First Presbyterian Church of Red Wing

Free of False Attachments Text excerpts taken from “Spiritual Formation” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by HarperOne “The spiritual life is a life in which we are set free by the Spirit of God to enjoy life in all its fullness. By this Spirit we can indeed “be in the world without being of […]

Hope Built on Promise Text excerpts taken from “The Road to Peace” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2002 by Orbis Books “Optimism arranges reality in a way that enables us to say things will get better. Pessimism arranges the same reality so that we can say things will probably get worse. When it rains, the […]

Solitude Challenges Drivenness Text excerpts taken from “The Road to Peace” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2002 by Orbis Books “Solitude comes from the word solus, meaning to be alone. People have an enormous number of things to do in life. Many of us are driven. Solitude pokes a hole in that drivenness and helps […]

Our Unique Vocation Text excerpts taken from “The Road to Peace” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2002 by Orbis Books “Each individual Christian and each community of Christians has a unique call. Everybody can’t do everything. You get out and do what the gospel is saying… There are some people who go to prison, who […]

Faithful to Your Call Text excerpts taken from “The Road to Peace” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2002 by Orbis Books “If you live a life of watching and waiting, you will know what kind of call you have. You are not called to solve every problem in the world. Jesus was not called to […]

Being Made New Text excerpts taken from “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by HarperOne. “Fear and worry can affect our interpretation of the events we see or hear about. I do believe that we are living in the end of times, but […]

A Love that Holds Us Safe Text excerpts taken from “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by HarperOne.   “We belong to God from eternity to eternity. Indeed, we are God’s daughters and sons. As beloved children, our core identity is secure in […]

Claiming God’s Unconditional Love Text excerpts taken from “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by HarperOne. “Our first and most important spiritual task is to claim God’s unconditional love for ourselves. To remember who we truly are in the memory of God. Whether […]

Come Close to God’s Heart Text excerpts taken from “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by HarperOne.   “As we come to know, more and more, that we belong to God and are part of the life of God, we also come to […]

Wounded by Religion Text excerpts taken from “Finding My Way Home” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2001 by Crossroad Publishing Company “The most insidious, divisive, and wounding power is the power used in the service of God. The number of people who “have been wounded by religion” overwhelms me. An unfriendly or judgmental word by […]

Blessed to be a Blessing Text excerpts taken from “You are the Beloved” and paraphrased by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2017 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by Convergent Books.   “It is remarkable how easy it is to bless others, to speak good things to and about them, to call forth their beauty and truth, […]

Born to Reconcile Text excerpts taken from “You are the Beloved” and paraphrased by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2017 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by Convergent Books. “If you dare to believe that you are beloved before you are born, you may suddenly realize that your life is very, very special. You become conscious that […]

Love is Stronger than Death Text excerpts taken from “You are the Beloved” and paraphrased by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2017 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by Convergent Books.   “God is Spirit and the Source of all love. Our spiritual journey calls us to seek and find this living God of love in prayer, […]

Move Toward the Light Text excerpts taken from “You are the Beloved” and paraphrased by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2017 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by Convergent Books.   “You are constantly facing choices. The question is whether you choose for God or for your own doubting self. You know what the right choice is, […]

A Simple Act of Trust Text excerpts taken from “Heart Speaks to Heart: Three Gospel Meditations on Jesus” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2007 by Ave Maria Press “O Lord, all you ask of me is a simple “yes,” a simple act of trust, so that your choices for me can bear fruit in my […]

Call Me Back to You Text excerpts taken from “Heart Speaks to Heart: Three Gospel Meditations on Jesus” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2007 by Ave Maria Press “I trust in you, Lord, but keep helping me in my many moments of distrust and doubt. They are there and will be every time I turn […]

When We Fail Text excerpts taken from “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by HarperOne. “When the truth of our identity begins to descend from our minds into our hearts, we may not feel peace and joy! How easy it is […]

  Making Choices Text excerpts taken from “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by HarperOne. “Are we working with the poor or choosing to be in solidarity with them? Are we squandering our time or seizing time as a constant opportunity […]

Looking with the Eyes of God Text excerpts taken from “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by HarperOne. “Jesus looked at the human condition with the eyes of love and tried to teach us how to look at ourselves and others […]

God’s Active Presence Text excerpts taken from “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri J.M. Nouwen © 2015 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Published by HarperOne. “Living a spiritually mature life requires listening to God’s voice within and among us. The great news of God’s revelation is not simply that “I am,” […]