A review of Salix Babylonicus at Story Path

It was nice to see Beth Lyon-Suhring's review of The Secret of Salix Babylonicus, which includes discussion questions, over at Union Seminary's Story Path website. It's a lovely website and a helpful service they provide there, linking the Christian story with the world of children's literature. 

The Secret of Salix Babylonicus

UPDATE: As I was saying ...

BUMPED (Originally posted Jun 22): If you are interested in reading more about the origins of this story, see this related post.

UPDATE: Here is the FB page for SSB.

There are countless people under such tremendous stress just now, many depressed, many bereaved, many sick, many wounded, many undergoing persecution for their faith; there is so much deep need on so many fronts. On one level, this little book is just a short story, a parable (to be more precise), so perhaps one should not expect too much of it. On another level, however, the need of the world is so great that one would be negligent if one were to keep in reserve the most modest palliative or source of consolation that might ease, however slightly, the burden of just one despairing soul. Written in 1997 and fully illustrated for the first time, The Secret of Salix Babylonicus, has much wisdom and encouragement to offer, despite (and perhaps owing to) its brevity and simplicity. May it be a blessing to you, dear reader, and a source of inspiration, encouragement, and hope to you and to any and all with whom you "share" it. [Thank you for liking it on FB. Bear in mind though, that Shares reach further, and the ministry of the willow is all about the long reach.]

Available on CreateSpace:

... and Amazon:

Great resource for devotions, worship, and pastoral care

From the nursery to therapy, from devotions to retreats, from hospital to hospice, Come Away and Be Still is just what the Great Physician ordered: the Psalms set to simple settings, sung in Hebrew, accompanied by an award-winning a Blevins therapy harp. 

This lovely CD is available on CDBaby, iTunes, and Amazon. [But the samples at CDBaby are smoother for those who want to hear a bit.]

 

A Prayer of Confession on behalf of the whole world (as well it should be)

In the Series Foreword to Liturgical Elements for Reformed Worship, I explain that the Reformed tradition views the corporate Prayer of Confession is not limited to the confession of personal sins or even the sins of the church, though it certainly includes both. More broadly, it is a confession of the sin of the whole world, a continuation of Jesus' own intercession on the cross in which he says, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." In that spirit, then, let me offer this Prayer of Confession from When Heaven Stands Open, not because any person of genuine faith could have had a hand in the mayhem in Boston, but so that we might recognize and confess the sickness of whole human race, honor those who are suffering, direct our thoughts to the redeeming suffering of Christ, and cry out for healing. And to those who do not see the sense of such prayer, and even to those who would scorn it and thus demonstrate that do not know what they are doing, let me simply say, "In the name of Jesus Christ, you are welcome anyway."

Prayer of Confession (Proper 24/Ordinary 29, Year B)

Merciful God, with tears and cries you offered yourself for our release, yet our pettiness perpetuates grief and suffering. Forgive us, O Christ, for failing to recognize you in those we hurt or tear apart. Forgive us for holding ourselves and each other hostage in judgment, anger, contempt, and criticism. May your Spirit flow through us once again.