Holy Week 2026

 Palm Sunday at St. John's Lutheran in Clinton:

Preparation, Prophesy, Procession Matthew 21:1-11

Maundy Thursday in Swansea at Good Shepherd Lutheran:

Mandate Thursday - Love One Another John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Good Friday in Swansea at Good Shepherd Lutheran:

Forgiveness: "Father, forgive them.  They know not what they do" Luke 23:20-34

Salvation: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:35-43

Relationship: "Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother." John 19:23-27

Abandonment: " My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:45-49

Physical Suffering: "I, thirst." John 19:28-29

Completion: "It is finished." John 19:30

Trust: "Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit." Luke 23:44-49

http://SistersofMercy.org

 

Sunrise at L.O. Rast Park in Swansea:

"Do NOT Be Afraid" Matthew 28:1-10

Easter Sunday in Swansea at Good Shepherd Lutheran:

 "Who Did They Meet? What Did They See? How Did They Feel?" Matthew 28:1-10

The Unjust Steward Begins with the End in Mind

Luke 16:1-13 -  Why is Jesus complimenting a shifty protagonist in this passage (Charles B. Cousar, Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol 4, p. 97)? The dishonest manager is saving his bacon, but he has a plan and sets about achieving it with a single-mindedness the children of God have lost . . . Somewhere along the way we've lost our eternal perspective of who God is and who we are in relationship to God.  Too easily we separate life as it is now from life in the future kingdom.  Instead we serve pressing demands of people, of schedule, of money . . . we have buried our treasure (Helen Montgomery Debevoise, Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol 4, p.96). Your heart will always be where your treasure is (Matthew 6:21). We have misplaced our faith in the one who provides.  We work from a scarcity mindset instead of a mindset of abundance. "Letting go is to have and keeping is the way to lose" (Scott Bader-Saye, Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol 4, p. 96) .

The unjust steward cultivates relationships and so should we.  What must happen for us to offer solidarity with the least of these? When we connect with God, we join a movement that wants to see people thrive! 

The steward dismantles the landlord's system of gaining wealth. Maybe, unbeknownst to him, his choices are exposing the unfairness of the existing payment structure (G. Penny Nixon, Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol 4, p. 97)?!

You can't play Simon Says with two people being "Simon" at the same time (Rev. Norbert F. Hahn, Augsburg Sermons for Children, series C, p. 107).  You can't serve God and wealth.  God chooses scoundrels every day to grow the kingdom!  God is working through you to love in BIG ways💓#keepshowingup  #Godiswithus #loveyourneighbor #careforcreation #itsaboutlove

Joyful Well-BEEing at Good Shepherd, Columbia

 

Thank you for the invitation to share today! Thanks for snapping pictures, Pr. Mary📸

Be strong and flexible with deep roots and resilient branches🌳

Breathe like the butterfly

Be VERY, VERY YOU💗

BEE-Well Bracelets to remember our day☺

Let's have more fun together!

Message Sister D'Etta for the link!

Do you have a cause you would like to do a donation yoga class to support?

October 3-5, 2025, Camp Mikell, Toccoa, GA

These sessions will be in person at Pisgah Lutheran or contact Sister D'Etta for a Zoom Link!

Take Time Apart Before Your Come "A Part!"

Want to rest and renew in a place far from home??? Let's go to Moshi, TZ💙💚💛❤

Here's my weekly schedule:

https://sites.google.com/view/sisterdb/home/schedule

Live a BIG life today and EVERY DAY🌞

half the fun is getting there

Tammy and I are in Amsterdam🇳🇱 Our delay in Atlanta has us rebooked for a flight to Tanzania tomorrow🇹🇿#halfthefunisgettingthere 

focus on what we can do

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DPe8lX8PrfiGXg5GtZ70KNXQy4HwP_VC/view?usp=sharing (16:01 minutes, audio recording)

We are unconditionally loved, accepted, and embraced by our Savior God through our baptism! We don't need to impress God.  We don't need to compare ourselves to others. We need to put our hand to the plow and focus our minds and hearts on Jesus!  We will pay attention to where God leads us!  

[3rd Sunday in Pentecost, Luke 9:51-62]

We're in charge of what we think, where we look, what we say, how we feel, and what we do! #circleofcontrol #celebratingdeterminedfollowing #Godisalwayswithus #befruitful #GodgivesuswhatweneedtodowhatGodcallsustodo #befaithfulnotsuccessful

Grandparents C3ARE Bracelets

 Oh, what an amazing experience be a C3ARE Counselor at Lutheridge this summer with Lyddie Loo and Kaitlyn too!!

 Here's the bracelets we made with the grandparents during Bible Study time on June 10 💞

question mark charm: ASK questions, clarify understanding, make sure you're getting what the other person is laying down, DO. NOT. ASSUME.

rabbit charm: Be the Rabbit and LISTEN!

chicken charm: talk less, listen more

gift charm: the opportunity to be together and walk together through life's ups and downs is a gift🎁

Bible charm: this is the foundation!🕮  Read so God can work through God's words.

tool charm: You have all the tools you need to the work God is calling you to do!

dove: Feel God's peace and share God's peace.

I Can Do Hard Things charm: YES! You can!!

butterfly charm: for transformation and new creation🦋, exercise neuroplasticity=your brain can keep learning your whole life long!

heart with cross charm: God is ALWAYS with us♱

Mary's Prayer

 "My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, and my spirit rejoices in you, 

You have looked with love on your servant here, and blessed me all my through."

Charms

Sing - Sing a song of praise!

Warrior - Practice Warrior I, II, III or Humble or Reverse Warrior

Praying Hands - Spend time being still and quiet to "know."

"I Can Do Hard Things" - Repeat affirmation 3x.

Owl - Twist right and left to be open to possibilities of how God is calling you to share His love and light today!