I think we've done this before, but what the heck. It's the Fourth of July.

let us pray* for our community, the world, and all those in need.

let us pray* for our community, the world, and all those in need.

Here's the prayer of confession we've been using at Salem this summer:

Apologies for being late. We were at an extended-family function in Madison, started back a little late. Besides, the weather's crazy here.

Prayer below the fold.

I'm getting several, actually. One of my best friends, a guy I've known literally all my life, is here, and we're going to see the Brewers play tonight. I'm sure the kids have something in the works, and of course we'll have family dinner with a strawberry-Oreo cake that I'm looking forward to.

And praise be to God, this damn primary season is coming to an end.

But there is one more gift out there, just one more thing that you could do for me, actually.

Maybe I'm just moody or something - it's been a long week. But this seems like just the word of comfort I need at the moment:

in the summer, I usually have my congregations hold a hymn sing before the formal beginning of worship. We pick out three or four songs and do a couple of verses of each. The folks in the pew always seem to enjoy it. It lets them sing the songs that I might overlook or not select ordinarily.

Today was the first Sunday of hymn sings for this summer, so naturally their thoughts turned toward the patriotic songs.

let us pray* for the creation:

for his health, his recovery, and for his continued leadership.

Pray for the skill, compassion and wisdom of those who care for him, and for the people of Massachusetts.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions.

2 Peter 2:1*

People are happy and excited now that an end is finally in sight for this godawful primary season. No reason they shouldn't be: it's tough on everybody. But we should resist the temptation to read uncritically every apparent piece of good news for Barack Obama. There's been a fair amount of baloney published already about the presumptive nominee, and more to come.

On this Mother's Day, let us pray:*

Let us pray:*

From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation,
Deliver us.

From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want of charity,
Deliver us.

From lightening and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine,
Deliver us.

From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared,
Deliver us.

In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,
Deliver us.

It's going to be an early night for everybody at Casa Pastor.

Oh he did not. He did NOT.

Kos did not just deliver himself up for the sacrifice like that, did he?

He did.

Bwa-haha...

Here are just a few of the many extreme beliefs that I hold, ergo Kos now holds:

Let us be at peace within ourselves.

in honor of the life of Madison the German Shepherd, let us recall the blessings bestowed on all creation:

A hymn below the fold.