Blacksburg Presbyterian Church

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”  —Psalm 24:1

"Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good."   — Maya Angelou

From our houses and our homes, you call us. From our work and our worry, you call us. From our planning and striving, you call us. You call us and promise to feed us with the bread of heaven and the cup of hope. Come, let us turn our hearts and worship.

"A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so."  — Chinua Achebe

O God, “By your giving, break our cycles of imagined scarcity, override our presumed deficits, quiet our anxieties of lack. Transform our perceptual field to see the abundance . . . mercy upon mercy, blessing upon blessing.”   —adapted from Walter Brueggemann

"I feel as if I could at any time resign my life and the responsibility into God's hands, and become as innocent and free from care as a plant or stone." --Henry David Thoreau

"Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God." --George Washington Carver

"We shall awake from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper we will respond to its endangerment with passion." --Hildegard of Bingen

We meet in the name of God, Creator of the universe, source of true humanity, mother and father of all. Amen. We meet in the name of Jesus, Word made flesh, savior of fallen humanity, lover of all. Amen.  We meet in the name of the Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of life, midwife of new humanity, inspirer of all. Amen. Come then, eternal God be present here, befriend us here, renew us here. (from...

“True friends are always together in spirit.”  ― L.M. Montgomery

“You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” —Malcolm X

The world belongs to God, the earth and all its people. How good and how lovely it is to live together in unity. Love and faith come together, justice and peace join hands. If the Lord’s disciples keep silent, these stones would shout aloud. Lord, open our lips and our mouths shall proclaim your praise.

In divine mystery and human care you sustain us, O God, though often we fail to recognize such wonderful gifts. We confess that worries command our attention. All too frequently, pursuing material things and personal pleasures top our list of priorities. We are often numb to our spiritual hunger. Forgive us, we pray. Set us free!

Sacred wind, come blow on us Let us feel your presence Holy Earth anchor us Nourish our frames Illuminating fire burn ever brighter Reflect your truth Life-giving water Restore and baptize us Amen.

Thought for Meditation:   “…perfect love drives out fear…” —1 John 4:18

"Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known? Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?"   -- John Bell, "The Summons"

“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” ― Audre Lorde

“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” —John Lewis

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF EVE by Ansel Elkins Wearing nothing but snakeskin boots, I blazed a footpath, the first radical road out of that old kingdom toward a new unknown. When I came to those great flaming gates of burning gold, I stood alone in terror at the threshold between Paradise and Earth. There I heard a mysterious echo: my own voice singing to me from across the forbidden side. I shook awake—...

Lord God, open unto us. Open unto us— light for our darkness, courage for our fear, hope for our despair. Open unto us— peace for our turmoil, joy for our sorrow, strength for our weakness. Open unto us— wisdom for our confusion, forgiveness for our sins, love for our hates. Open unto us— your Self for our selves. Lord, our God, open unto us. -- adapted from Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman

Come, let us worship in mystery and in truth the One in Three, Three in One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Speaker, Word, and Breath of Life, Lover, Beloved, and Love itself, God who was, God who is, God who is to come. Our minds strain to comprehend, but our hearts hear your call. We are here to worship You.

“…as the dancing tongues of fire, as the soul’s most deep desire, so it is with the Spirit of God.”  —Shirley Erena Murray

"Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is unique as is his specific opportunity to implement it." — Viktor E. Frankl

Fill our worship with grace, Lord Jesus Christ, that every thought, word, and deed may be acceptable to you, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

“When you have been truly loved, it nourishes you even from beyond the grave.” ― Marty Rubin