Juicy Fruit

25Oct
‘Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. …. I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.’ 
-Matthew 12:33, 37


Our usual Saturday morning writer is taking a little break right now to attend to his family. So for the next few weeks we will adapt and listen to what the Spirit is saying in a variety of ways.  


This past week, my friend, Cathy, re-acquainted me with a prayer/poem by John O’Donohue, from his book, To Bless the Space Between Us. This has become the motto and aspiration of our stewardship message this season, and it reminds us - as this rather polarized scripture passage does - to take care of what we say and do. How do we steward our time, our actions, and our words?


I am generally a morning person, so that is when I most often pray. However, at times in my life when I find it difficult to sleep, I go to the night prayers. This blessing is meant to be used at the end of the day - or perhaps today, at the end of the week - to help us to focus on how we chose to use the time given to us. It really caused me to pause and think about how precious our lives are, and how much opportunity flows between us to love, to receive love, and to cherish life.  May we all produce some juicy fruit!

Musical Reflection- Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson - The Main Squeeze


At the End of the Day: A Mirror of Questions


What dreams did I create last night?

Where did my eyes linger today?

Where was I blind?

Where was I hurt without anyone noticing?

What did I learn today?

What did I read?

What new thoughts visited me?

What differences did I notice in those closest to me?

Whom did I neglect?

Where did I neglect myself?

What did I begin today that might endure?

How were my conversations?

What did I do today for the poor and the excluded?

Did I remember the dead today?

Where could I have exposed myself to the risk of something different?

Where did I allow myself to receive love?

With whom today did I feel most myself?

What reached me today? How deep did it imprint?

Who saw me today?

What visitations had I from the past and from the future?

What did I avoid today?

From the evidence - why was I given this day? 


-John O’Donahue, Blessing the Space Between Us

PrayerPentecost

Posted by Maria Elliott

Maria Elliott has been Trinity since 1994, first as a parishioner and then for sixteen years establishing the office of stewardship and development, and currently as the Director of Pastoral Care and Spiritual Life. 

WIth a degree in Music and Business from Drake University in her native state of Iowa, Maria went first to New York to work for a concert artist management and then for the Arts department at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  At the Cathedral, Maria was confirmed, met and married her husband, The Reverend Michael Kuhn, and began an accidental career in the Episcopal Church. She has served on the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, the boards of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, as a Stephen Minister, and currently Education for Ministry Mentor.

Maria’s interests include playing the oboe in the New Orleans Civic Symphony and she is currently training to be a Narrative Enneagram mentor. Her daughters, Hallie Wilkins and Sophie Bedaña are Trinity School alumni. Maria has two grandchildren, Celeste and Alden Wilkins.

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