Where Heart and Mind Meet

Chrysalis, Crater and Crypt, part II

Shannon Michael Pater — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:46:06 +0000

Crater In 1992, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, long-standing religious and ethnic tensions erupted into violent, armed conflict. For 44 months, from April 1992 until December 1995, war ravaged the region. Over 100,000 people were killed and 2 million were displaced; it was the most devastating loss of life in Europe since World War II. …

Chrysalis, Crater and Crypt, part I

Shannon Michael Pater — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:05:12 +0000

Chrysalis Every truth has a consequence; every light casts a shadow. Atlanta really didn’t have “winter” this year; I’m not sure it ever even really reached freezing at my house. Some celebrated its absence, but I didn’t. I missed it; I need the four seasons. The cadence is a deep spiritual rhythm for me: birth, …

Reflecting on Psalm 23

Shannon Michael Pater — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:09:35 +0000

O my Beloved, you are my shepherd, I shall not want; you bring me to green pastures for rest and lead me beside still waters renewing my spirit, you restore my soul. You lead me in the path of goodness to follow Love’s way. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow and …

Living into Easter

Shannon Michael Pater — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:11:16 +0000

The Gospel for this Sunday (22 April 2012), Luke 24:36-48, is a continuation of the Easter story; however, the disciples were “startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost” and doubts arose in their hearts. In his conversation with them, Jesus “opens their minds.” The “alleluias” have returned to worship, but during …

“Good” Friday Revisited

Shannon Michael Pater — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:46:56 +0000

Tonight we enter the “shadows” of Holy Week through a service of Tenebrae. (“Tenebrae” comes from the Latin for “shadows” or “darkness.”) During a series of readings, hymns and choral anthems, twelve candles will gradually be extinguished and the Christ candle removed to a sepulcher. It is our most solemn service of the year; after …

Looking Back on Lent

Shannon Michael Pater — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:27:28 +0000

Tonight we enter the Paschal Triduum: the three service days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. They are worship services of awe and mystery; they move from table, to tomb, to frail whispered “alleluias” from women, and finally to the great acclamation: ”Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!” These services bid …

Practicing Giving Self by Giving Alms

Shannon Michael Pater — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:17:30 +0000

In his sixth and final Lenten guest article, Rev. Lou Kavar takes us through the history and theology of Holy Week (or Great Week) from the perspective of Eastern Christianity. If you wish to continue following Rev. Lou, you may find plenty of his work, including his seven published books, at www.loukavar.com. ____________________________________ We …

Fasting: Can it be Relevant for Us?

Shannon Michael Pater — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:26:30 +0000

Once again, Rev. Lou reviews and retools a spiritual discipline through the lenses of Eastern Christianity. This week, fasting. As a good spiritual guide and companion, he invites us to take another look at something we might have missed or disregarded. __________________________________________________________ Of the traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving, I suspect that …

Prayer as Dialectical Tension

Shannon Michael Pater — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:07:48 +0000

In his Lenten blog submission for this week, Rev. Lou continues to remind or expand our awareness of Christianity in the Eastern tradition. His focus on the “dialectic of prayer” invites us to explore again our experience, belief and practice concerning prayer. _________________________________________________ Across the Christian tradition, perhaps the most consistent association made with Lent …

Sermon Revisited: Mercy, What a Mystery

Shannon Michael Pater — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:49:09 +0000

In his sermon on Sunday (18 March), Rev. Lou reflected on a portion of the letter to the Ephesians (2:1-10). He noted that the theme of the letter is the unfolding of what the writer calls a mystery: that in the course of time, all things that divide people will be brought into a fundamental …