For every soldier killed on the battlefield this year [2012], about 25 veterans are dying by their own hands. — Nicholas Kristof
by Ken Sehested
In his first sermon, Jesus chose to read from Isaiah 61, an explicit references to the
covenant terms from Mt. Sinai regarding jubilee observance and its profound
project of social, political and economic restructuring.
{Written in 1998, prior to being a founding co-pastor of Circle of Mercy Congregation, Asheville, NC.)
Read more ›Signs of the Times • 17 January 2019 • No. 183
¶ Processional. “Precious Lord,” performed by R&B singer Ledisi Anibade Young. Minutes before the assassin’s bullet found him, King called out, from the Lorraine Motel second floor balcony, to the music leader for that night’s rally, “I want us to sing ‘Precious Lord’ tonight.'”
by Ken Sehested
Admiring Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is not the same as being captured by it. Too many find it possible to respect the man but relinquish the mission.
It has become too easy to revere the dreamer but renege on the dream.
Read more ›Signs of the Times • 9 January 2019 • No. 182
¶ Processional. “Woke Up This Morning,” Resistance Revival Chorus (rehearsal). (Thanks Amanda.)
Selected and arranged by Rev. Missy Harris
Circle of Mercy Congregation
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Read more ›Signs of the Times • 4 January 2019 • No. 181
¶ Processional. “We Three Kings,” violin and orchestra, featuring Erika Blanco.
by Ken Sehested
Circle of Mercy Congregation
Asheville, NC
1 January 2012
Eleven years ago—when the calendar turned from 2000 to 20001—I got inspired by the televised review of New Year’s celebrations around the world, starting in Australia, and stayed up to write a poem. Here’s a part of it—and, by the way, the reference to “Gregory” is about Pope Gregory. It was during his reign as Roman Catholic Pontiff in the 16th century that the Julian calendar was replaced by the Gregorian calendar.)
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
O God of justice, ignite the hearts of our legislators with your commitment to truth and your demand for justice.
Give them wisdom to match their passion, intelligence to match their zeal.
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
“I’ve slept since then.” That’s my Mom’s go-to line when trying, unsuccessfully, to remember something. After 90 trips around the sun, she says it more frequently.
“I’ve slept since then” also describes much of the public’s waning attention to the life and legacy of President George H.W. Bush. Given the information overload of our 24/7 news cycles and multiplicity of sources, that marker in our nation’s history is just so yesterday.
Read more ›Signs of the Times • 20 December 2018 • No. 179
¶ Processional. “Flash Flash – Jerusalem during the Christmas Tree Lighting party.” (Thanks Dick.)
Subscribers receive full access to the entire prayer&politiks site. It’s free. Each week you will receive an automated email with a link to the new edition of the Signs of the Times column. All you provide is you name, email address and city, state or province, and country. This information is never shared with any other party. The only other agreement you make is to receive two solicitation letters per year, one in the spring, the other in the fall. (Which you are free to ignore. Your subscription is still free, and you may “unsubscribe” at any time.) This is our modern begging-bowl. Contributions are our sole source of support.