tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-139773982011-06-07T23:39:34.482-07:00This blog continues to morph. The focus is on the gospel message to preach good news to the poor, release of the captives, and the year of the Lord's Jubilee. Perhaps these words and pictures can make a contribution to bringing about the Kingdom Jesus imagined in the BeatitudesRobyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger471100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-80038448369007229962008-07-10T21:27:00.000-07:002008-07-12T19:54:33.877-07:00

Sunset LaneI am settling into the parsonage on Sunset Lane with my daughter’s dog, Buster. Although we were both basket cases last week, with stress and anxiety, this week we are having fun. There is drudgery and work to be done so we unpack several boxes every evening. Our reward is the sunset walk we take each evening as the sun is going down.The high desert sunsets are magnificent, unlike

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-26492267815302095422008-06-29T13:35:00.000-07:002008-06-29T13:39:16.344-07:00

God surprises me.Just when I am certain that I amwhole and complete without a mate,God surprises me.All I ever wanted in a manwalks into the roomand offers me his hand.“You will need a friend,”he says,“lean on me.”(why does he have to be so cute)This is not part of my plan.Danger! Trouble! Complications.Is anyone watching?Does anyone notice as the world shifts?A new paradigmis about to begin,

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-57023175409966328262007-08-11T10:43:00.000-07:002007-08-11T11:10:02.833-07:00

The past week was interesting on a number of levels. While I was attending a summer session course at Pacific School of Religion called "Jesus for the Nonreligious" taught by Bishop John Shelby Spong (also the author of a book by that title), the financial markets were gyrating and financial folks were panicking all over the world.Human beings cling to myths. Much of what Christian

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-65486513229943625912007-04-08T13:47:00.000-07:002007-04-08T13:59:33.700-07:00

I had the honor and pleasure of helping with the planning of the annual Good Friday Liturgy at Livermore Labs. For over 20 years, people of faith (Christians and others) have gathered at the fence outside of the Livermore Nuclear Laboratory in Livermore, California to witness against Empire and for peace and justice... in the tradition of Jesus Christ. I have attended many Good Friday liturgies,

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-74574071438694683972007-04-05T20:52:00.000-07:002007-04-05T20:59:20.419-07:00

I cannot help but comment on the absurdity of the news of the record breaking amounts of money that Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Barack Obama are raising. The most absurd comment was a headline saying Obama has proven he is a legitimate candidate because he has raised almost as much money as Clinton.Think about it for a moment... The United States is trying to claim Iraq for "Democracy". We

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-19223518044578399812007-04-05T20:41:00.000-07:002007-04-05T20:51:55.485-07:00

In 2000, members of the United Nations agreed on a goal to cut global poverty in half by 2015. We are halfway to that goal, yet we have fallen short in part because of the materialism and lack of action by the developed nations. Part of the problem is well-meaning people of faith view the problem and solutions so differently.The research and writing of George Lakoff and the Rockridge Institute

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-36301495302655719182007-04-02T16:06:00.000-07:002007-04-02T16:31:22.588-07:00

It is hard to talk about compassionate capitalism in a world where consumer debt has become a crisis. Even though there is a growing movement for corporate social responsiblity, much of the focus has been on the environment and worker rights. Not enough people are talking about the inordinate greed of the industries that our the core of our consumerism -- banking, credit card companies, consumer

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-83578439185660281292007-03-29T11:33:00.000-07:002007-03-29T11:35:54.144-07:00

Four years ago, I would never have considered any other option. I have the soul of an entrepreneur, and I worked with other creative passionate entrepreneurs for years. I understand the desire to develop an innovative product or service and deliver something to the marketplace with an objective of enhancing life. At its best, entrepreneurship and capitalism encourage individual creativity and

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-29427178854777768832007-03-25T20:13:00.000-07:002007-03-25T20:19:45.814-07:00

We need a campaign, a massive people-powered cross-sector collaborative effort to end the United States’ addiction to military warfare. We need a comprehensive campaign designed to elect the love that seek justice – to bring about a world where the power of love is stronger than the love of power. We need to enlist the support of faith communities, green and socially responsible businesses, and

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-4206123766473284412007-03-21T20:44:00.000-07:002007-03-21T20:48:59.500-07:00

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-24836347159945496722007-03-20T15:38:00.000-07:002007-03-20T15:41:28.018-07:00

If anyone had told me a year ago, that I would get arrested in conjunction with my Pacific School of Religion field education experience, I would never have believed them. After all, I grew up with a deep respect for justice and law and order because my father was the County Attorney in our small rural county.Within the first month of working with PeB I watched (from a safe distance) the

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-76581621385834490362007-03-19T20:54:00.000-07:002007-03-19T21:00:53.081-07:00

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-81227990553662707212007-03-19T20:52:00.000-07:002007-03-19T20:54:35.746-07:00

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-49401921933776743002007-03-19T20:48:00.000-07:002007-03-19T20:51:06.020-07:00

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-81661986338325638432007-03-19T09:16:00.000-07:002007-03-19T09:26:26.889-07:00

I returned late last night from the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq activities in Washington, D.C. As I was traveling, I wrote and wrote in an attempt to process my thoughts and feelings about the experience. It may take a day or two before I can boil down the voluminous notes to prepare the articles that I want to write to spread the news about the Christian Peace movement.It always makes sense

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-29045671833940993032007-03-14T21:51:00.000-07:002007-03-14T22:13:18.299-07:00

During a discussion with other seminarians about my trip to Washington D.C. to participate in the Christian Peace Witness on Iraq, one of the students asked the question, "Where are the Bob Dylans and Joan Baez's of this war? Where are the songs of protest and justice?" Of course, all of us at the table were Baby Boomers and we are not exactly hip about the music that is appealing to the 20 and

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-76352016401933351642007-03-11T22:00:00.001-07:002007-03-11T22:10:49.799-07:00

Sometimes the whole thought of creating the possibility of a compassionate global economy seems beyond imaging, let alone doing. Yet, there are simple little ways that you can make a difference. Here are just a few:• Buy Green – Familiarize yourself with Co-op America and the National Green Pages. For more than 20 years Co-op America has been educating consumers about how to use their economic

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-15275392975006204092007-03-08T09:09:00.000-08:002007-03-08T09:13:30.339-08:00

On Tuesday evening, March 6, 2007, I attended an evening with Daniel Berrigan, S.J. at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, California. The room was packed with mostly baby boomer aged Caucasian educated middle class professionals. It was my first opportunity to hear and see Father Daniel Berrigan in person, although I have admired his writings and his peacemaking work since I was a teenager. I was

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-31640112742071235202007-03-04T19:41:00.000-08:002007-03-04T20:12:29.062-08:00

(In Honor of International Women's Day - March 8th)I teeter on the tipping point between despair and optimism. In one sense, I am deeply disturbed by the state of our world, especially the plight of women and children throughout the world who do not have the basic necessities of life. On the other hand, as a Christian I cling to hope and see the in-breaking of the signs of the reign of God.In

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1562276495094629682007-02-28T19:50:00.000-08:002007-03-01T22:41:39.872-08:00

Although it may seem an odd factor in choosing a school of theology, one of the reasons I chose to attend Pacific School of Religion was the national reputation of the Center for Social Responsibility at the Haas School of Business, U.C. Berkeley. I somehow felt that my future vocation as an ordained Minister would be a continuation, not a disruption, of my years of economic justice work.

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-79412740905808307432007-02-27T14:33:00.000-08:002007-02-27T14:35:22.848-08:00

Robyn,This is a huge topic and I'm glad that you are going to be leading the charge. For many of us, we struggle with finding the meaning and theology of wealth management. Is there such a thing? I have a sense that our economic values should be evaluated in light of how much they build community and connection and support for those who are at the bottom of the ladder. That's one of the reasons

Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328605526515195322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-23281703272528492942007-02-25T12:31:00.000-08:002007-02-25T12:36:43.365-08:00

For many years I have found comfort in the song, “On Eagle’s Wings.” The lyrics of this song are based on Psalm 91. As I meditate on the spiritual needs of our time, I am aware of how difficult it is to place our trust in God. Yet, I believe that is precisely what we need to do if we are to stop the violence in our world, and the destruction of the earth.It is time to talk about our unhealthy

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-88190932919983604692007-02-22T19:14:00.000-08:002007-02-22T20:19:59.871-08:00

Hey Robyn,You're on to something big here that many of us in churches and in faith communities have trouble coming to grips with. I feel that I am called to nudge, prod, and annoy faith communities around the issues of trasformative conflict. There is, in my view, a kind of schizophrenia between our "profession of faith" and our ability to deal with conflict constructively. But I think you are

Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03328605526515195322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-75200188459620173682007-02-22T08:42:00.000-08:002007-02-22T08:47:42.055-08:00

Last night, as I silently prayed during a Taizé Ash Wednesday service, I pondered how I would observe this season of Lent. I try to adopt a spiritual discipline during Lent to remind me that God desires my obedience, or openness, to God’s leading or direction for my life.God’s grace and love flow freely to all God’s children. And yet, we have also been given reponsibility and the ability to

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-58507323657958180332007-02-14T20:43:00.000-08:002007-03-02T10:18:32.243-08:00

Greetings,I am excited to share news of the work that I am doing with Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service. This picture was taken during the second weekend for the Engage Trainer Development Program. A group of about a dozen individuals who are committed to nonviolence in our lives, and to become trainers, and leaders for nonviolent social change are completing an intensive year of training. For more

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-32449663255007544232007-02-14T20:23:00.000-08:002007-02-14T20:30:45.811-08:00

Valentine’s Day 2007What’s all this hype about love? This is a day marked by consumerism and selling the notion of romantic love. Can love be purchased? Can we even represent the genuine feeling of love with cards, flowers, or other gifts? I think not. However, I know that advertisers would like us to believe that we can.I believe in love. I am not absolutely certain I have 'seen' it. I have

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1164334290114526402006-11-23T18:07:00.000-08:002006-11-23T18:11:30.116-08:00

As we gather to enjoy each other’s company and feast upon plentiful meals, we live out our “family values.” I suspect that everyone on my Holiday mailing list will have plenty of food, a warm and comfortable bed, and a safe place to rest your head. Not everyone is as fortunate. I read an interesting statistic on hunger this week. 19.3% of rural households with children are food insecure.

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1162081731831345102006-10-28T17:14:00.000-07:002006-10-28T17:28:51.843-07:00

I am enjoying my internship with Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service. I urge you to check out their website at www.paceebene.org. Part of my experience is participating in the Engage Trainer Development Program. I just recently attended the first of three weekend workshops with fifteen other future Engage Trainers from all across the United States. I am excited about the seeds of nonviolence that I

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1160435368985349342006-10-09T15:58:00.000-07:002006-10-10T10:03:50.020-07:00

Several seminarians, members of Seminarians for Worker Justice, participated in an action on October 5th in Emeryville, California. We were marching and protesting on behalf of Hotel workers who have been harassed because they demanded that their employer, Woodfin Hotels, comply with the living wage ordinance.

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1160434605441948112006-10-09T15:53:00.000-07:002006-10-09T15:56:45.463-07:00

Where is my voice? I had such good intentions with this blog. It is not that I have not had time, because I make time for the things that really matter. It is not that I do not have things that I want to say. I think it is because I no longer know where to begin. The war in Iraq, the devastation of the environment, the suffering of the people in Darfur, the poverty and hunger in the

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1148772649970228192006-05-27T16:17:00.000-07:002006-05-27T16:30:50.013-07:00

Oops, I really neglected my blog. I have a number of excuses, mostly papers, exams, and the final crunch of the end of the semester.I am back home in Helena for the summer. I will be working as a summer intern. My title is Regional Organizer for the United Church of Christ. My priority is to organize a religious outreach program to support the Raise Montana initiative. I am excited about

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1145029745403801392006-04-14T08:16:00.000-07:002006-04-14T08:49:05.440-07:00

If sin is falling short of our promises, then I am guilty because I have not kept up with my postings during Lent. However, I have excellent excuses. I had the pleasure of entertaining two wonderful visitors over the past few weeks. The experience reminded me once again about what is most important in life -- loving connections/relationships.On this Good Friday, I am pondering two thoughts. The

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1142872955659851522006-03-20T08:41:00.000-08:002006-03-20T08:42:35.673-08:00

The gospel scripture for the third Sunday in Lent (2006) is John’s story of Jesus clearing the Temple (John 2: 13-25). I read the cleansing of the temple as a stark warning against any and every false sense of security. Misplaced allegiances, religious presumption, pathetic excuses, smug self-satisfaction, spiritual complacency, nationalist zeal, political idolatry, and economic greed in the

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1142288418925812642006-03-13T14:14:00.000-08:002006-03-13T14:20:18.946-08:00

Under the spirit of taking up the cross of Jesus, I want to share the following link to a Sojourners special newsletter commemorating the life of Tom Fox. The following is an excerpt from that email."The staff of Sojourners extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Christian Peacemaker Teams member Tom Fox, who was found dead near Baghdad on Thursday. His three

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1142113862856466912006-03-11T13:47:00.000-08:002006-03-11T13:51:02.886-08:00

Mark 8: 31-3831 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1141688577570266642006-03-06T15:04:00.000-08:002006-03-06T15:42:57.613-08:00

Mark 1: 15, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."I promised myself that I would turn over a new leaf and that I would post something every Sunday during Lent. I missed the mark. I am a day late in posting a Lenten meditation on my blog. And this week's theme is repentance -- or reorienting your lives toward the divine. Perhaps I need

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1141262192857651062006-03-01T17:12:00.000-08:002006-03-01T17:35:08.980-08:00

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. One of the common themes of Lent is the wilderness experience. In a PSR workshop on writing worship liturgies earlier this week, we ended up in a discussion of a Lenten prayer that acknowledged that the congregation was in the "wilderness". One person said that some people may come to the service in a bright cheery space and wilderness was too

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1139939594593964562006-02-14T09:45:00.000-08:002006-02-14T09:53:14.690-08:00

Our English word for love has always seemed too shallow to me, not adequately fleshed out. On Valentine’s Day I think is it especially important to celebrate the many varieties of love. C. S. Lewis wrote about the nuances of love in his book, The Four Loves. Lewis clearly distinguishes agape (charity), the kind of love Christ taught and showed, from storge (natural affection or liking), eros (

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1137888582668507612006-01-21T15:59:00.000-08:002006-01-22T19:45:22.806-08:00

I spent a month wandering -- a journey to Helena, Kalispell, Bozeman, and Missoula (Montana); Seattle, Washington; and Washington D.C. Along the way, I learned lessons about myself and what really matters.I learned how much my family means to me -- my parents, daughters, and sister.I learned that my friends back in Montana can remain dear friends -- even if I am 1,200 miles away and busy with my

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1132270067125570492005-11-17T15:18:00.000-08:002006-02-14T22:48:40.336-08:00

Greetings -- before I post this I need to let you know that it was written as a class assignment.In my Spiritual Disciplines for Leadership class, we learned about writing Psalms of Lament. It is great therapy to spend a little time whining to God. The end result of whining and then pleading with God for help or mercy, is supposed to be moving on towards rejoicing. While practicing writing these,

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1128219382303748932005-10-01T18:46:00.000-07:002005-10-01T19:16:22.310-07:00

This past week, I wore a beautiful bracelet with a butterfly clasp that two of my best friends made. All three of us have August birthdays and together we made three very similar bracelets (although I really did not help much since I have no talent for such things). Our bracelets represent the ways that we are similar, the ways that we are different, but mostly they are a visible reminder of the

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1128216828086854812005-10-01T18:31:00.000-07:002005-10-01T18:33:48.090-07:00

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1128215269138506532005-10-01T18:03:00.000-07:002005-10-01T18:36:11.786-07:00

bending, touching the earthbeneath my feetstanding on Holy hill.your love meets mewhere i am.music raised as prayeryou are present.i am running, escaping your touch.you are embracing my soul.your love meets me,i am here,finding a home on this Holy hill.voice raised in song,you have blessed me again.

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1127603083590346532005-09-24T15:37:00.000-07:002005-09-24T16:04:43.803-07:00

This is a very sad day. I am missing my St. Paul's church family. I am saddened to hear of the death of our beloved Rev. Bob Holmes. Bob's death is a tremendous loss to his wife, Polly, his family, everyone at St. Paul's, countless others who considered him their Pastor or friend, and to me.Two things about human life are certain. Death and change. These are difficult times are for the St.

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1126397743951751952005-09-10T17:10:00.000-07:002005-09-10T17:15:43.956-07:00

Coincidences. I have come to believe that there are very few coincidences in life that do not have meaning. I have also learned that many coincidences are evidence of God working in my life.At the first day of PSR orientation I was given a name tag with a shiny blue butterfly on it. It signified the small group that I would be a part of during the break out sessions. It had special meaning to me

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1123801620206341482005-08-11T15:46:00.000-07:002005-08-11T16:07:00.213-07:00

My oldest daughter, Kelsen, gave me a sparkling butterfly necklace and earring set for Mother's Day. When she gave it to me, she said she bought it because she was proud of my decision to start a new phase of my life -- by leaving to attend seminary.Butterflies have a significant spiritual meaning for me. The image of the new life of a butterfly helped me through my divorce over fifteen years

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13977398.post-1119827099874223662005-06-26T17:00:00.000-07:002005-06-26T16:04:59.876-07:00

I am about to take another step forward in faith. At the end of August, I plan on heading for the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. (yes is it somewhat affiliated with that bastion of liberal thought -- U C Berkeley). How I got to this point is a long story, some of which I may share as I process this decision and the impacts of my journey in postings on this blog. I am not

Robyn J Morrisonnoreply@blogger.com1