Home & Blog | Lynne Baab

Draw near: Learning from Celtic Christian thankfulness

Lynne Baab • Tuesday July 26 2022

A look at some of the themes attributed to Celtic Christianity can enrich our thoughts about gratitude. What we call “Celtic Christianity” flourished from about the fifth to ninth centuries throughout the British Isles, but was particularly concentrated in the west and north: Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. There were also Celts in Brittany in France.

The Celts were described briefly in Greek literature in the centuries before and after Jesus, but very little is known about the pre-Christian Celts. We do know that in the Roman Empire the Celts were renowned for their ability to learn very long stories and poems...

Read full article »

Draw near: O Antiphons

Lynne Baab • Tuesday July 19 2022

O God of words and music, we give thanks for psalms and hymns and spiritual songs connecting us to long-ago believers. We thank you, Lord of sound and harmony, for the Church’s many voices raised in praise. Sing your Spirit in our hearts and voices, that our gratitude might brim and overflow.

O Lord of leaves, O Maker of the trees, O Rooter of all life by living waters, Pruner of branches, Ripener of fruit, Lord who sweetens sap and reddens berries, help us through the season of cold hearts. When bare of fruit, build us firm in faith. Feed our hidden roots until the spring. —Diane Tucker, from “One Winter: Forty New O Antiphons”

O...

Read full article »

Draw near: Praying with Others

Lynne Baab • Tuesday July 12 2022

I’ve written before that people often tell me they wish they prayed more. They seem to be referring to prayer alone. Many of my blog posts imply that I am focusing on praying alone. In reality, of course, any prayer idea can be used in prayer with others as well as alone. I want to stress that here.

Most Christians find it easier to pray with others than to pray alone. Last year, I had the privilege of being asked to write an article for Christianity Today on communal prayer. (You can read the whole article here.) Here are a few sentences...

Read full article »

Draw near: Simple prayers for friends and family members

Lynne Baab • Tuesday July 5 2022

Sometimes when I’m praying for family members and friends, I try to think of one word to summarize what I long for in their lives. Recently one of my favorite words is “shalom,” with its broadest meaning – wellbeing in every area of life. For several friends and family members, I find myself praying the word “joy.” For friends who struggle with anxiety, I simply pray “peace.” For my intrepid granddaughter, when I feel anxious about her safety, I pray the word “protection.”

Cheryl Forbes’ book Imagination: Embracing a Theology of Wonder, has helped me to see my one word prayers for...

Read full article »

<< Newer | Older >>