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I have been writing the Praying in Color blog for over a dozen years. The entries include theological musings, memoir, reflections on life and Scripture, and hundreds of posts on ways to incorporate Praying in Color into your prayer and spiritual life. In the search bar you can type words like “Scripture, Advent, Lent, calendar templates, intercessory prayer, mourning, gratitude, forgiveness…” or other topics of interest to find related posts. I hope you enjoy exploring this site.

Lent 2024 Calendars–The Daily Journey to Easter

Lent 2024 Calendars–The Daily Journey to Easter

Praying the Journey to Easter on a Calendar Template Using a calendar template is a simple, daily, and playful (but serious) practice for praying our way through the forty days of Lent.  Each day, choose a word to ponder or a person to pray for. Write the word or name...

Gratitude Gobblers and Gratitude Pumpkin for 2023

Gratitude Gobblers and Gratitude Pumpkin for 2023

(Advent Calendar Templates for 2023 are in the previous post from October 23.) Celebrate this Thanksgiving with a visual gratitude list. Below are a pumpkin-like template and five turkey templates for a pre- or post-dinner Thanksgiving activity for adults and kids....

Advent Calendars 2023

Advent Calendars 2023

  Using an Advent calendar is one of my favorite ways to prepare and pray in the days leading up to Christmas. Unlike the store-bought versions, my calendars have no doors, just blank spaces for the days of Advent. Instead of tearing apart a calendar day by day, I...

New School-Year: Anticipation and Anxiety

New School-Year: Anticipation and Anxiety

For kids, the transition from summer vacation to a new school-year can be both a time of excitement and anticipation AND a time of fear and anxiety. Readying kids for school involves practical and physical preparations. Checking out wardrobes, replacing outgrown...

Easter Day

Easter Day

Welcome Easter Day Canceling Lent's dark, grim way Again and again.

Lenten Wilderness–Desert and Jungle

Lenten Wilderness–Desert and Jungle

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished.” (Matthew 4:1-2 NRSV) One of my...

Lent Calendars 2023–Thorns, Vines, Desert, Circles,….

Lent Calendars 2023–Thorns, Vines, Desert, Circles,….

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.   (Luke 4, 1-2 NRSV) Wilderness comes in many forms. After ten months in Jerusalem and the land...

The “O Antiphons”–December 17-23

The “O Antiphons”–December 17-23

The expression “O Antiphons” was new to me a few years ago. But to my surprise, I have been singing the “O Antiphons” for most of my life in the Advent/Christmas carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The antiphons are descriptors of the expected Messiah and express the...