Batter My Heart

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This resource relating to 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 provides a poem by John Donne (1572-1631) highlighting themes of doubt and rescue and a poem by Carrie Purcell Kahler highlighting themes of invitation and hospitality.
Paid Resource: 
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Lectionary: 
Revised Common Lectionary
Source: 
Englewood Review
Related to Children or Youth: 
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Audio/Video: 
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Full Text: 
*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 CLASSIC POEM: Batter My Heart, Three Person’d God John Donne Batter my heart, three-person’d God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. I, like an usurp’d town to another due, Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end; Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, But is captiv’d, and proves weak or untrue. Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov’d fain, But am betroth’d unto your enemy; Divorce me, untie or break that knot again, Take me to you, imprison me, for I, Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: After Rublev’s Trinity Carrie Purcell Kahler SNIPPET: Each face turned toward a face at table leaving always a space for one more. An open door to run through when someone can’t quite make it home … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]
Author: 
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Primary Author
Author: 
John Donne
role: 
Primary Author
Author: 
Carrie Purcell Kahler
Content Type: 
Key Scriptures: 
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
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RCL Lectionary Week: 
Year A Trinity Sunday
Date: 
Tuesday, May 30, 2023