#Every moment holy full

TIM: So this is how you chose the Rabbit Room Press?ĭOUGLAS: Yes, it was never much of a question. But it might take a while to find the funding.” Their immediate response was “Yes, we will publish this. I wrote another two or three liturgies, imagined what such a book might be, and put together a publisher pitch, which I presented to Rabbit Room Press a few days later. His response was “I love this, but I wish there was a liturgy for beekeeping and all sorts of other things too.” The lightbulb clicked on. I sent the “Liturgy for Fiction Writers” to Andrew, suggesting that it might make a fitting close to the session. TIM: When and how did you decide to turn these liturgies into a book?ĭOUGLAS: I was invited to co-lead a session on writing at the Hutchmoot Conference two years ago, along with Heidi Johnston and Andrew Peterson. The first actual prayer I wrote as liturgy was “A Liturgy for Fiction Writers” which I penned some three years ago because I personally needed that centering reminder of who I am in relation to my Creator, my craft, and the community I hope to serve each time I sit down to write. They weren’t technically liturgies, or necessarily even prayers, but they borrowed from the “leader” and “people” interactive format, as a symbolic way of communicating a level of meaning both ancient and spiritual in those poems. TIM: When did you first start writing liturgies?ĭOUGLAS: I first experimented with liturgical “forms” as a structure for poetry probably 15 years ago, in the context of a work of fiction I was writing. I was late to the realization that the work of the Spirit of God might not be limited only to spontaneous expressions, but that he might be at least as active in and through expressions long labored over and crafted. Here were ancient expressions that somehow named and articulated the thoughts and desires of my own heart, and that also perched in my heart and mind, tutoring me over time towards a more biblically redemptive vision, a more robust orthodoxy and a better orthopraxy. I was immediately drawn in, not only by the poetry of it, but by the richness and depth of the theology that was contained and communicated there. I was in college when I first encountered The Book of Common Prayer in use in a church service. Consequently, it was much later in life that I began to recognize there might be artful ways in which my own gifts as a budding writer might be offered to the church. TIM: When did you start appreciating liturgical writings, and what was your background with them?ĭOUGLAS: I grew up in traditions that had no clearly defined liturgical practices and that, to some degree, might even have fostered a suspicion of such things as being rote and devoid of the Spirit of God. Also, I love to travel but haven’t done nearly enough of it. My indulgences are well-crafted shots of espresso and well-crafted fantasy literature. I published a few books early in my career, but over the last few years have returned to book writing as my primary vocational focus. I spent 15 years as a song lyricist, then transitioned to video work as a writer, director, and editor. I’ve been married almost 26 years and have three adult daughters and two sons-in-law. Your support is appreciated!ĭOUGLAS: I grew up in East Texas, but have spent most of my adult life in the Nashville area. You won’t pay a penny more, but I may receive a small commission which helps to cover the monthly expenses of this site. Because I envision this book becoming very important to current Christianity, as well as achieving an heirloom status, I also wanted to talk with Douglas Kaine McKelvery who penned the liturgies for “Every Moment Holy.” This book can be used for both individual and corporate devotion for everyday life.

We’ve updated the downloads section of the Every Moment Holy website to include liturgies like this one with special relevance to the coronavirus pandemic.Recently I interviewed Ned Bustard, the artist for “Every Moment Holy,” about his artwork in the book.

This liturgy is from Every Moment Holy by Doug McKelvey. That intersect our actual lives, that in all places To compassionately respond to those needs Unactionable misery that floods our awareness.Īround this globe. Or walling off our hearts because of the glut of Guard us then from shutting down our empathy Justice and mercy, healing andĪnd yes, it is your good pleasure to accomplish Unsettles us, remind us that we are but smallĪnd finite creatures, never designed to carryįor our arms are too short and our strength

#Every moment holy full

You carried the full weight of the suffering We are daily aware of more grief, O Lord,īy such news of cruelty and terror and war.