Prayers and Ponderings: Recent Episodes
The Heartland Conference
United and Uniting - A Prayer for the United Church of Christ and the World written and read by the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins
O Love,
Form us ever anew
United and uniting
Bearing a vision larger
Than we can imagine.
Form the puzzling
Predicaments of our day
Into something precious
And beautiful and good.
Yes, take all that is scattered
Embracing every fragment
And fashion something new
Beyond what is known
In a world full of hurt
Yearning for something more
That heals, renews, and blesses.
Let no pressure
Of present predicaments
Often repeatedly rehearsed
Be greater than the grace
You pour out to cleanse.
Ready us for new creations
Even now beginning to rise
Through Your connective strength
Otherwise thought impossible
Save for Your unrelenting love.
Yes, persistent One
Awaken us to the truth
Of being already joined
By You for a joy unbelievable
Except as we entrust our lives
To You who always holds
Everyone and everything
In a marvelous mystery
Not of our making
Yet urging our consent.
O Love,
Form and re-form our hearts
For nothing less than this
Of Your unifying desire
To rise ever anew in us
In some precious proclamation
Of what You make possible
When Your people anywhere
Turn toward each other
In love, for love, by love
And say yes again to You, O Love.
Let this be the good news
Proclaimed through our life
Formed by Your uniting
To be united with others
For the healing of the world,
That Your joy may rise
Everywhere for everyone.
Amen.
Prayer by the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins
Intro and Outro Music by the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins
Music with prayer, Letting Go, by Moments
Temple Body - A Prayer written and read by the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins
O Love,
Bless this temple body
Given as gift by You
Enlivened by Your Spirit
For worship and work
In thanks and praise
Of all You make possible.
Form in me a reverence
For care of this gift
Of body given by You
For the purposes of love
To build Your justice joy
For the full flourishing
Of everybody’s body.
Bless my ordinary eating
With your Holy Spirit
And awaken me
To Your precious presence
Bearing Your life-giving
Energy of eternity
Here and now.
Grant me grace
To savor the sacramental sip
Of Your life-giving water
Forming and reforming
Each cell of the universe
Of universes you form
In every living body.
Quiet my mind and heart
Enough to hear Your pulse
Bearing Your life large
In this little body of me.
Yes, Love,
Bless this temple body
That I may walk and work
Speak and keep silence
And reverence this gift
Formed by You
For reverencing You
In every other body
Also formed by You.
Amen.
The Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr., Installation Service Preacher: The Reverend Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr., is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) US and Canada. He serves as executive director of the Columbus-based Ohio Council of Churches. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Sullivan is an internationally-known leader, ecumenist, preacher, justice advocate, and death penalty abolitionist. In recognition of his work to stop executions, Dr. Sullivan was given the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Justice Award by Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and the 2019 Humanitarian Award from the Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center of Findlay, OH. In 2018 he received the African American Liberation Award from the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University; a Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary; a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary (Dayton); and an honorary doctorate from Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia.
Dr. Sullivan is board president of Journey of Hope… From Violence to Healing and co-president of the Disciples Justice Action Network. He is an advisory board member of Catholic Mobilizing Network, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH, Death Penalty Action, Restorative Justice International, and the US Global Leadership Council. Dr. Sullivan is immediate past board chair of Ohioans to Stop Executions, and a former steering committee member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. He holds life memberships in the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and is a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Academy of Homiletics.
During the 2022 Heartland Conference (UCC) Annual Gathering, we had the joy of hearing from Rev. Joanna D'Agostino in an Opening Worship Sermon. The Rev. Joanna D’Agostino has been the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Congregational Church since June 2018. Joanna has a passion for Restorative Justice, which she learned as a Restorative Justice facilitator in Wisconsin state correctional institutions. Now, she strives to weave Restorative Practices into all areas of leadership, community organizing, and relationship development. Rev. D’Agostino also prioritizes advocacy for and with the LGBTQ+ community, the destigmatization of mental healthcare, support for the UCC’s Council for Health and Human Services Ministries (CHHSM), and involvement in criminal justice reform initiatives of Greater Cleveland Congregations.
She received her Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, and a B.A. in creative writing and French language from Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. She was ordained by the Living Water Association of the UCC in 2012. Joanna now serves on the LWA Council and the Strategy Team of Greater Cleveland Congregations.
Joanna and her husband have three children, Evelyn, Amos, and Suzette, plus the steady presence of neighborhood children and friends. They also have a pit bull mutt, three cats, and a bearded dragon. Outside of ministry, Joanna’s interests include art, animals, home renovation, and chatting on the porch.
This brand new episode features an introduction from Communications Director, Cassidy Hall, who shares a brief overview of Annual Gathering dates and deadlines. She reminds us this year's Annual Gathering is September 22-23 at Westerville UCC and the deadline to register is Monday, September 19th at 5:00 EST! Then we hear a message from others who will be in attendance including the Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr., Disaster Ministries Coordinator Kevin Gehres, and Rev. Beth Gedert, the Chair of this year's Annual Gathering Planning Team!
Prayer: Spirit Fruit with the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins
Loving God, ripen me…
Grant me grace to love
That Your pulse may enliven me.
Grant me your joining joy,
Answering the fear of the world
With your radiant Spirit.
Grant me Your peace to share
In a world aching to rest
From fractious fighting.
Grant me Your patience
Grounding my soul in grace
That I may offer the same to others.
Grant me Your kindness
For every rough edge revealed
In myself and all your beloved.
Grant me a generous Spirit
Trusting Your resource is enough
For the gift of this day You give.
Grant me a flood of faithfulness
Filling my heart with resolve
To trust Your power in all things.
Grant me Your gentleness
For every hard thing
Daring to evoke anger or fear.
Grant me self-control
Freeing me from the prison
I so easily construct
With perpetual distractions
Covering over the gifts
You yearn to give.
Yes, Love,
Grant me grace to grow
In this sustaining Spirit
That is You in all things
Seen and unseen.
And let it be
More than enough
For today.
Welcome to the first episode of Prayers & Ponderings, a Heartland Conference Podcast. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey or your journey in listening to podcasts, you're welcome here! The Heartland Conference is a part of the United Church of Christ and works with churches in Northern Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. We are overjoyed to share with you our first prayer: Rising Up, written and spoken by Conference Minister, the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins. You can find the transcript to this prayer below.
Rising Up
Loving God,
Let all my work
Arise from You
Let all my noticing
Arise from You
Let all my hope
Arise from You
Let all my wonder
Arise from You
Let all my delight
Arise from You
Let all my gratefulness
Arise from You
Let all my words
Arise from You
Let all my passion
Arise from You
Let all my peace
Arise from You
Let all my joy
Arise from You
Let all my desire
Arise from You
Let all my love
Arise from You.
For no good thing,
No worthwhile dream
Can ever flourish
Apart from rising up
In, from, and through
You, O Love of Life.
-DMLH, August 2022©
More about the Rev. Dr. David Long-Higgins
The Rev. Dave Long-Higgins is the Conference Minister for the Heartland Conference. Dave’s passion is to see individuals and churches grow in their sense of the alive presence of God and all that this calls forth to be signs of good news in the world, so that all may flourish. Dave has served in a wide variety of capacities throughout the United Church of Christ. He is a graduate of Heidelberg University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and music (violin performance). His Master of Divinity was earned at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minnesota. He is also a graduate of the Wellstreams Spiritual Direction Program of the Spirituality Network of Columbus (Ohio). Prior to beginning his role with the Conference, Dave was a parish pastor for over 30 years. Dave and his wife Beth, who is also an ordained UCC clergyperson have two adult children, Andrew and Hannah. When not on the ministry trail Dave enjoys movies, playing violin and guitar, bicycling, travel, writing poetry/prayers, and photography.