Nancy Springer

Gratitude and Community

It’s been a difficult week for words. I want nothing more than to speak peace and comfort into the anxiety and pain so many of us are collectively experiencing but I’m not sure I have the right words. I do know that regardless if the results of this election week are what you want themContinue reading “Gratitude and Community”

We are blessed when we bless

The Lectionary readings for Sunday, November 1, 2020Revelation 7:9-17Psalm 34:1-10, 221 John 3:1-3Matthew 5:1-12 Just about a year ago I wrote a post on The Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments in my series on Compassion. If you have time, I encourage you to read it here. To live the beatitudes requires us to change ourContinue reading “We are blessed when we bless”

Is It I, Lord?

I woke up with this song in my head this morning. When I hear it, I imagine pelicans flying along the waves of the ocean and I’m fairly certain the connection between this song and that scene comes from Jurassic Park, but that has absolutely no bearing on what I’m going to write about hereContinue reading “Is It I, Lord?”

Not My Agenda

As I begin this blog, I attempt to make no assumptions about who might or might not read these posts. I’ve learned how easy it is to fall into the thought patterns of “I’m leading worship in an Episcopal church and these wonderful folks are sitting in Episcopal pews, singing songs from the Episcopal hymnal,Continue reading “Not My Agenda”

Living Sunday School

When I was in Seminary at Wycliffe College in Toronto, our Evangelism professor sent us out on scavenger hunt style assignments around campus sometimes to find specific things and sometimes to discover what best fit the prompts. To be honest, I can’t remember (after all it was almost a decade ago…) many of the detailsContinue reading “Living Sunday School”

God Created and Loves…

In this season in which we find ourselves, as we are beginning to restructure how we do most everything in light of the pandemic and as we stand in long lines to vote (don’t let the long lines or the news or false rumors about voter fraud discourage you – VOTE! You do matter andContinue reading “God Created and Loves…”

The Gift of Disruption

Originally posted on March 30, 2020 We’ve all been given this beautiful gift of disruption. It may not look beautiful on the outside. Our schedules had been completely undone. Our security seems to have left us. What we thought we had under control is in chaos. Life doesn’t feel beautiful or gift like or goodContinue reading “The Gift of Disruption”

Seeing Clearly

Originally posted on February 8, 2020 “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in yourContinue reading “Seeing Clearly”

Awareness

Late last summer, after the shootings in El Paso and Dayton and Odessa, I began writing about growing our compassion. I firmly believe that if we work more diligently, with God’s help, at seeing other people and the situations in which we find ourselves as Jesus would see, the world will be better. Compassion requiresContinue reading “Awareness”

I Ask You Why

Originally posted on June 6, 2020 I’ve been struggling these past two days with what to say. I want my words to be compassionate but I’m angry. And I’m desperately heart-broken. So, I’m working at it. I cannot comprehend how anyone could justify using teargas and force to clear a church yard of people whoContinue reading “I Ask You Why”