Tag: jail ministry
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I Look Forward to “Church” in Jail
Last week I participated in one of the most inspiring worship services ever at the County Jail. As usual, I was there to play the piano, and the chaplain and inmates welcomed me into their circle of sharing. Last Thursday afternoon there were 13 women inmates plus Chaplain Julia and myself sitting on wooden chairs…
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Thinking too hard
Sometimes, I think, I think too much. I think too hard about choices as I try to determine what is best. For example, today I’m trying to decide whether to write my blog about what some inmates said the last time we shared a worship service in the jail chapel, or to write about some…
Marian
Abbey, Be still and know that I am God, choosing music, Christ the King, Christ the King Sunday, Delores Dufner, different kind of king, Dr. Edman, emperor of Ethiopia, God’s love, Haile Selassie, jail ministry, listening for God, O Christ what can it mean for us, postludes, preludes, Presence of the King, reflections, second chance, serving communion, spirituality, talking with God, thankful, thankful for jail, Thanksgiving, thinking, V. Raymond Edman, Wheaton College, worship experience, worship service -
“O Lord, I want you to help me”
If you were confined to jail for several months, and you were allowed to get together in the jail chapel with the chaplain and a few other inmates for an hour once every two weeks to have a time to read the Bible, share your thoughts, pray for each other, and sing a couple songs,…
Marian
Amazing Grace, friends, God’s love, help me, help me on my journey, help me on this journey, How Great Thou Art, inmates singing, jail chapel, jail ministry, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, O God help me, O Lord I want you to help me, Precious Lord Take My Hand, reflections, singing, spirituality, Surely the presence of the Lord, talking with God -
Working Together – Joy or Drudgery?
Last night Mim and I went to a fundraising concert for the jail ministry of Dane County. Chance Allies, a Madison group of three musicians – a female vocalist, a pianist, and a bass player, performed lots of jazz classics, mostly from the era of Cole Porter and George Gershwin. It was a wonderful evening.…
Marian
accomplishments, assisted living, blogging, Chance Allies, Country Comforts, Country Comforts Assisted Living, David Allen, fundraising concert, goals, God-given gifts, jail ministry, jail ministry fundraiser, jazz classics, jazz combo, jazz musicians, life calling, life challenges, listening for God, Lucas Koehler, Madison jazz musicians, reflections, spirituality, Tisha Brown, UCC pastor, working together -
Maria’s Story – Part 2
When I came home from playing the piano for the Women’s Worship Service at the county jail last Thursday, Abbey met me at the door. “Did you see Maria?” she asked. “Did Maria come to worship?” “No, Abbey,” I replied. “Maria has already been transferred to the women’s prison in northeastern Wisconsin. That’s where she’ll…
Marian
10 Prayers You Can’t Live Without, Abbey, ABC News anchor, Bob Woodruff, book on prayer, God’s love, Guideposts, How to Talk to God about Anything, jail, jail ministry, kindness, Lee Woodruff, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, prayer, praying for others, prison, reflections, Rick Hamlin, spirituality, talking with God, women’s prison -
Maria’s Story
“Hey, Abbey. Can you come here a minute? I need to talk, and I need someone to just listen.” “OK, Mom. You know I’m always ready to just sit beside you and listen. What’s up?” “I’m really sad today. I heard on the news that a woman in Madison was sentenced to 13 years in…
Marian
Abbey, being Jesus, conversation with Abbey, example of kindness, fairness, funeral in jail, God’s love, jail, jail ministry, killing a child, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, prison, prison sentence, reflections, showing God’s love, spirituality, talking with God, worship in jail, you are the only Jesus some people every see -
Love One Another – Reflections from Jail
One of the Bible readings in church yesterday was from the book of John. Jesus said, I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one…
Marian
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Do This in Remembrance of Me
I think I was four years old the first time I wondered about what was going on in church when my mom and dad left Danny and me in the pew with strict instructions to “sit still” while they walked up to the front of the church in an orderly line with all the other…
Marian
blood of Christ, body of Christ, bread and wine, communion, county jail, Do this in remembrance of me, Eucharist, God’s love, Holy Communion, Holy Week, intinction, jail ministry, jungle, Last Supper, Lent, listening for God, love your neighbor, Maundy Thursday, Mexico, missionary, Missionary Training Camp, pillow mints, reflections, sitting still, spirituality, talking with God, Wycliffe Bible Translators -
Helping Someone
Last Thursday I participated in the worship service in the County Jail again. There were 11 of us women sitting together in the circle – the chaplain, myself, and nine inmates. The New Testament reading was the last chapter of Romans. We went around the circle, each of us reading one verse. Here’s how the…
Marian
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Reflections on Christmas from a Church Organist
It’s over. The busiest time of the year for everyone, but especially for church organists, is over. As I look back over this holy season, what were the highlights for me? Celebrating Christmas together with our church family at Messiah Lutheran Church. I played the organ for the 10:00 service on Christmas Eve. This is…
Marian
accompanying singing, Christmas Carol Sing, Christmas Carols, Christmas music, Christmas season, church musician, church organist, church pianist, congregational singing, East Koshkonong Lutheran Church, God’s love, hymn sing, jail ministry, leading singing from the organ, leading singing from the piano, listening for God, Messiah Lutheran Church, playing the organ, reflections, spirituality, talking with God, whispering winds
Whispering Winds Blog 