O my Father, I have moments of deep unrest — moments when I know not what to ask by reason of the very excess of my wants.  I have in these hours no words for Thee, no conscious prayers for Thee.  My cry seems purely worldly;  I want only the wings of a dove that I may flee away. Yet all the time Thou hast accepted my unrest as prayer.  Thou hast received the nameless longings of my heart as the intercessions of Thy Spirit.  They are not yet the intercessions of my spirit; I know not what to ask.  But Thou knowest what I ask, O my God.  Thou knowest the name and need which lies beneath my speechless groan……. Thou knowest that because I am made in Thine image I can find rest only in what give rest to Thee; therefore Thou hast counted my unrest unto me for righteousness, and has called my groaning Thy Spirit’s prayer. –George Matheson

“SILENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL IS

ITSELF EVIL: GOD WILL NOT HOLD US

GUILTLESS. NOT TO SPEAK IS TO SPEAK.

NOT TO ACT IS TO ACT.”

– DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father Amighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day he arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence he shall judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiving of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

At this particular time in my pilgrimage I find these words clarifying, inspiring and wonderfully encouraging.  My prayer is that you will as well.

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed  us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. –BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

George Fox University is hosting

Parish Collective 2010:

A Roadshow of Local Mission

Date: Tuesday  June 8th
Location: George Fox University, Portland Campus
Time:  6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Street:  12753 S.W. 68th Ave.
City:  Portland, OR

For more information see

Behold! A graced new world has come upon us. We are in it.  We are also clothed with it. Those in Christ are now clothed with the Spirit from heaven.  Jesus promised us that he would not leave us alone, but that the Spirit would be with us. And so now we are wearing the raiment of a new world — a world soaked through with the presence and character of God.

We live simultaneously in a “brave new world” as well. It is the world of Adam, a world still deeply and profoundly shaped and scarred by the militant occupation of sin and death. This brave new world is that place where the humans and their societies are caving in on themselves.

Oppression , tyranny, poverty, racism, environmental degradation, conspicuous consumption, and many other ailments are disturbing expressions of the world of Adam.  Scripture testifies that sin and death entered into the world through one man’s disobedience.  Scripture also testifies that one man’s faithfulness, that of Jesus of Nazareth, has led to the emergence of a new world.

The Spirit clothes us with the power to live faithful and sacrificial lives that sing of a coming new world. It is a world that reflects the love, mercy, and justice of God. In the book of Acts we are given a snapshot of a community of friends clothed with the power of heaven.  What happens is quite startling. They share their lives, food, shelter, songs, and the different worlds they inhabit.

In our world, what does it mean to be clothed with the raiment of heaven? We still live in the world of Adam, a world characterized by violent and oppressive relations between people representing different worldviews.  In such a world, the hope of Easter and the promise of the Spirit bring us to a stance of resistance to these things.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are adorned with the raiment of a graced new world.  ANTHONY SMITH, page 157, The Mosaic Bible