Pondering the Empty Dear Mayfield, Today is the fourth day of the great Fifty Days of Easter, stretching from Easter Sunday until Pentecost. A year ago today, April 15, 2019, a great fire gutted much of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. On Good Friday there was a service in the fragile remains of Notre […]

Dear Mayfield, Here is the link for the Easter Bulletin. The final linked material is a beautiful song “Rise Up.” The link to YouTube for that song may include some seconds of ads at the beginning.  You can skip most of them after the first few seconds. A skip ads box will appear on the […]

Dear Mayfield, Web Notes provides a series of thoughts and information to keep strong our connections in these days and weeks of physical isolation. Today, I want to briefly write about two things that are important in our pandemic worship. First and foremost, we worship from scattered locations to collaborate consistently with the profound efforts […]

This post contains a link for this evening’s Maundy Thursday worship. The format is a bit different from earlier Sunday services and includes written, audio, and video pieces. These are the materials you can set up ahead of time at home to fully participate in the service. Hand lotion or oil for the hand massage. […]

Dear Mayfield, One of my favorite things about the physical setting of Mayfield is that the wise seasonal rhythm of the year is always there to be seen and experienced as a mentor in our lives. When mindful of that rhythm, we might see potential grace in these difficult days. Many of us are more […]

A Parade?  Really? Palms were the branches that were available in Jerusalem. The long-standing tradition in northern Europe, where there are no palm trees, is to use pussy willow branches for Palm Sunday. Early spring branches, wherever we live, those with buds or perhaps their first hints of leaves or blooms, are the ones to […]

Dear Mayfield, This has been the most unusual season of Lent for me across decades of ministry. Now, when we aren’t crossing one another’s paths in person, we are trying as a household of faith to be deliberate in maintaining our connections and staying present with one another. Many years ago in his book Learning […]

Dear Mayfield, Last Sunday’s home reflection and worship materials explored two things that happened on the road when Martha went out to meet Jesus following the death of Lazarus. In balance during their meeting was a space that held all the feelings of anger, despair, and grief that Martha was bearing and also the occasion […]

Coming Into Pain and Peace Beginning with Breath:  As you take several slow deep breaths, inhale for four counts, pause for four counts, exhale for four counts, rest for four counts. (repeat slowly x6)  This is known as SOS breathing. When we focus on our breathing and slow it down, it tends to counteract stress […]