls of many, I leave you this prayer.

For High School Seniors #LetUsPray

let us pray —

god of transitions and change
during this season of graduations

remind us, again and again
not all young people are hopeful about the future
and we must lament the world we have created

remind us, again and again
there is much they have left behind
and we must give them room to mourn what was

remind us, again and again
not every graduate knows, "what's next"
and we must encourage curiosity and patience

remind us, again and again
by choice or by circumstance
not all graduates go to college

remind us, again and again
that the measure of our pride
is not based on acceptance rates

remind us, again and again
that "letting go" looks different for everyone
and there is no right way to enter this next stage of life

in whatever place these young people find themselves
remind them again and again
their worth does not come from a high school diploma
their worth does not come from college admission
their worth does not come from having a plan
their worth comes from God

may we surround the graduates in our lives
to be their reminder — again and again

for these things we pray — amen.

If you are a parent sending off your first or third kid to college, embrace the tears! And if you are a young person leaving your parents, let them hover and help just a little bit longer.

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 3, 2026

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): Acts 7:55-60 | Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 | 1 Peter 2:2-10 | John 14:1-14
NL442 Readings (CEB): Sermon at Athens: What you worship as unknown, I proclaim to you. Acts 17:16-31 | John 1:16-18

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.

How Long, Oh Lord?: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence

For prayers that address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States, purchase a copy of How Long, Oh Lord?: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence and use promo code “BRC” for 20% off.

Purchase How Long, Oh Lord

If you find this weekly prayer and liturgy offering or any other aspects of The Amalgamation meaningful, I would not hate it if you shared the joy with others through giving Gift Subscription or purchasing a Group Subscription.

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.

Apologies for skipping a week, but these past few weeks have been more packed than usual. Last week our Eldest child got married (shameless photos in paid section). It was a lovely day. We had very little to do with it other than raising one beautiful human. I also began a two-month Bridge Pastor term at First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame. I dip back into congregational life a few times a year and it is always quite the ride getting back up to speed on staffing, pastoral care, and preaching.

As I reflect on these two developments in my life, I am reminded how lovely the world can be. This wedding introduced us to a new part of our family, we were given the gift of meeting our kids' extended community, and we could take a step back and be proud of this human and our child. Being back at a church, I'm reminded of the privilege it is to be someone's pastor; to hear their most tender hopes, to be present in the face of their struggles, and to gather with the people of God and strive to be the church in today's world.

I admit it: in the face of so much ugliness before us 24/7, there are times when I lose sight of the possibilities God may be revealing and allow myself to get weighed down by the suffering and struggles of the world. While I do not advocate that people ignore the ongoing groans of the world, I think it is vital that we notice the joys around us and remember that love and joy will have the last word.

It is through this unapologetically joy-colored lens of God in the world that I offer this prayer.

For the Gift of Expansive Joy #LetUsPray

let us pray —

holy one, through the smoke and haze of global turmoil
seeing, believing, and embracing joy is often difficult
the weight of suffering around us is overwhelming
and constricts our ability to believe in another way

we feel shame, remorse, and heartache
when we see abundance all around us
for laughter, while others weep
for plenty, while others scrape by
for safety, while others run for cover
for life, while others face death
and for hope, while others despair

yet, you remind us over and over again
to rejoice in each day that you have made
to see joy in hope and patience
and that joy comes in the morning

let us not hide and hoard the joys of life
let our view of you not be narrowed by our despair
and let us not turn inward while others reach out

under the brilliance and beauty of your joy,
give us the wisdom to navigate the complexities of life
give us the courage to explore the expanses of creation
give us the humility to move closer to you
and let our lives be lived in response to your joy
so others may do the same.

for these things we pray — amen.

May the rest of your week be filled with more than a few many moments of joy.

Peace,

LITURGY AND PREACHING PROMPTS

Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2026

RCL Year A Readings (NRSV): | Acts 2:42-47 | Psalm 23 | 1 Peter 2:19-25 | John 10:1-10
NL442 Readings (CEB): Acts 16:16-34 | Luke 6:18-19, 22-23

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.

How Long, Oh Lord?: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence

For prayers that address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States, purchase a copy of How Long, Oh Lord?: A Prayerbook Concerning Gun Violence and use promo code “BRC” for 20% off.

Purchase How Long, Oh Lord

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Here is the trailer for the special 2-Part Series on The Amalgamation Podcast — We Went to Palestine: A Conversation with Cece Armstrong, Tony Larsen, and Jihyun Oh

This series is sponsored by The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and The Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church USA. Please take a moment to follow them and learn more about both organizations!

The two full episodes will drop on Tuesday April 21 & 28, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To gain immediate access to both episodes and for early access to all future episodes, become a paid subscriber today.

About this episode...

CeCe Armstrong is one of the pastors at St. James Presbyterian Church in Charleston, South Carolina and one of the Current Co-Moderators of the Presbyterian Church USA. Cece has served in a number of church leadership positions, including serving as co-moderator of the National Association of Presbyterian Clergywomen and writing for Presbyterians Today magazine and the Presbyterian Outlook.

Tony Larsen is the Pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Surfside, South Carolina, and makes up the other half of the Presbyterian  Church (USA) Co-Moderator team with Cece. Tony has served in a number of capacities in the church, including Co-leading the Synod Youth Council for the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic and being a member of the Planning Team for Montreat Youth Conference.

And finally, Rev. Jihyun Oh. Since summer 2024, she has been the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and because she does not have enough to do, she also serves as Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency (Newly titled denominational office = Life & Witness). She is the first Korean American to serve in the denomination’s highest office, only the second woman, and the first woman of color elected to lead the PC(USA) in its more than 300-year history in the U.S.

Take my word for it, in the Presbyterian world, these three are a big deal, and I am so grateful that they took time to share their experiences in Palestine with me.

And a note for the non-Presbyterians in the house. While all four of us are ordained ministers in the Presbyterian Church USA, and we do let our PresbyNerd flag fly a couple of times, you don’t need to be a Presbyterian to get something from our conversation.

Thanks for spending time with The Amalgamation, and I hope you enjoy part 1 of my conversation with Cece Armstrong, Tony Larson, and Jihyun Oh.

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!

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,

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 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,

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, 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.”