Easter Food for Thought from an Atheist

“I think if more people were willing to treat beliefs as beliefs instead of facts, it would make talking with each other easier... I guess I’d just like Christians and church leaders to be more honest…with everyone. Stop treating faith as a fact. Call it hope. Call it confidence, not certainty.” Matt Casper, Jim and Casper Go to Church.

Praying with Saint Patrick (March 17)

The Rising
from the Breastplate of St. Patrick

I rise today
in power’s strength, invoking the Trinity,
Believing in threeness,
Confessing oneness,
Of creation’s Creator.
I rise today
In the power of Christ’s birth and baptism,
In the power of his crucifixion and burial,
In the power of his rising and ascending,
In the power of his descending and judging.

I rise today
In the power of the love of the cherubim,
In the obedience of angels
And service of archangels,
In the hope of rising to receive the reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs and matriarchs,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the deeds of the righteous.
I rise today
In heaven’s might
In sun’s brightness
In moon’s radiance
In fire’s glory
In lightening’s quickness
In wind’s swiftness
In sea’s depth
In earth’s stability
In rock’s fixity.

I rise today
With the power of God to pilot me,
God’s strength to sustain me,
God’s wisdom to guide me
God’s eye to look ahead for me,
God’s ear to hear me
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to protect me
God’s way before me
God’s shield to defend me
God’s host to delver me:
From snares of devils,
From evil temptations,
From nature’s failings,
From all who wish to harm me,
Far or near,
Alone and in a crowd.

May Christ protect me today
Against poison and burning,
Against drowning and wounding,
So that I may have abundant reward;
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me;
Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me;
Christ in my lying, Christ in my sitting;
Christ in my rising;
Christ in the heart of all who think of me,
Christ on the tongue of all who speak to me,
Christ in the eye of all who see me,
Christ in ear of all who hear me.

I rise today
in power’s strength, invoking the Trinity,
Believing in threeness,
Confessing oneness,
Of creation’s Creator.

For to the Lord belongs salvation!
May your salvation, Lord, be with us always.

Your After Easter Questions Welcome Here

There is a Beginnings gathering starting Wednesday, March 26, 6:30-8:15 p.m. at the Moveable Feast, 9341 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas. The series goes for six more weeks, with the format being an informal talk and discussion over a great meal. Instead of being video based, this will be unplugged, giving more time for reflection and questions and discussion over the meal. The meal if free for guests and the book Chapelwood provides, Along the Way, is one the best for anyone starting and restarting an intentional faith journey with Jesus Christ. Consider this your invitation to know and experience more, and see where it takes you!


“Our objective is…for us to step aside and let Christ gently accompany participants on their own spiritual journeys. Women and men need to claim God’s grace in their lives and to find Christ at their own pace rather than for us to force them to drink from the living water,” Beginnings Authors Langford and Ralls.


Can I give God and the church another chance?
What kind of God do Christians believe in?
Why is Jesus so important?
How do I start an intentional spiritual journey?
What does it mean to be a Christian?


I invite you to take a fresh look at Christian faith!
Scott Endress @ sendress@chapelwood.org, 713-354-4470