For Lent, I invite you on a journey of meditations and reflections guided by a piece of sculpture created for me by one of West Virginia’s District Superintendents, Joe Hill. This sculpture was created from clay that had been used by the entire cabinet during our prayer retreat a couple of years ago as the cabinet prepared body, mind, and spirit for the upcoming appointment season.
The clay was used as a vehicle for prayer. As each Superintendent prayed, read scripture, meditated – the clay was in their hands being stretched, molded, formed, created into something, and then folding and kneaded back into a lump. At the end of the weeklong retreat, Joe gathered the pieces of clay and with continued prayer and reflection, began to sculpt.
The Sculpture was given to me as a gift, and it has been a centerpiece of remembering, prayer, and meditation ever since.
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball
The artist who created this sculpture is Reverend Joe Hill, the Conference Superintendent assigned to the Nine Rivers District. Joe shares pictures of the sculpture in progress and an artist statement...
"...Typically when I sculpt a figure, I rework it several times and paint the piece. For reasons beyond my ability to explain, it just felt right to leave this piece unrefined. I would have described it as “unfinished’, but it is finished. It felt like it was time to release the piece from my intentions for it..."
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
You are invited to join Bonnie MacDonald as she reflects on Holy Week and the ways that God creates something new each and every day. God's steadfast never ends - this is good news!
Monday, April 3, 2023
Greenbrier Wesleyan District Superintendent Rick Swearengin shares an original poem, The Parade has Ended, on this Holy Monday. Based on the Gospel of Matthew:21. May your day be blessed in the hearing of this poem.
Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023
Saturday, April 1, 2023
With the sculpture in mind, consider that It is only as we sit with Christ, in the midst of our brokenness, that we can be healed.
March 29, 2023
March 25, 2023
With personal stories and some favorite scripture passages, Bishop Sandra invites us to draw closer to God so that we may be strengthened for life's journey.
March 22, 2023
The stole reminds us that we have been called and accepted to follow in the order, wisdom, and grace of God. It is a call to pick up the cross and to follow and to sacrifice on behalf of others and to share the gifts God has given us on behalf of others.
While some are called to be set aside as deacons and elders in the Church, all are called to the mission and ministry of Christ. There is a yoke upon all our shoulders, whether we can see it or not, when we say yes to Christ.
Saturday March 18, 2023
“As God’s chosen one’s, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. … Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (Colossians 3: 12 and 14)
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
What we are called to seek, and take in, as followers of Christ, is the face of Jesus, the words of Jesus, the actions of Jesus. It is Jesus’ face that can heal us from the poison and harm we encounter in life.
How is your face turned toward Jesus? Does your face reflect the face of the Jesus?
Do others see Jesus’ face in you?
Follow this link to read more about today's reflection.
Saturday March 11, 2023
Jesus hands were hands that blessed. They were hands that touched people. His hands were hands that worked, hands that brought healing, hands that brought hope. His hands were hands that conveyed love and did not dispense harm.Wednesday, March 8, 2023
The most beautiful feet were those of the best preacher and evangelist ever: Jesus. His feet came from the glory of Heaven and walked the parched places of this earth. Jesus brought Living Water to hearts and lives. The feet of Jesus were nailed to the Cross in order to bring God’s peace and salvation to us.
We honor God and follow Jesus when the Body of Christ (the Church) and its individual members, bring the message of salvation to others.
Saturday, March 4, 2023
Water refreshes and renews the soul!
Psalm 23 is so familiar but today, you are invited to take time to listen to the words of this Psalm and join Bishop Sandra in pondering the still waters. Oh how God wishes to restore your soul!
Jesus offers us a new way of living, a new way to hope that leads to reconciliation. Jesus has us, will hold our heads above the water, and helps us to navigate the various rivers that are part of our journey. This is Good News for us all!
Wednesday March 1, 2023
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Bishop Sandra shares from deep in her heart what it means to be gifted this sculpture, and how the intercessory prayers of others helped to provide healing and wholeness.
Who in your life needs intercessory prayer?
Follow this link for questions and reflections for personal use.
Ash Wednesday
On this first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, the sculpture reminds me to stop.
Lent is an invitation to prayer and to intentionally spend time on developing a fuller appreciation of the Divine. It is an invitation to expand our vision and our hearts. Ash Wednesday, in particular, is a time to reflect on God’s gift of life, our mortality, and our baptism – the recognition of what God has accomplished/gifted to us through Christ – and God’s call to make our baptismal crosses visible through our thoughts, words, deeds, and sacrifice each and every day.
Follow this link to read more, and to reflect on questions curated by Bishop Sandra.