Vibrant Rhythms

Exploring spirituality in daily living
June 2026 issue, Vol. 1:1

 

 

 

Here is the third issue of my bimonthly newsletter, to help us explore the “spiritual white space” on the pages of our lives. I hope it speaks to you in a helpful way.

– Betsy Schwarzentraub

Finding New Rhythms

Creation in Christ

This is a new thing! Among Christians worldwide, there is a new liturgical season—that is, a period in the worship year from September 1^st to October 4^th (St. Francis’ birthday). It is called the season of Creation in Christ.

 It is the first new liturgical season in 500 years and has been decades in the making. It is also the first time the Western Church (Catholics, Protestants, the World Council of Churches and others) have adopted a worship practice from the Eastern Church, including all the Orthodox Churches around the world. So Christchurch, NJ this is the first truly ecumenical feast since the 4th century CE.

The purpose of the season is to recognize and celebrate God’s work as Creator in Christ through the Holy Spirit (as we know God through the Trinity). I talk about it in my book, Tossed in Time: Steering by the Christian Seasons.

 

Weekly worship services during that period could be based on these related scriptures, chosen by global ecumenical representatives. The texts are:

• Genesis chapters 1 or 2, with their two creation accounts

• Psalm 148, which invites all parts of the universe to “Praise the LORD”

• John 1:1-18, about how all creatures came into being through the Word of God

My book goes more in depth with suggestions on how to follow all the liturgical seasons. Consider checking it out if you would like to learn more.

We are encouraged to focus on the fullness of our one God, whom we know as Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, who works all around us and through all of creation.

Living With Enough

“Abundance is all around us if we take the moment to see it. I have discovered that I do not find happiness in stuff. For me, happiness comes from spending my time the way I want and with people I love.”

 – Christine Roush, Swimming Upstream: Reflections on consumerism and culture, 8.

Name The Wonder

Wonder and Hope

“At the core of our faith is an assurance that we do not go alone into this hurting world. As John Wesley proclaimed with his final breaths, ‘The best of all, God is with us.’ God is in the world whenever it hurts and is bringing forth grace, mercy, justice, peace, and love. Sometimes it is really hard to see, not least of all because God often works through the likes of us—exhausted, overwhelmed and paralyzed humans. Inexplicable, really.

            . . . I believe deeply we can each find the hurt we are called to seek to heal. We can trust God is at work with others who will seek to heal other hurts. Together, we can hold the world in loving embrace and not give up or give in.”

            – Bishop Sandy Olewine, CA-NV Conference, on Facebook Jan. 12, 2026

Soul Making

Prayer^.1

Come, Holy Spirit. Awaken us, enliven us, instruct us. Come to this beautiful world, changing so rapidly. Continue the breathtaking beauty of this creation. Come to equip us as stewards of this world in which we are not owners, but caretakers.

Come with Your breath-giving Presence. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

¹ – Selected wording from Arthur Gafke, “Holy Spirit,” Pray the Seasons: Pastoral Prayers for Seasons of the Year and of Life, 56f.

Practicing the Presence

Helping Stone

Have you ever wondered what an “ebenezer” is? It’s in that old hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” in the line, “Here I raise mine ebenezer. Hither by Thy help I’ve come.”    

The word means “helping stone” in Hebrew. In the wilderness leaving Egypt, whenever the people Israel journeyed for a day or two in the wilderness, they would set up a rock and pour a little olive oil on it, then thank God for faithfully bringing them this far towards their promised land. The rock was a witness to God’s faithfulness. They didn’t know exactly where they were or how to go forward, but they knew God had led them this far. That was enough for them to trust that God would lead them the rest of the way.

“To remember God’s action in our past helps us live our present in agreement with [God’s track] record,” says devotional writer Paola Barrera.¹ “to be who God says we are, to live as people who are shaped by God’s grace.”

 

¹ – Paola Barrera, “Transformed by God,” Sept. 9, 2026, p. 301. Upper Room Disciplines 2026.

Here and There

Upcoming Events and Appearances

I so enjoyed the Sept. 10-13 Gold Country Fair as part of Auburn-based Gold Country Writers. We met new readers, talked about writing, and sold our books, with an amazing range of subjects and genres from this network of writers.

About the Author

Be sure to join me and the Elk Grove Writers Guild for our Half-Day Seminar on Oct. 24^th from 1 to 5 PM! It will be at the Holiday Inn Express, 9175 West Stockton, Elk Grove, CA. Shawn Langwell will address target marketing, Daniel Babka will talk about writing a memoir, and Anna Stewart will present on writing romance. Contact https://egweg.org/2026seminar or loyholder@gmail.com to register.

Rev. Dr. Betsy Schwarzentraub is a five-time author and retired minister, currently writing a book, Time to Forgive?  She writes books, articles and blogs about inclusive faith practices, Christian worship seasons, and exploring spirituality in daily living.

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