"Jesus isn't dead anymore!" [the angel] said. "He's alive again!" And [the women's] hearts leapt. And then the angel laughed with such gladness... Jesus Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah! For those who want a fresh take on Luke's familiar resurrection account, I offer some questions to guide you. Connect Reflect on a … Continue reading Easter Sunday 2020
Author: Siv Ricketts
Hi, I'm Siv (pronounced "See-v") Ricketts, & I'm so glad you're here. In this space & on Instagram, I write to encourage you to have hope, seek beauty, and live joyfully. I have BA’s in English and Communication from Westmont College and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. I have focused my career working in and writing for the Church as a youth director, a communication director, and a freelance writer/editor. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband, two sons, and a menagerie of pets. You can also find me on Instagram (@sivricketts).
Lent 2020: Maundy Thursday
“My body is like this bread. It will break.” Jesus told them. “This cup of wine is like my blood. It will pour out.” “But this is how God will rescue the whole world…. So whenever you eat and drink, remember,” Jesus said, “I’ve rescued you!” My husband just popped dinner in the oven (a … Continue reading Lent 2020: Maundy Thursday
Lent 2020: I Pray…
“Did you know that God is always listening to you? Did you know that God can hear the quietest whisper deep inside your heart, even before you’ve started to say it? Because God knows exactly what you need even before you ask him…. So when you pray, pray in your normal voice, just like when … Continue reading Lent 2020: I Pray…
Reading: March 2020
One might reasonably expect that a bookish individual would, during a pandemic that requires shelter-in-place, escape into a stack of books. I am realizing, slowly, that all reasonable expectations might as well hurl themselves out of windows. Harsh, but also sorta true. The world has spun off its axis and, while I'm mostly fine, there … Continue reading Reading: March 2020
Lent 2020: We Need Him a Lot
...the people God uses don’t have to know a lot of things, or have a lot of things--they just have to need him a lot. Jesus called out to them, “Let’s go!” My creative collaborator and I created a day-by-day prayer card to guide our church and unify our prayers during Lent. Of course we … Continue reading Lent 2020: We Need Him a Lot
Lent 2020: Walking Like The Wise Men
The three Wise Men...rode their camels across endless desserts, up steep, steep mountains, down into deep, deep valleys, through raging rivers, over grassy plains, night and day, and day and night, for hours that turned into days, that turned into weeks, that turned into months and months, until, at last, they reached...Jerusalem. During our church’s … Continue reading Lent 2020: Walking Like The Wise Men
Lent 2020: Light in the Darkness
Mary and Joseph named him Jesus, “Emmanuel” -- which means “God has come to live with us.” Because, of course, he had. This baby would be...a Light to light up the whole world. Chasing away darkness. Helping people to see. And the darker the night got, the brighter the star would shine. Our county implemented … Continue reading Lent 2020: Light in the Darkness
Lent 2020: The Wonderful Stories
All day they listened to stories about the wonderful things God had done for his people….How he rescued them -- no matter what, time after time, over and over again -- because of his Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love. Stories are my favorite. I love to read. But during scary … Continue reading Lent 2020: The Wonderful Stories
Lent 2020: God With Us
Things were not looking good for God’s people….But God had not left his people. He was with them and he was looking after them. We have not been conquered as a nation and taken exile into Babylon, but we have also never experienced anything like the quarantine in effect due to COVID-19. It’s a strange … Continue reading Lent 2020: God With Us
What the World Needs Now
On Monday before the mandatory shelter-in-place began, I had to run a few errands that included picking up a prescription at the pharmacy. Surprisingly, the line was short, with two people already being helped at the counter and one person ahead of me. She was covered head to foot: a colorful rag-style hat on her … Continue reading What the World Needs Now