Black Sheep Ministries

for anyone who feels like an outsider; for anyone who is hurt and needs a place to heal; for anyone who need to be reminded of God's great Love. this is a safe space for all races, gender identities, sexualities, religions, and backgrounds. 💜 inbox is always open.

[blacksheepministries]

a small update

Hi everyone! 

Life has happened and this project has kind of fallen by the wayside. I might still pop in every now and then, but right now, I’m in a place where I need to pull the reins on some projects and focus on some other things. In the meantime, you can follow my personal blog at @icarusmoons (if you followed my personal before, don’t worry--I just changed the URL.). 

[ohthewitchery-blog]

modern mary magdalene aesthetic

[saintmachina]

I’ve scraped my palms bloody trying to roll away that stone, teacher mine, but it appears the Romans can keep their word after all. Does my visitation surprise you, Son of Man? Did you really expect me to wash away your memory like lamb’s blood from a doorway simply because I can no longer kiss your calloused hands, hear the Galilee in your Aramaic, doze off to the lulling rhythm of your breath? I thought you better acquainted with my stubbornness, lord. You are my Sabbath and I will observe you regardless of how many drink to your death. Where shall I begin? Your mother’s been very kind to me; she makes sure I eat and I ensure she sleeps. We are bound by blood, she says, bound by the communion wine which stained us up to the elbows when we washed and anointed your broken body. I wonder if she realizes adopting a crossroads-girl from Magdala can’t fill the hole left by a martyr-boy born under the Eastern star. Peter cannot breathe for missing you, and John weeps like a woman in labor. The rest have retreated, drawn themselves into hiding like sightless creatures blinded by the light of a new day. It’s as though everything we could have been gave up the ghost on that tree with you and now all that’s left are girls with ruined reputations and boys with scarred fishermen’s hands staring back at us from cups of bitter wine. What do you want me to say, teacher? That your people drink deep from the well of doubt, that something dark and empty roams the streets at night, crowing it’s bloody triumph from the temple walls? That every gulp of air in a world without the promise of you is like filling my lungs with poison, like drowning alive? I came to give you word of your people, Yeshua, so here it is. If ever you loved us, do not abandon us now when all we have left are riddles and parables and the hope of a third day. Do not inflict us with Sheol, with the absence of you.

Lamentation of Mary Magdalene (from the Aramaic: they have taken away my lord) by S.T. Gibson (via millennialgospel)

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

U.S. Archbishop Tells Transgender Catholic: "You Belong to the Heart of This Church" - New Ways Ministry

A leading U.S. archbishop has told a transgender Catholic that they "belong to the heart of this church" and mentioned positively the dialogue he has had with the Catholic parents of LGBTQ children.

Rory, a transgender Catholic involved with Dignity/Washington, asked Gregory, “What place do I as a confirmed transgender Catholic and what place do my queer friends have here in this archdiocese?” The archbishop replied:

“You belong to the heart of this church. There is nothing that you may do, may say, that will rip you from the heart of this church. There is a lot that has been said to you, about you, behind your back that is painful and is sinful. …We have to find a way to talk to one another, and to talk to one another not just from one perspective, but to talk and to listen to one another. I think that’s the way that Jesus ministered. He engaged people, he took them where they were at, and he invited them to go deeper, closer to God. If you’re asking me where do you fit, you fit in the family.”

[kafk-a]

Mary Oliver

[warm-nook]

[blacksheepministries]

Hi friends! I was in the midst of a job hunt and I haven’t been super active lately. Fortunately, I found a job and can return to Tumblr! 

How are you doing? 

[bimboficationblues]

“How can you say to your neighbor, ‘Go outside,’ while you are still extremely logged on? You hypocrite, first log off, and then you will see clearly to not be mad online.” - Matthew 7:4-5

[blacksheepministries]

Rachel Held Evans died today. I’m sure most of you know this by now, but I still can’t believe it. 

I didn’t know her personally, and I’m certainly not mourning in the same way as her family and friends. But I am mourning. I love her work, and she made me feel less alone in this world. I know she did the same for others. 

If you were also deeply impacted by her work, know that I am holding you in my heart. Feel free to message me at any time. If you are the praying type, pray for her loved ones. 

[mahllqh]

[prettynerdieworks]

The Prince of Egypt (1998), dir. Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner, Simon Wells

[blacksheepministries]

(via https://open.spotify.com/album/1JIIc6FIetBaCAzWkCSBjL?si=erWHL41AT4aRYKh9kX2XMQ)

I’ve been listening to this album on repeat. I’m seeing them in concert next month, so I’m trying to learn the lyrics so I can sing along...but damn, this album is so healing and calls to my God-loving/exvangelical/kinda witchy heart. 

[catholicliving]

Jesus, on multiple occasions: I’m going to die very horribly, but then I will rise from the dead three days later.

The women disciples, three days after Jesus’ death: The tomb was empty, and angels appeared and said Jesus is risen.

The Apostles:

[pastel-star-grimoire]

so i was reading the catechism

[podencos]

[shiftythrifting]

An interesting find from the Moscow, ID goodwill

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

[id: a black t shirt with large white text reading, “My God is more than just a Cosmic Sugar Daddy”] 

[fear-not-beloved]

Dear God, I don’t know all of the challenges my friends have, but You know everything. I hear their silence, You hear their prayers. I see their laughter, You see their tears. I see when they give, You see what’s been taken from them. I see their beautiful appearance, You see the scars in their soul. I experience their faith, You know their doubts. My prayer for them God is that You hear every single prayer and meet them in their need. In Jesus’ name. Amen.