Ordinary Time 2023 | Vol 5. No.4
Cover art: Bryanna Manning | Photography: Trish Van DusseldorpWhat might God do among us?
What might God be working in you?
For this Ordinary Time 2023 edition of the Pillar Journal, we wanted to try something a little different. This volume is intended to be a companion for prayer for the next few months. It is designed to come alongside wherever you might be in the journey of faith. It is laid-out so that you will write, draw, and imagine.
Peace to you as we discover and grow together.
- Jonathan Gabhart
Ordinary Time 2023
Introduction
What Might God Do? (a poem/prayer by Nancy Boote) What might God do in us, if we asked the Maker of the Universe? What might God do in us, if…
Ordinary Time 2023
Journaling
If you have never journaled before, don’t worry. There is no set formula or right way to do so. You may just want to write out some thoughts that are…
Ordinary Time 2023
Lectio Divina
Let’s try this prayer practice of lectio divina with this passage from Mark 10:46-52. Find a quiet place if possible. Begin with a few moments of silence. Read: Read the…
Ordinary Time 2023
Visio Divina
Choose one of the pieces of art in this journal. What is the first thing that caught your eye? Breathe deeply and gaze on that for a few minutes. Now,…
Ordinary Time 2023
Centering Prayer
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…” Let’s try this simple prayer. Sit comfortably. Settle yourself with your feet flat on the floor and your arms in…
Meditations and Prompts
Praise for the Past
Praise for the Past Curiosity: Thank you, Lord, for calling Pillar to be curious about the future of the church years ago. Risk: Thank you, Lord, for giving Pillar the…
Meditations and Prompts
Prayers for the Future
Curiosity: Make us curious, Lord. What if we tried something new? What if this involves being uncomfortable? Risk: Take away our fear, Lord. May we know Your presence is always…
Meditations and Prompts
Psalm 62
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My…
Meditations and Prompts
Mark 4
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was,…
Meditations and Prompts
Mark 10
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you. “Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet…
Meditations and Prompts
Reconciliation
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone…
Meditations and Prompts
Curiosity
John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should…
Meditations and Prompts
Risk
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that…
Meditations and Prompts
Creativity
For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may…
Meditations and Prompts
Openness
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony,…
Meditations and Prompts
Dependency
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he…
Meditations and Prompts
Sacramental
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were…
Meditations and Prompts
Locality
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through…
Meditations and Prompts
When We Can’t Pray
There are times in our lives when we can’t pray. We often wonder where God is. Sometimes we are so tired physically, emotionally, and spiritually, that praying seems like too…