tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38805111398361595732024-03-17T20:00:17.035-07:00WWPJBreflections on spiritual life, help for the journey a pilgrimage of growing faith and overcoming death. And a chance to dialogue about that.Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-53176227101253064152024-02-29T07:17:00.000-08:002024-02-29T07:17:32.365-08:00Leap Year, Day<p> I'm taking a leap of faith here on this special day and writing about the challenges we are facing currently. These thoughts are going to leap all over the place, since it's leap day.</p><p> We need to pray for our country in a big way. For many reasons. We have forgotten our responsibilities as good neighbors, recognizing we all have different stories and experiences which we are rightfully entitled to. We need to restore our valuing the neutrality of the law. It must be applied across the board to be fair, there cannot be some who are under the law and some who can escape the application of the law.</p><p> We need to make telling the truth important. It may not be convenient, but truth stands the test of what really is. We cannot make up our version of reality and call it truth. Our scripture tells us that truth will set us free, and we need to count on it being right. Law and Justice are how we take our love of neighbor and doing the right thing and apply it to people we don't know. No matter who you are, you should be entitled to fair and right applications of the law.</p><p> I wish we knew what President John F. Kennedy said when he wrote the book about all being immigrants. Even Native Americans came across the land bridge from Russia to Alaska or along the Bering Straight, thousands of years ago. Some have come to our country because of <b>family</b> who were already here. Some came because of <b>faith,</b> they could not practice and live with their understanding in the country they left. Some came because of <b>fear</b>, they were persecuted or violated and had to seek a safer place to live. Some are here in pursuit of <b>freedom</b>, they want to participate in a nation that values differences and will allow those who wish to work hard, to do so.</p><p> I wish in this day and age of such divisions that a third party should have the same access to participation in elections as the two established parties. There has to be room for compromise and working in the middle, respecting the extreme ends, but also recognizing their positive contributions. Primaries ought to be able to include other candidates running for office, rather than wait until the general election, and there should not be an exorbitant price applied to the candidates who don't belong to the two parties to be able to be included. We need to find a way to seek a middle way to be able to bring people together, otherwise we will fight each other until the whole house burns down.</p><p> I am sorry that divisions occur in the churches as well. I would hope that the power of the Holy Spirit and recognition of the role the Spirit plays in the life of the church, would help us accept each other. There are so many different levels of faith and experiences of God, that to demand we all be in the same place spiritually seems to deny the very essence of the Body of Christ is many different parts and we need each other's parts to be a healthy body of Christ.</p><p> I've told my congregations how hard it is to preach to a group of 35 different places in spiritual life. We have 4 or 5 or 6 generations (silent, boomer, gen-x, y, z, millennials) within the church. We have more than 5 church backgrounds gathered for worship (liturgical, free style, contemporary, charismatic, traditional, new age to name a few). We have a variety of musical heart languages, (Jazz, New Age, Country, Classical, Rap, Folk, Soul, to name just a few. Look at all the Sirius Station possibilities) We have people who learn better reading, or listening, or experiencing, or touching in order to comprehend. We have people who are left brained, or right brained as their dominant sphere for learning. We have people who are young, or old, married or divorced or always single. We have folks who are not yet followers of Jesus, newly baptized or committed followers of Jesus, we have folks who turned their whole life over to Jesus as Lord, not just Savior. We have people who are stalled in their spiritual progress and are wondering what comes next. Many of the folks in a church when they can't find out what they need, claim they are not being fed and try to wander off, or drift out, and really missing what God may have to offer them. I would love for people to have more acceptance and value the differences and work with that.</p><p> We are all just children of the same God. Can we re-emphasize that and learn to live together. We will accomplish so much more.</p><p>Pastor Jeff</p><p>February 29, 2024</p><p><br /></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-29526470117601100162023-07-21T12:55:00.001-07:002023-07-21T12:55:28.182-07:00Upate on Mill Creek Parish<p> I'm writing to update you on my life in ministry. I'm going to be appointed full time to Mill Creek Parish starting in January as the current pastor Joan Carter-Rimbach is retiring Dec. 31. We do not know how long the interim appointment will be for. They have had 5 pastor's in ten years and I hope that having been on staff for a while and moving to Senior Pastor will help them feel secure as they come out of the covid pandemic.</p><p> Please keep this in your prayers, thank you.</p><p>Pastor Jeff</p><p><br /></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-15531496794406901432022-08-17T10:07:00.001-07:002022-08-17T10:07:55.801-07:00<p> Dear Friends</p><p> I'm the associate pastor at Mill Creek Parish in Derwood, MD these days. I have just completed the four Sundays serving in worship while our Pastor Rev. Joan Carter-Rimbach was on vacation.</p><p> I offer the four sermons that I preached there this summer for you to look at if you would like by going to Mill Creek Parish. org. follow the Worship button and see sermons.</p><p> The series is on the vision of Mill Creek Parish, Disciples are MADE at Mill Creek. The four letters represent the ways Discipleship, students of Jesus develop and are encouraged at Mill Creek Parish.</p><p> M stands for Mission</p><p> A stands for Adoration</p><p> D stands for Discipleship</p><p> E stand for Embrace your neighbor</p><p><br /></p><p> The four week series of sermons was to high light the four letters and to give encouragement for being involved in each of those areas as those who are developing their following Jesus.</p><p> I recommend you go and watch them.</p><p>Thank you, and blessings to you all.</p><p>Pastor Jeff</p><p><br /></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-19167622519592162672022-05-11T13:04:00.000-07:002022-05-11T13:04:52.280-07:00Do I Stay Christian?<p> The other day I had lunch with Brian McLaren, an author of many books, and a former neighboring pastor. Our lunch the other day was with 135 of his friends, via zoom, but it did bring back memories of our occasional lunches back in the days when our churches were close by. Brian was presenting his latest book <u>Do I Stay Christian?</u>, coming out next week, on the issues facing Christians who are aware of how much negative publicity and public opinion have come upon Christians lately. It was a fascinating conversation, and I will put that book in my Kindle as soon as it's available. Perhaps I'll do more blogging when I've had a chance read it and reflect upon it.</p><p> The main point is that for some followers of Jesus, the problem is the label "Christian" rather than the commitment to follow Jesus. This problem has occurred over time in other cultures, and in other times in history. We may just face more backlash now because of Social Media and piles of news and stories about fallen Christian leaders. For many very conscientious followers it is very difficult to find ourselves in so much pain. Christian has been a good label for a long time, now not so much.</p><p> If you haven't confronted anyone who says they don't know whether to be Christian or not, or they say they are not religious, but they are spiritual, that's a part of the conversation that I am talking about. I would have to agree, it's a very tough time to be a pastor trying to encourage people to be followers of Jesus, and not be "Christians" because of the negativity associated with this word.</p><p> To give you some ideas, the label gets put with some who attacked the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. For some the label goes with the news that Jerry Falwell has been ousted from his leadership of the largest Christian University because of sexual scandals and objectionable behavior for a Christian University leader. Or maybe it's in the face of several major mega church leaders who have fallen from grace because of sexual unfaithfulness or other accusations of inappropriate behavior as a church leader.</p><p> In other cases it's that there is now an association with"Christian" and racial hatred especially anti non-white people. Whether it be African Americans who have been here over 400 years or new immigrants who have fled the horrors of persecution to come to a better life in the US. Or even toward native American, who have been here for thousands of years, after coming across the land bridge between Russia and Alaska, and then wandering down the coast and across the nations. Many have decried and complained and hurt people who are not white in the name of religion. And yet, our faith is very, very clear we are to welcome the stranger, and to support immigrants as people of faith, because we are to remember, as Scripture reminds us often, that we too were immigrants in Egypt before Moses led the people to freedom.</p><p> In still other cases, the wanting to distance ourselves from the name of Christian, is because there is a lot of anti-science and anti acceptance of truth from scientific resources. Over 1 million citizens died because of Covid. The best prevention is vaccination and yet many church pastors have spoken out in their pulpits against vaccinations. Those outside the church, yet believers, don't want to be connected to that kind of attitude if it represents their faith. Global warming is another topic which some Christians are trying to deny exists, yet Scripture clearly demands that we are responsible and stewards of our mother earth. It becomes the difference between what our Scripture teaches us and what we say and do. The farther apart this is, the more likely people are going to want to get away from Christians.</p><p><br /></p><p> Love One Another, is the summary of what Jesus taught. In the years before Christianity changed from being persecuted by the Romans, to making it the official faith of the Empire, was the discovery of how much Christians loved one another, and loved their neighbors, especially in difficult times. Christians nursed sick Romans back to health, when the healthy Romans fled the disease. When the sick recovered, they realized what a blessing being cared for by one who practiced loving one another really meant. It changed the world.</p><p> Now we are in a similar opportunity. With so much strife, hatred, confusion, grief and lack of hope, we need to love one another, more than ever. Maybe we just need to figure out a better way to put a label on our love. Follower of Jesus, may work for a while, and we choose not to mention Christian, so that we don't put a barrier up to being able to share the faith. St. Paul had a lot to say about doing what is needed in order to win some who doubt, over to the Jesus follower side. Try it, you'll like it!</p><p><span> Blessings</span><br /></p><p><span><span> Pastor Jeff</span><br /></span></p><p><span><span><br /></span></span></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-23707882059189264022022-02-05T11:09:00.000-08:002022-02-05T11:09:15.697-08:00The Struggle of Low Morale in Churches<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Do you agree that clergy morale is currently at a low ebb? If so, what factors are contributing to this low morale? </span></p><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> I would have to agree that clergy morale is low for several reasons. The cartoon/photos of a person juggling a couple of balls to represent Seminary and the photo of several balls in the air to represent the actual church, and the hands reaching out of the ball pit representing the current situation is right on. It was on facebook, I believe.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> One of my contributing factors is that the resources we have to do the ministry we were trained to do has shriveled up. People to volunteer, money to do ministry, and the training to operate in the current situations are all extremely volatile. I was trained 45 years ago by teachers who were themselves in ministry 30 years prior to that teaching. What worked for them has not spanned the distance from their experience to ours in the world today. They taught us what succeeded for them, which I appreciated, but realized, especially recently that mindset is not really available anymore. As the church participants aged, and we are in the most vulnerable to be sick profile, they held back their participation. The loss of gathering for obvious reasons, affected the income sources. The givers in the church responded after a while, but the rental income was severely cut off. Right after the book published to help churches to diversify their income streams to rentals came out, by the way.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: trebuchet ms, lucida grande, lucida sans unicode, lucida sans, tahoma, sans-serif;"> Another major factor in reducing morale, I think, was the challenges related to the political atmosphere and the racial tension in the air. We've probably not been good at those, but the news and the tension in the air, certainly pushed those issues to the surface more readily. The Covid pandemic and the response, or lack of support for the common sense vaccinations and common decency to all wear masks, added to the difficulty of creating a supportive community we once knew was the congregation. The lack of support from media and the highly publicized controversy from religious leaders as well, doomed our chances of working together and hope of seeing any kind of progress. since we are being "results oriented" for so long, can really take its toll on you when all your numbers are going down and look like they will for a while as well.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Producing quality online services required a great deal of flexibility and a change from a verbal to a visual skill, I think that hurt some who were more verbally skilled and couldn't quite get the hang of everything needed to do quality visuals. Too much was just talking heads for the online experience, rather than the amount of video that was available to help in worship. The abundance of that material required an exorbitant amount of time to review and get permission to use in an online worship experience.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Another factor is the shriveling of the attention span for most adults. We were trained that a 30 minute sermon was required, especially to use all the background resources and research. Today 7 minutes of attention span or less is available to the average human, camera angles, changes in scenery on all forms of media makes talking to people a burden, if you are not conscious of the need to change focus every 6 or 7 minutes. Being creative in the sermon/message slot took on a whole different approach and not having real comfort in that ability has lowered the morale of preachers.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Finally, what strategies can clergy engage in to help them deal with low morale?</span><br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Our clergy cluster group, all UMC pastors in a region, found that we needed/wanted more time together to help each other, to be a listening and supportive colleague so much more important than just gathering to coordinate church calendars and the requests from the conference for agenda and support items. We offered each other what was working and became less competitive than we had previously.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> I think we are going to need a lot more resources given to us to train us in dealing with the ever changing world views among our communities and parish participants. In our UMC world, we are going to need a great deal more support for the loss of certifiable progress, we have been so numbers conscious, baptism, conversion, small group participation, volunteers, worship attendance, finances, that are all not very good in comparison to former years, can really hurt morale. It is hard for a supervisor to say well done thou good and faithful servant, when it looks like you are seeing the destruction of Jerusalem going on all around you.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Anyhow, enough ranting and raving. I retired, thinking I could help my church recover some of the income they were paying me. I had a promise of another appointment, thinking I could offer a whole package of ministry for a lot less being retired, that hasn't happened yet, which is affecting my morale too, is all a part of the scene.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> Thank you for listening to all of this.</span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "comic sans ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Pastor Jeff</span></div><div><span style="color: #202020; font-family: "trebuchet ms", "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-50786062111793845542021-12-17T11:37:00.000-08:002021-12-17T11:37:15.994-08:00And When's the Shift Over?<p> <b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 20px;">And When is the Shift over?</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Thoughts on a recent Seth Grodin blog</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“<i>If you sell your time as the measure of the work you do, the work is over when the shift ends. Clock in, clock out.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>If you sell your output as the measure of the work, your work is over when the inbox is empty. Once you’ve made all the pizzas that were ordered, you’re done.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>But more and more, our work can be endless. One more sales call might lead to one more sale. One more cycle of innovation might lead to the breakthrough we’ve been looking for. One more post might get you the traffic you’re on the hook for.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>In a competitive marketplace, self-regulating the length of our shift is a lot to ask. Given that the list of things to do is intentionally endless, it’s on each of us to decide what ‘enough’ looks like. Because more time isn’t always the answer.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Seth Godin blog 12/16/21</i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This got me thinking, especially as a retired UMC pastor in this crazy Advent Season.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So much of our time and responsibility is dictated by our church expectations. Perhaps as the lone pastor almost everything falls upon you. You never get to the end of the list or the task, and you never get to invest in something new that might break the cycle, or bring you much needed help, or a new direction that brings forth spiritual life and health. Clock in, clock out. And the pandemic has added a whole new set of tasks of some kind.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We’ve just come through the Charge Conference season, the measure of our work, how many people, how are the finances, how many disciples, how many baptisms or new commitments, what’s your attendance at worship? And then on top of that, there is the evaluation, by your hand and by your SPRC and all your efforts boils down to “meets expectations” or “needs improvement”. Because that’s all the time we really have. Once, you’ve made all the pizzas, sermons, visits, meetings, you’re done.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">More and more that can be endless. And yet, in reading or listening to a blog, or attending a seminar or hearing an inspiring speaker, a pastor who made great strides, you suddenly know it, the one more, call, visit, blog, program, new idea that might just be what’s going to get you above the last year’s numbers. But where does that time come from? How do we break out of the past and move forward into new life?</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I have to confess that I would cheat on the to do list, because I knew the something new would make a bigger difference. Adding a mid-week worship and Bible Study would involve a lot of time, that would have to come away from some visiting, or little meetings that didn’t improve the Realm and Community of God at all. And the skipping some of those parts to bring new life, would cost me dearly in the complaints department, he/she is not doing their job, they haven’t such and such. And the new people that are coming are sitting in my seat, so it’s time to get the Bishop to move the pastor, before they ruin everything.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As Seth reminds us, we are in a competitive marketplace, and self regulating our shift or our to do list, is a lot to ask. And since the expectations are endless, it’s up to us to decide what the appropriate effort looks like. Now if we could only have support for the changes from someone who sees the bigger picture, and not just silencing the cranky SPRC person who demands a change. We might even see a new year and progress and new people blessed.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s my prayer, may it be yours as well.</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jeff Jones</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Retired and still willing to make a difference.</p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-35360534364323708232021-11-24T08:00:00.003-08:002021-11-24T08:00:53.106-08:00Can Gratitude Help you Change?<p> <b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Day 5</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><b>Has something in your life been changed </b><i>by </i><b>being grateful?</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is a tough question at first glance. I don’t know that something specific has happened because I’m grateful. But looking back over life, even these two very difficult years, I’ve found plenty to be grateful for. I think the gratitude component has kept me from going too deeply into discouragement. I find that most of life is not what we conjure up in our own vivid imaginations. When we go with what we imagined, it will always disappoint us. Too much emphasis on the what "didn’t happen" can drag you down tremendously.</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One of my antidotes to that kind of discouragement is a list of thanksgiving hymns and songs, and listening to them has been a great relief. May I recommend you spend some time over this weekend to look up some of your favorite hymns and songs of thanksgiving using YouTube as your source. Many churches and Christian artists have posted their versions of the hymns on YouTube. Use the search box, and type in your hymn and be prepared to see a long list and some songs that might go along with your search. Listen to a few, and it will give you a sense of gratitude that could help you change your emotional state, at least at the moment. Go ahead and try it. Don’t be afraid of newer versions or instrumentation either. Some of the videos are gorgeous in their depictions of the words and thoughts of the hymns as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My shortened list includes: We Gather Together, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, The Doxology, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Come Ye Thankful people, come, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart, and To God Be The Glory. You are welcomed to add your own. I’m also a big fan of Apple Music and have found many instrumentally rendered versions of these songs that you can listen to. My sound track has a bunch of Thanksgiving Dinner background albums to play while I’m working and writing and answering emails, especially this week. In a few days, I’ll switch over to Christmas Music.</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Since the topic is change, I’ll wrestle with what kinds of things do I want to do differently moving forward? Can I show more gratitude to people who touch my life somehow? I read recently how important it is to verbalize our thanks to people we encounter on a daily basis. You might want to try and thank the cashier at the grocery store, or thank the delivery person, by going out of your way to say something. I’m sure you can think of people you might encounter who could be really blessed by your thanking them. McDonald’s window people?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Another change for gratitude reasons would be to develop your meditation time, devotional reading, going to church or watching church if you can't go or shouldn't go. Extend how much time you actually spend in prayer. Time it sometime and see how long you do pray. This will shock you at how little it actually is sometimes. So in gratitude to God, pray more, and remember Anne Lamot's advice your prayer should include Help, Thanks, and Wow.</span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As promised early on in this blog series, here is a complete worship service from last year at my church, when we were on zoom and recording them. You are welcome to advance to the parts you are really interested in. You might find that slowing down to worship will help your soul a whole lot more. I know you have a dozen things you have to do still, but sometimes you can get more done after you are refreshed, than pushing through just to do them.</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Have a blessed Thanksgiving.</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Pastor Jeff</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Here is a complete Thanksgiving Worship service</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkw1Ed6n1rI&t=200s</p><p class="p5" style="color: #dca10d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkw1Ed6n1rI&t=200s"><b>NBUMC Worship 11 22 2020 - YouTube</b></a></span></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-63797376704946880152021-11-23T08:37:00.000-08:002021-11-23T08:37:09.856-08:00Discover Gratitude Within<p> <b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;"><i>Day 4<span> </span></i></b><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">Where have you discovered gratitude </b><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px;">within?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b><i></i></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We so often jump to what I need or want when we pray, that finding time to be grateful within, for the answers to prayer from previous occasions, takes some doing. We have to force ourselves sometimes to slow down and think about what we are truly thankful for.</i></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b><i></i></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“</i></b>Tomorrow start spending five minutes each morning looking at God alone, giving all glory and worship to Him. List as many attributes as you can remember. List His creations. It gets much easier the more you do it. Soon you won’t have to set your timer. I promised<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>your life will never be the same again.” (Teaching Kids Authentic Worship)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In this lesson on worship, I’ve begun setting my watch for a five minute period to start with gratitude.I also name as many things as I can be thankful for. Some days I look at each decade of my life to remember where God has blessed me in difficult circumstances. Some days I think and name the people who have touched my life, for which I am grateful. Sometimes I begin with favorite hymns that have blessed my life. This hymn from Carolyn Winfrey Gillette sums up an element of giving thanks in this difficult period of time too.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b><i></i></b><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px; text-align: center;"><b><i>A hymn for Thanksgiving</i></b></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px; text-align: center;"><b>God, Your Blessings Overflow</b></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px; text-align: center;"><b>DIX 7.7.7.7.7.7 ("For the Beauty of the Earth")</b></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">God, your blessings overflow! What can we begin to say?<br />How can we begin to show, All our gratitude this day?<br />God, we join to worship you, Giving thanks for all you do.</p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Thank you for the life you give, For each friend and family,<br />For the land in which we live, For your love that sets us free.<br />Thank you, God, for daily bread, And for feasts of joy you spread.</p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Yet at tables where we share, Sometimes there is also pain.<br />There may be an empty chair: When will we feel whole again?<br />When our days of grief are long, Thank you that your love is strong.</p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">So we join in thanks this day, So your gifts we freely share,<br />So we follow Christ the Way, Loving, serving everywhere.<br />Spirit, may our lives express, All our daily thankfulness.</p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p7" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Tune: Conrad Kocher, 1838, in chorale <i>Treuer Heiland</i> ("For the Beauty of the Earth") <a href="https://carolynshymns.com/midifiles/dix.midi"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;"><b>(MIDI)</b></span></a><br />Text: Copyright © 1998 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.<br />Copied from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0664501346?ie=UTF8&tag=limespresbchu-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0664501346"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;"><b><i>Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship</i></b></span></a> by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Geneva Press, 2000).</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I also have begun to collect books on gratitude and thanksgiving. If you struggle with wanting to be more grateful within, I would recommend these books. I am grateful that Kindle has made my book buying so much easier. My mother was a librarian and taught me to love books. I always needed support for an idea and I would forget where I got it, but thankfully the books were nearby. My Doctor of Ministry taught me to save my books, heavily underlined, so that I could defend my dissertation easily. Hoarding can be a result of that attitude. Now I struggle to get rid of books in retirement., a story for another day, back to recommendations.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Deborah Norville <span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Thank You Power</span>. Great beginning to see the power and blessings of gratitude. Margaret Visser <span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Gift of Thanks: The roots and rituals of Gratitude</span> can point you in several directions. Diane Butler Bass <span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Grateful</span> can be another way to develop a grateful heart. Anne Lamott <span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Help Thanks Wow</span> is more about prayer, but it essentially reminds us of how much gratitude and thanks giving should be done related to our time with God. Dallas Willard, a great resource for developing your whole spiritual life has a book on the 23rd Psalm that helps us see gratitude as well. <span class="s2" style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Life Without Lack.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As my mother reminded me of how important sending thank you cards were after receiving gifts, we need to apply that to God’s touch upon our lives. Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tomorrow I’m going to share a link to a thanksgiving service for you to use either Wednesday night or Thursday morning to help you spend time with gratitude. I hope that the music, the prayers and the sharing of gratitude included in it will develop your gratitude within muscles.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Thank you for joining me in this journey of gratitude and thanksgiving. I am truly grateful that you stopped by to read this as well. Share with a friend who may need some encouragement and hope, especially now. We have been talking about the empty seats at the table this year. Like the hymn above, we remember those who cannot join us at the table and pause to remember them. May the Holy Spirit comfort you when you do that as a sign of gratitude for their footprint on your life.</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Blessings</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pastor Jeff</p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p8" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 46px;">To be continued….</p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-14150520796850411662021-11-22T08:24:00.001-08:002021-11-22T08:24:46.500-08:00Gratitude with Others<p> <i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Have you been grateful With Others?</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Day 3 of my Attitude of Gratitude series leading up to Thanksgiving, I want to reflect on those moments when I have been grateful with others. I take this question from Diane Butler Bass, to mean celebrations that included other people in the gratitude.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Growing up, my family would head to Quakertown PA each thanksgiving to gather with my mother’s family. She had 2 brothers and a sister, and they would all gather at the oldest brother’s old country house for a weekend of feasting and family time. It was the one time a year, I would see all my cousins. There would be 12 of us cousins, I was the oldest by just a couple of months, we would get our own table, as many families do and remember I didn’t get to join the adult table until I was in 9th grade.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We pretended we were a poor Kennedy clan. Kelly and Irish after all, it was fun. There were three seminary graduates in the mix, a business man, and entrepreneur and a couple of school teachers among the adults. My other aunt was a secretary for my uncle. The host uncle was a former Pan Am pilot, had his own plane, and would fly us places on Friday just for fun. We buzzed the Statue of Liberty, kind of, once.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I became a pastor there were Thanksgiving Eve services each year and those were always a chance to be grateful with others. My grandmother on my dad’s side always said we were descendants of William Bradford and the pilgrims. I developed a William Bradford story of Plymouth Plantation sermon in costume for those Wednesday night services. I even had the chance to camp in a trailer on Cape Cod and visit Plymouth a couple of times to help with the character development. I’ve done William Bradford for school thanksgiving events and for Elaine’s apartment complexes on occasions of Thanksgiving feasts for the residents.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Giving thanks with others, reminds us of how important community is. This pandemic has broken those apart, and I look forward to a chance to reconnect with community in those feasts and services in the coming future post pandemic. We truly need each other, and our gifts and experiences involve others, so saying thank you to God for that gift of fellowship is very important.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I’m also very aware how different everyone’s experiences are as well. For some Thanksgiving is a very lonely time, especially if you don’t have that kind of family or they are spread far apart and travel is difficult or impossible. For others in this particular environment we are in now, Thanksgiving may be extremely difficult because we want to avoid the class of ideologies, political persuasions, and comments on the current events. It’s so sad that a time of looking outward toward our Creator, has become such an inward focus for many. WE must find a way to change to focus back to God to enable us to get through some of this acrimony we are experiencing.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So your mission, should you decide to accept it? Is to focus on sharing God’s love with others. Looking for ways to help others experience Thanksgiving to the Creator. Maybe you can give money to an organization feeding others. Perhaps you can go and feed the hungry in community and homeless shelters. Perhaps you can focus on remembering the blessings of community and give thanks for that. You might even want to extend an invitation to your own meal to people who might be alone at this time.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you are traveling in order to give thanks with others, be careful. Pray for safe journeys and good gatherings. Be patient with fellow travelers, please. These are very hectic times for the travel industry as well as those who want to get someplace special for the Thanksgiving celebration. Say thank you to the ticket agents, the baggage handlers, the travel assistants you may encounter. They are feeling very anxious, considering how many anger and violent issues have surfaced lately. Please be careful out there.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. Especially those with others in gratitude.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Pastor Jeff</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 23px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tomorrow, gratitude within explored.</i></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-6158687956879063212021-11-20T08:15:00.005-08:002021-11-20T08:15:50.036-08:00Thanksgiving in the midst of Challenges<p> <b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><i>What challenges have you been grateful </i></b><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">through?</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Day 2</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is much harder to do, because it doesn’t generally fit in your grateful/thankful list. But as I look back and try to think of where I am today and how I got here, there are some challenges that have become moments of thanks.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One of them is what happened at the end of Vietnam War. I was drafted and my number was 005, automatic. I received a student different since I was already in school. The war ended and the draft was suspended in the second half of my senior year, well after enrollment in seminary had come and gone. I was going to do my two years of alternate service for my country and had put off seminary for that reason. Then all of a sudden, I needed enrollment in seminary. I made the call to see, since I had missed ALL of the deadlines. Surprise, they had several openings all of a sudden, when many dropped out because the war was over. Not only did they have room, they suddenly had scholarship money available too. And If I wanted, I could do a summer internship just before Fall semester for Scholarship help as well. So what went from a challenge, became a whole slew of thankful moments.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Another challenge related to my first appointment in ministry. I had 3 small country churches on a charge, as UMC folks call them. After 3 years, Number 1 wanted to vote me off the Island. Number 2 loved what I was doing and wanted me to stay, and the 3rd did not want to break the tie. My superintendent met with them, and then told me not to worry, they had a great place for me next. It turned out to be my grandmother’s church in Baltimore City. That developed into a Cooperative Parish and I thoroughly enjoyed my ministry there. I could ride a bus to Memorial Stadium to watch the Orioles play, when they were in playoffs and World Series.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Many other adventures, but they might not have happened had the churches not been able to come to a consensus about my ministry. We had seen a great deal of growth and the church that voted me off the island, that was afraid the church would change too much if I stayed.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Another challenge was the sudden death of my mother in an auto accident on our younger son’s birthday even. In the midst of the awful shock, I came to see far more how others feel in tragedy. In the long run, it made me a much better pastor, especially to the grieving people in my churches. I also learned how helpful having family and friends rally around when there is a tragedy. A gift I might not have discovered. When the Beltway Sniper killed a church member, I was able to provide a great deal of comfort to the family and to the church because of my awareness of the tragedy and its pain.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In my divorce, I learned that what I thought meant the end of my ministry became a feature to understand 1/2 of my community where divorce occurs. Suddenly members of my congregation returned because they knew I would understand. Many of my leaders offered help because they too were divorced and re-married. It also made me very aware of how precious family can be and I am very sorry that I wasn’t aware of that before this. Pastoral ministry, especially living in the fishbowl next to the church, can have a tremendous impact on family. I’m not suggesting pastors have to endure all the challenges and hardships, but simply recognize a roll they play in helping others. In the church world it’s an example of Incarnation. God is with us, in our messy situations. Jesus born in a manger under Roman Domination, and persecution, help us realize that God does understand us, in ways we may not be aware of when most of life is going well.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Portraying William Bradford, of Pilgrim fame, put me in touch with </i><span class="s1" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><i>Of Plymouth Plantation</i></span><i>, fame, which introduced a whole level of tragedy and struggle over come to come to America. The myth of Thanksgiving we live with now, needs to be recovered with a sense of reality. But there are many really helpful and worthwhile lessons in that story for which we can be thankful in the challenge. Did you know that Squanto, the Native American who was so helpful to the Pilgrims, was captures by pirates, sold into slavery in Spain, escaped, walked across Europe, was rescued by monks, became a Christian and was helped to return to his native land. All just before he wad able to speak the language and the spiritual heart of those who he was helping in Plymouth. Fascinating story. So is the adventures of the pilgrims in Holland before they migrated to North America. To them it was Egyptian slavery and deliverance just like Old Testament story. Great reading and a real lesson on how we can be grateful in challenges.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So thank you Diane Butler Bass, for pointing us in the direction of giving thanks through challenges and tragedies. May each of you find some places that can become sources of gratitude that weren’t there originally in the midst of the mess.</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>Blessings</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><i></i><br /></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 23px;"><i>Pastor Jeff</i></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-1895270205364088192021-11-19T07:21:00.000-08:002021-11-19T07:21:04.595-08:00Thoughts for Thanksgiving<p> I'm starting a set of thoughts for Thanksgiving today, leading up to next Thursday<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">.</span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>To </i><b>whom or what are you grateful</b><i>?<br /></i><b>What challenges have you been grateful </b><i>through?<br /></i><b>Have you been grateful </b><i>with </i><b>others?<br />Where have you discovered gratitude </b><i>within?<br /></i><b>Has something in your life been changed </b><i>by </i><b>being grateful?</b><i><br />In </i><b>what circumstances have you experienced thankfulness?</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>(Diane Butler Bass) from The Cottage</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p5" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 2px;"><i>To </i><b><i>whom or what are you grateful?</i></b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Day 1</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Giving thanks to Diane Butler Bass for her suggestions about what to consider for Thanksgiving instead of the usual “what are you grateful for?”</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>First of all I am grateful to God for the whole set of blessings in life in 70 years of it. They include what everybody would agree are blessings, and would also include the adversity I’ve had to go through, but that brought new qualities for which I’m grateful for as well. I’ll bring up the challenges I’ve been through in the next day’s sharing.</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>I am also very grateful for people who have blessed me in a life time of encounters.</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I would have to include an English teacher in High School who pushed me so hard, that it improved my SAT scores, that would not have happened had she not have been so pushy.</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I would have to include a College professor, who enabled me to expand my understanding of people who have totally different perspectives than mine, and allow me to grow in appreciation for the diversity and made it possible for me to accept far more people in the rest of my life because of that.</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I would have to include teachers who introduced me to the value of drama and theater. It turned out, the class was to fulfill a credit, but years later proved to be extremely valuable. I was able to develop a whole set of Biblical and Historical characters for preaching and other celebrations, from what I learned in those classes. Taking part in theatrical productions, was a great gift.</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I would have to include a Seminary teacher who opened my eyes to a wider variety of worship styles that served me well in 46+ years of ministry and worship leadership. It was particularly helpful during the Covid Pandemic when we had to pivot to different forms of worship away from the sanctuary. Having a strong foundation of options, made that easier.</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I must give thanks for a dozen or so church leaders, who supported my ministry in official and unofficial capacities in those 9 congregations I served. They offered understanding, wise advice, and often the kind of walking along beside me, that I needed.</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I must give thanks to several church staff members, who understood what I was trying to do and added their talents and inspiration to help us move in new directions. There are so many components of church life, no one person can manage it all.</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I must also give thanks to the agitators in those congregations. Some really taught me to see other components. Some were destructive in their fighting against what needed to be done. I’m grateful in a sense, that I survived those encounters and that it brought me some patience in tough circumstances. Like Peter sinking into the lake because he took his eyes off of Jesus and became aware of his surroundings, Jesus reached out and pulled me out.</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>There were moments and events to which I am thankful</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I just happened to be at General Conference when Cooperative Parish legislation was being discussed in a legislative section. I happened to be in a Cooperative Parish setting. I was invited to help the section deal with the legislation and ended up being included in the UMC Discipline because of that, even anonymously.</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Four years later, because of my historical character portrayals, I became Thomas Coke meeting Francis Asbury at the original site in Delaware, for the whole world council of Bishops before the historic General Conference in Baltimore in 1984. It was a thrill to be a key part in that celebration. Right time right place, I had no idea. Grateful for those memories.</b></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There are also fun weddings, great moments in a congregations history, Volunteers In Missions trips and much more, that I am recalling in my quest to be truly thankful for with the help of other people. I never could have imagined starting out that these moments and people would be included in my life time.</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Before leaving today’s reflection…</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I am truly grateful for my parents, who blessed me on my way. Who taught me what is really important, and who showed how God is the primary mover and shaper of life. On this day of my mother’s birthday, I remember all that she blessed me with, thanks Mom.</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>May you be blessed and grateful for The Who that blessed you.</b></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b></b><br /></p><p class="p6" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 23px;"><b>Pastor Jeff</b></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-62244680114221903712021-11-12T09:24:00.000-08:002021-11-12T09:24:00.438-08:00An Occasional Rant <p> Good Morning, I'm trying to keep this more upbeat.</p><p> On Oct 18 Elaine and I were rear-ended in traffic on our way home. The young driver was trying to merge out of a lane that was soon ending, and I was stopped because of the bumper to bumper traffic in front of me. WHAM, and it was very loud. Elaine suffered a little whiplash and is still working on the recovery. She missed a day of work for the discomfort. Thank God there is insurance on both parties.</p><p> But what if there wasn't insurance and even insurance works in an insulated and out of touch time frame. Our car was towed to the lot the police said it should be towed to. So we had to get our insurance company to tow it to the acceptable repair shop. If it's not on their list, they can't pay for it as quickly, they say, and we become responsible for the initial payments until reimbursement comes. What if you can't afford that big an outlay first?</p><p> We got a rental car, but insurance doesn't cover the whole time you need it for. Parts are delayed because of Covid, of course, and it takes longer than anyone thought. But the clock stops on the rental anyway. WE have to pick up the tab for that, with the hope the other insurance company will reimburse us, someday, but in the mean time, our money goes away for this.</p><p> Today we returned the rental car, because it's so expensive to keep, and we were promised our car would be ready. Well it's not, something else was discovered as they were testing it to return to us. so another weekend and another week to go, maybe. I'm glad my PT is done, following my hip replacement surgery, so I can manage without a car, unless something comes up. This is going to add to the diminished value of our car, should we decide that because the damage was more than they expected, we will be very nervous about driving it. More on our nervous system.</p><p> In the middle of this 25 day car hassle, Elaine's cousin died of complications from Covid. Now we are trying to juggle that, and the service they have asked me to lead to bring them some comfort from a familiar voice, and juggling how we can manage the disruption of life again, one on top of another.</p><p> Covid has had influences on life, far more than we anticipated when this began. The Covid pandemic has altered the way we live on so many levels, that we aren't recognizing until an auto accident or injury introduces into the mix. We human beings need personal touch and support and connections, and for the family, not sure if it's wise with Covid in the mix, to do the normal, gathering, comforting, hugging each other things. Even the Funeral is going to be a hybrid, some in person, many on zoom, in order not to add to the devastating numbers, in our family and in general. Early on, weddings and funerals were the biggest spreader events, and we remember that. How Long Oh Lord! occurs to many of us in the middle of all of this.</p><p> My rant, or discomfort, or blurting out, is because life has become so more complicated as we move on. Being a child was so easy, Mom and Dad, handled everything. Food was there, Homework, but all our friends were doing that too, and life seemed to be normal. Now people we love die, routines are disrupted and it may take weeks for what needs to happen to actually happen. People are not in touch with each other as we used to be. Animated phone calls can't help explain the unique circumstances that tragedy can inflict, and so we wait for a real person who has some power to do something unique because the computerized system doesn't know what Covid does to delivery schedules. But the real people decided that this was all too crazy and the highest number of people who did work, are quitting than has happened in 25 years. The vacancies are keeping us from getting answers...</p><p> Speaking of job hunting. it used to be said, it's who you know that counts, but the who you know has turned over the job hunt to an animated system like Zip Recruiter, or Indeed or many others. The computer looks for trigger words that might fit the criteria, but if your resume doesn't know to include the trigger words, because you have done a unique and effective job but can't translate that to computerize, you can't get past the long line of applicants to fit the right job. My parents and Grandparents on both sides of my family lived into their 90's, which means I may be going into 100, if you just take the average increase of longevity from one generation to the next these days. I would love to continue to contribute using my talents and experience as long as I can. Moses didn't start until he was 80 for Pete's sake, But computer reviews look at the Date of Birth and discount you, not knowing a thing about you. When will this begin to be reviewed and reconsidered. How desperate do we have to be to rage against the machine....</p><p> Okay, I've sounded off enough. I thank God, I can pray about this, and find comfort in God's presence with me in the middle of all of this. I wonder how people without faith resources are managing?</p><p> Until next time, may God Bless you in ways you can recognize.</p><p>Retired and waiting Pastor Jeff</p><p><br /></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-12143386296298390612021-11-03T08:39:00.001-07:002021-11-03T08:39:21.996-07:00Today is for This and That<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Today is for this and that.</span></p><p>Several ideas are rolling around in my head today, so I thought I would share them.</p><p><b><i>Election & the importance of being good citizens</i></b></p><p>Watching the election results and seeing the see saw affect taking place, I wonder if we are going to be stuck in that for a while. Maybe, as some have suggested, our two party system is broken and we may need to find a new way to go about gathering together and supporting people we think can offer the best solutions for our multiple problems. I know going independent is almost a kiss of death for candidates, so they fall back into red or blue rather than being able to set up what should be a good platform of ideas. Somehow, we need to re read the inspirational writings of the <u>Federalist Papers</u> and other calls to democracy to understand how this might work going forward. I did run for Congress four years ago and learned several things, I just have not been able to focus on them given the system as it is. You might want to look into Citizens Unite, a third party idea for regaining some perspective in the process for going forward.</p><p><b><i>Church Vitality requires developing disciples</i></b></p><p> Watching what Covid did to churches, and watching the election results, and hearing from my friends in the church world, I believe we need a new way to develop fully devoted followers of Jesus. As I think about what's next for me, Discipleship Development, or whatever you want to call it is going to be a necessary part of any plan to bring vitality to the church. We have fallen down on knowing Jesus well enough to do what he would do in our variety of situations. Maybe because there are so many ideas, we end up being confused, or only partially hearing the message. Information overload is very powerful, at keeping us overwhelmed and in-active. There are so many divisions in the life of the Body of Christ, that we need to find a way to move forward in that world. Today I read an article about culturally diverse congregations are stronger than single culture churches, especially for today and going forward. It reminds us of what St. Paul said, that the body has many different parts, and the eye cannot say to the ear, I don't need you. But how do we make that work? What can motivate us to work harder at getting to know Jesus so well, we know how to act. He was the example we are to follow. Maybe we need a renewed emphasis on Gospel reading and digesting. Some of the answers will lie in stretching our attention span, reading larger sections in order to grow in understanding. John Wesley sure had a good idea about gathering people together to reflect and grow.</p><p><b><i>All of the above need a village, a community for support</i></b></p><p> This leads me to wondering how do we develop support groups for growing discipleship. Can we carve out time to get together in order to encourage each other to faithFULLness? I love St. Benedict for the reasons that he offered a support system that was a blend of study and work, He knew both were needed, and during a dark time in world history, his communities provided a way forward. We are in similar circumstances right now. As Rick Warren prepares to retire his <u>Purpose Driven Life</u> and <u>Purpose Driven Church</u> come to mind as great resources worthy of re discovering. Maybe every fifty years is about right, but most of us don't span the time to be able to recover the good stuff from long ago. Kind of like a generation (40 years in Scripture), who didn't remember what God was doing. I'm reading a One Year Bible again, and I'm in Judges chapters. May we cry out to God to send us a leader. Prayer for our faith to follow Jesus, and our hope for the world we live in, should be a good start. Then find something, or somewhere to plug into a support group, family, church, whatever that could make this work.</p><p><i><b>On Top of Everything Else</b></i></p><p> Elaine and I were rear-ended in our car two weeks ago. When it rains it pours.... The shipping backlog is affecting parts availability. We have been two weeks in a rental and the repair shop called to say they need another week to get it fixed and ready to go. Our insurance covered 5 or 6 days of rental coverage, the other insurance company will refund our money but we have to put it out first. Patience is such a touch character developer. At least we have a rental, at least we have the promise of reimbursement, and that includes doctor's visit, missed work, and diminished value on the car. Even though it's fixed, it will never be the same.... Our minds will always remember the horrible sound of the crash and wonder if there is something unseen, that didn't get fixed. Modern life nightmares. Please drive carefully, don't text and drive etc.</p><p> Well, I hope I have given you something to think about. Prayers and Blessings for you all.</p><p>Pastor Jeff </p><p>(I may be retired, but I'm still trying to encourage faith)</p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-88465842944146722542021-08-03T09:15:00.001-07:002021-08-03T09:15:50.807-07:00St. Benedict to the rescue<p> Hello Blog readers, wherever you are.</p><p> I'm working on being retired, while I wait for my next appointment or church opportunity. This has given me a chance to do a lot of praying, about all kinds of things. It has given me my first break from the day to day work of a pastor for a very long time. My last Sabbatical was in the early 2000. Maybe God is giving me another one, unofficially.</p><p> Any way, I've been reflecting on what would I like to do, but more importantly what would God like me to do. We Methodists with strong Wesley connections are used to quoting the prayer from the covenant renewal service about our work. <b><i>"Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,"</i></b> so this comes with our territory. So now I'm seeking God's direction for what's next.</p><p> One of the ideas I'm wrestling with is the powerful influence that St. Benedict has had for me with his little book on Rules, that shaped the monastic movement in the 5th and 6th centuries. It has been proven to help in a variety of situations since then. Any time there has been a need for renewal in the midst of great challenges, this could certainly be one of those. St. Benedict stressed the importance of prayer so that we could love more fully, the way Jesus loved. There are several St. Benedict books in my Kindle at the moment.</p><p> I was thinking with zoom capabilities, we could so a zoom version of the small support group idea behind the monastic movement, but allow us to stay where we are and do what we've been doing. There have been several versions of that kind of support system created over time. Maybe this is our time.</p><p> If nothing else, I strongly urge you to explore St. Benedict. A book that pushed me in that direction, <u>The Benedict Option</u> by Rod Dreher, got me started. <u>St. Benedict's Toobox</u> by Jane Tomaine, was a book I used with a study group in my last church and it is an awesome introduction. <u>The Rule of St.Benedict</u> in English is a good read just for the basic introduction. It's not that long. Joan Chittister has a couple of books about him too, <u>The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century, & Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today</u>.</p><p> So, if nothing else, pray for me to find a good way to encourage others in this direction. You can always connect with me as well, if you have questions. macpastor@gmail.com</p><p>Blessings</p><p>Jeff Jones<br /></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-57368024076356786262021-06-25T13:30:00.000-07:002021-06-25T13:30:44.014-07:00Books Everywhere<p> Hello Friends</p><p> My mother was a librarian and taught me to love books. Growing up we were not allowed to watch TV during the week if it were a school night. When homework was done and you complained of being bored, she would also say go find a book or look up stuff in World Book Encyclopedia.</p><p> My Doctor of Ministry program told us to keep our books, so that when it came time to defend our dissertation, we would have access to all the original sources for that. So in 47 years of ministry I have gained quite a library of books. Now that I am retired, I need to find good homes for my books. Any pastors out there who would love to begin their library for practically no cost, should get in touch with me. I'll be glad to help supply you with books.</p><p> I'm trying to go through my collection now and get rid of books. Online research makes it easier and cheaper, but a book will be there for you. If I type in a question on Google, I'll get 28,900 answers, but before, I would know which book it was going to be in and find it. But, books are heavy, they grow out of date, ideas change and improve, and I can't keep lugging books around me any more. So I am giving them away, sorting through to keep the autographed ones, and trying to decide if I'll ever need what's in there again. But it's so sad, it's like pushing away friends, it's thinking I'll never have that connection to that book again. </p><p> Most of my books are work related. And, since I am not sure what comes next, it's hard to decide which books will be needed, if at all. So I grieve the loss of my books, I dropped off 13 boxes of books to a used book seller yesterday. My wife was glad I wasn't bringing them home, but it felt really weird to drive away from them. Lord have mercy.</p><p> I have a crazy idea about a book lending giving away concept. I could rent a storage facility in a good location and invite all my pastor buddies, no matter what flavor of denomination, and arrange to meet them so they can have a chance to take away some books. Any ideas on how this might work? A library for pastors, where you don't have to bring them back. Maybe others would like to donate to the pile?</p><p> Just a thought, thanks for reading this far in a reminiscing moment about books.</p><p>Until later</p><p>Pastor Jeff </p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-17466484658598176922021-06-18T14:48:00.000-07:002021-06-18T14:48:47.128-07:00I Retire<p>hello followers of this occasional blog</p><p> I retired on Jan 1, 2021, as a way to help my congregation weather the effects of the Pandemic on it's finances. The generosity of my Pension and Social Security, for reaching such a ripe old age, made it possible to cut my salary way back and help the church. The Bishop granted me six months following my retirement as a special arrangement to help the church come through this Pandemic we know as Covid. A new pastor starts there on July 1.</p><p> I am not ready to stop being a pastor yet, and I have asked for an appointment of some kind going forward. I haven't heard anything yet, so I explore other options just to see what I could do while I wait. It is amazing how the church landscape has been changed by this one year and a half away from our business as usual. God is doing something new for sure. I am waiting to see what God is going to do with me and through me going forward. But waiting is teaching me patience.</p><p> I'm going to post this and I promise I'll get back to you with some of the thoughts going through my head as I go through these last couple of months of winding down, packing up and getting ready for what God has in store for me yet.</p><p> Blessings to you all, I'll be back soon.</p><p>Jeff (promising to Blog more)</p><p> </p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-17263643435399873082020-10-03T10:03:00.003-07:002020-10-03T10:03:56.911-07:00Prayers for our Nation #4<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Dear Church Family</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> We continue to pray for our nation. Today and over the next few days, you can follow these prayer suggestions and prayers along with prayers for the health of our President and those in government who have been affected by Covid-19. Let us also remember the 205,000 plus families who have lost someone at their table or network to this pandemic. Blessings on your effort to keep prayer as the center for this season.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Day 9<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Prayer Points<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Thank the Lord for His promise of protection for the servants of the Lord. Ask the Lord to raise up a shield of protection over our nation. In the name of Jesus, resist the Enemy’s attacks on the godly foundation of the United States. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">My Prayer <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Father, Your promises are always sure. Thank You that You give Your servants the privilege of walking in victory and refuting every word spoken against us. Now, Lord, help us in wisdom to do this on behalf of our nation. Lord, awaken Your people out of apathy and help us to stand against the attacks of Satan against our nation. Forgive us for our passivity. May no weapon of the Enemy prevail against our nation, but may every one of those weapons come to naught against our Shield and Deliverer!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Day 10<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Prayer Points<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> Ask the Lord to reveal clearly to you where your treasure is. Pray for your heart to be clearly focused on the Lord. In Jesus’ name, tear down the idol of mammon (money) that has taken up residence in America today. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">My Prayer <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Lord Jesus, You spoke so often about money and the danger it can represent to us. Yet, You also used the wealth of the rich to accomplish Your mission. Help us to walk in that biblical understanding of both the danger and blessing of money. Forgive us for making an idol out of money or material things. Especially, Lord, forgive us when such idolatry happens in Your church. Help us to live lives that are free from greed and coveting, that we might be a prophetic voice to our nation. May we become a nation that treasures You far more than we treasure gold.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Day 11<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Prayer Points<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Ask the Lord to fill you with His peace. Pray that you will be a person who brings the peace of Christ into the lives of others. Pray that the church in America will live in such a way that the peace of Christ comes into the councils of our nation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">My Prayer <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Forgive me, Lord, when I walk in anxiety and stress, failing to allow Your peace to rule in my life. Breathe Your peace into my heart. Help me to bring that peace with me into every situation I face. Lord, may Your peace so pervade Your church in America that it begins to mark us as a nation. We understand that we live in a time of troubles. You told us it would be that way. Help us in a miraculous way to experience Your peace in the midst of trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Day 12<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Prayer Points <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Ask the Lord to help you learn to wait on Him. Pray for the church in America to begin to model the stable lifestyle of waiting on the Lord. Pray for a movement of the Spirit that creates a dramatic cultural transformation in the United States, bringing about a nation that has learned to put its hope in the Word of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">My Prayer <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Lord, it isn’t easy to wait. There are so many things to do. Forgive me for not waiting on You and running ahead to do those things that seemed good to me. Teach Your church to be a good model of those who do not rush into every trend or fashion but who have learned to wait upon You. Lord, show us how waiting on You is not inactivity but an active lifestyle of drawing near and of keeping our eyes upon You. May You so transform Your church that it flows over into the life of this nation. Slow us down, Lord. Teach us to wait on You, so that Your purposes and plans might be lived out in America.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Butts, David. Desperate for Change: 40 Days of Prayer for America . Audio Ink Publishing. Kindle Edition. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> Please remember to pray for our Global Faith Community as we celebrate World Wide Communion on Sunday. Please remember to gather the bread and juice you wish to use for our virtual celebration.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Blessings<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFont;">Pastor Jeff<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-68661783679888130612020-09-28T07:45:00.001-07:002020-09-28T07:45:24.101-07:0040 Days of Prayer for USA<p>Dear Church Family</p><p> We are entering an enormous challenge and opportunity within 40 days, the General Election for 2020. This will require a lot of prayer for our nation, leading up to that important moment. I'm writing to you to urge you to pursue with me a solemn 40 day vigil of prayer for our nation. I will be sending, starting tomorrow 9/24, the 40th day away, a letter with some devotional ideas and I hope you join with me in praying the prayers. I will send the next group of 3 or 4 devotionals a couple of days later with more inspiration. I do hope you pray for our country, whether you use these scriptures or not.</p><p> I know we have a variety of opinions and reasons for thinking about the way we are going to vote. In our Methodist world, John Wesley knew we would not all be of the same mind. But he urged us to all want to love one another in the best way possible. So our prayers can be for one another to grow in love, even in the middle of the challenges that are before us.</p><p> One of my great appreciations for our country and our faith is that we have been able to look past our differences and realize we are all children of God. I hope we can keep civility and respect and compassion for one another, even during this awkward time. Some of our troubles have been because we judge someone who doesn't see the way we do, as "an evil, horrible, must be destroyed person" and that just isn't Christ like or even basically an attitude of America. So I invite you to pray for civility especially.</p><p> Here are some ideas for starting this journey together. And if you don't mind, let me know your thoughts as we go along this pilgrimage of prayer together.</p><p>Day One</p><p>"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1:7</p><p>Prayer Points</p><p>Pray that the United States will repent of its corporate rejection of the Word of God as a basis of law. Pray that a holy fear of God will sweep across our nation, leading us back to a place of wisdom. Pray that courage born of wisdom will be given to Christians in places of leadership in government, the courts, and law schools across the nation so that they will stand for a godly basis for law.</p><p>Day Two</p><p>"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9</p><p>Prayer Points</p><p>Ask the Lord to turn the hearts of the citizens and leaders of the United States to Himself. Invite the Lord to be your refuge and your stronghold. Pray that our nation will increasingly see that God is our only refuge in the midst of the troubles of this world.</p><p> from <u>40 Days of Prayer for America</u> by David Butts</p><p>This should get you started. I'll share more in a day or two.</p><p>Blessings</p><p>Pastor Jeff</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-30890505606045157722020-09-09T13:01:00.001-07:002020-09-09T13:01:13.532-07:00An Hour in Prayer #12<p> <i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Dear Church Family</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Where has the summer gone? A lot like Spring too. It’s after Labor Day, and we are wrapping up the twelfth and final installment on how to pray for an hour with 12 five-minute segments. Tonight we look at Praise and the power it has to help us grow closer to God and to receive the strength and wisdom and help we need to face the challenges and stresses of our lives now.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Praise is to exalt and glorify God, to tell the Creator that you know what God has done and to whom you are reaching out to in prayer. This is a way of saying that we trust the Great I AM with our supplications. Let your Amen be strong at the end and confirm that you Believe God has heard you and will answer you. Amen means its true and sure, so shall it be. It’s a way of saying thank you before you even know how God has answered your request.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Next week we will make AWE a little shorter so that we can share in the book reading <u>Think Like Jesus</u>, a book that helps us see that living as a follower of Jesus in this very complex world with all it’s issues and challenges, will require that we understand what it means to follow Jesus in a way that will help all this make sense. There is a video from Randy Frazee and a discussion book with homework, to help explore the important dimensions of understanding our faith so that we can actually live a Christ like life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> The sessions include: Who is God?, Does God Care About Me?, How Do I Have a Relationship with God?, How Does the Bible Guide My Life? Who Am I in Christ?, What is the Purpose of the Church?, How Does God Value People?, What is Eternity Going to Be Like? All very interesting thoughts we each have at some point in our spiritual journey or pilgrimage.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> The class has a companion book for even more reading should you like to explore the topic even further. You can have both for $20. They are in the church office and if you call you can arrange to pick them up, or you can get a Kindle copy of each and read along that way. These topics will also be the theme of the worship services from now through All Saints Sunday. We will move into a Fall, Thanksgiving and Advent season.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> May God Richly Bless you as we move into this fall season together. Remember we urge you to share this with a friend. See you in Zurch.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pastor Jeff<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-67328079120574528942020-08-29T08:12:00.003-07:002020-08-29T08:12:30.417-07:00An Hour of Prayer # 10 Meditation<p> <i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Dear Church Family</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> Today we look at the resources for meditation, mindfulness for our spiritual lives, as we continue our series on how we can pray for an hour, looking at five-minute intervals. Today we are up to 10 out of the 12 and it’s meditation. How we specifically slow down and reflect on what God is doing in us and around us, so that we can handle all that this current lifetime is giving us.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> I’m going to provide a list of resources for you to consider, so that you can find a place to grow in your meditation and grow in your sensing the help that God can give you for each challenge you are facing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Upper Room. </span></i><a href="http://www.upperroom.org/devotionals" style="color: #954f72;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">www.upperroom.org/devotionals</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> It can be emailed or an app for this<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Our Daily Bread. </span></i><a href="https://odb.org/" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://odb.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> it can be email or an app for this<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Lection 365. /www.24-7prayer.com/dailydevotional. There is an App available for this<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">You Version. </span></i><a href="http://www.youversion.com" style="color: #954f72;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">www.youversion.com</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> there are several resources here<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Biblegateway. /www.biblegateway.com. there is a whole bunch of resources here, app and others<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Back to the Bible. </span></i><a href="http://www.backtothebible.org" style="color: #954f72;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">www.backtothebible.org</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> app devotions, videos on various topics etc.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Heartlight. </span></i><a href="http://www.heartlight.org" style="color: #954f72;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">www.heartlight.org</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> devotions, articles, artwork<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">KINDLE resources like<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">30 Day Spiritual Walks. A summary of famous spiritual giants set up in a 30 devotion, a great introduction to them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Anxiety Elephants. A 31 day devotional to Help Stomp Out Anxiety. Scripture and exercises and journaling<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">On This Day. What happened on this day in the Christian world, famous people or events<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Near to the Heart of God. A one year devotional the story of famous hymns and their writers or composers<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Jesus Always. A One Year devotion on the words and stories of Jesus and how it can encourage you each day.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">A Year with God - Richard Foster. A yearlong study of the great characters, themes, passages to grow spiritually<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Right Here Right Now – Amy Oden. To develop a mindfulness on Scripture and God’s love for us, eyes to see it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Face to Face – Ken Boa. Vol. 1 & 2 3 months of daily devotions based on the relationship to God<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">A Year with C S Lewis. A year full of daily readings from his Classic works, across his set of books<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> I hope you find something here that might help you strengthen your walk following Jesus and find that your time in prayer is more beneficial to you, providing the strength to endure, and a knowledge that God is with you every step of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> Remember both the AWE and the Sunday Morning Worship Zoom connections are the same for each week, unless we are hijacked by an intruder. So keep your AWE and your Flash email in a folder so you can join us. Send it to a friend too.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Blessings<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif;">Pastor Jeff<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-5660873349022464262020-08-08T14:52:00.002-07:002020-08-08T14:52:24.311-07:00An Hour of Prayer # 7<p> <i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Dear Church Family</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> I’m writing letter # 7 on how to spend an hour in prayer, and this week it is on intercession. Praying for others. Last week as you may recall, we were dealing with petitions, which gives us permission to pray for the things we need, now we are praying for the lives and needs of others.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> “Intercession is to pray for others, to concentrate on the needs and distress of other people, to stand in the gap for someone else. When you intercede you stand at God’s side and you work with God for the salvation or benefit of someone else, and you remain standing until you have the assurance that God has heard you and releases your burden to pray for the issue.” From the book, <u>The Hour That Changes the World.</u> By Dick Eastman.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> In St. Paul’s letter to the Timothy he says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,” 1 Timothy 2:1-3.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> I am so glad that we, the church family of North Bethesda UMC take prayer time and intercessions so gracefully, and that so many are being prayed for by each of us, together in worship and on our own during the week. We hope that you take advantage of our prayer list and those flash emails, requesting prayer for friends, neighbors, family and acquaintances we know, and for the world around us and those who we don’t know. I’m blessed when I hear of the answers to prayer coming back in reports of gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> May we continue to pray for our leaders (local, state, national & global) and all those in authority, that we may live peacefully with each other. May we continue to pray for healing of those who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and all those responsible for caring for them. May we continue to pray for healing for those who have been wounded because of negative attitudes toward one another, and the powerful effect of policies and procedures that have kept people from the opportunity to fulfill their God given tasks and to provide properly for their families, because they happen to have a different skin color or language or background.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> I invite you to join with your church friends and family as we explore the Lord’s Prayer over the next five Sundays in worship. There are 5 basic petitions that Jesus gave his followers for their prayer lives and we will look carefully at each. We ask that God’s glory be extended, we ask that God’s plans would come true, we ask for what we need each day, we ask for forgiveness and to be able to forgive, and we ask for help against temptations of this world and other choices we make. We will look at each one separately in the next few Sundays.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> We must pray for our church family to be well during this time. There was a church worship service in Ohio in July where one person attended service and 91 people came down with the virus as a result. Many were in the church service he attended, and others were infected, because they took their contact with him home to their families, friends and co-workers. That is a lot of suffering in that community, and we are trying desperately to avoid the same fate.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Thank you all for your prayers, you truly bless one another when you say a word to God on others behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">May God’s peace be with you, while we are absent, one from the other.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pastor Jeff<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-81879303660081947922020-07-31T12:34:00.000-07:002020-07-31T12:34:19.837-07:00An Hour of Prayer # 6<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;">Dear Church Family<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> I continue to write to let you know you are all in my prayers several times a day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> An Hour of Prayer number 6, half way through the list, today is Petitions, you get to ask for things you need. Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount, Ask, Seek, Knock, and give us this day our daily bread. We have permission to pray for those things, as a part of others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> On that note, I am asking you to pray about our petition to you for your financial support, and being generous. Especially in this difficult time, we really need everyone to increase their giving. We can continue to make a difference and change people’s lives for the better. There is more to come about this really soon. Watch your mail boxes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> It looks like this pandemic is going to be with us at least through the rest of the calendar year, so I want to offer small group support to as many as would be interested. For August, we will do an old fashioned John Wesley small band/class idea. More details to come,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> When September rolls around I would like you to sign up for a small group study, daytime or night time versions, on <u>Think Like Jesus</u>, ways to grow in your faith and understanding for living in a world where we really need to know for ourselves what our faith is all about. It’s the first of a three part series going for about 8 weeks each of <u>Think Like Jesus</u>, <u>Be Like Jesus</u>, <u>Act Like Jesus</u>. This study will match the sermon series in the fall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> We would love to share your talents with our church family. If any of you have recordings of something that happened at our church, it would be great if you send them to me, so I can use them in our zoom worship experiences. Let me know if you have something you would like to share. We can certainly add them to our You Tube Channel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> I’m afraid that we are not going to get back to the way things were in February, so we have to learn new ways of being a church family. It is more difficult than we first imagined, and so we are trying to be a church, much like the first century, that met in small groups, since there weren’t any church buildings until nearly 300 years into Christianity, when Emperor Constantine declared that Christianity would be the official faith of the Roman Empire and designated buildings for that purpose. Partly to make sure that all the citizens where actually going to worship. We don’t live in that kind of world anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> I used to joke that being the pastor of a church was like playing chess on three different levels at a time. I saw that once on Star Trek, but now I’m convinced it’s even harder than that because we can’t do church the way we had gotten into the habit of doing. We are letting the Holy Spirit, show us a whole new way of thinking. We are still in the business of making disciples. So your thoughts on how can I help you be a better follower of Christ is what I’m trying to figure out, and then help you with that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;">Blessings and Peace, Pastor Jeff <o:p></o:p></span></p>Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-61370716543962441842020-07-24T13:07:00.004-07:002020-07-24T13:07:52.605-07:00An Hour of Prayer # 5<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Church Family</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> Here is the fifth week of our learning to deepen our prayer lives during this pandemic. It seems our need for prayer is increasing with the rising number of Covid-19 cases. Three days in a row now, over 1,000 people have died from it across the country. Please pray for the families of those who have died, for the first responders who are again being overwhelmed with responsibilities and pray for the development of a vaccine, soon. See we have a hard time waiting because we know we want the cure now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> Those comments can help us to think about what to pray for. By watching what is going around us we will see what needs to be prayed for. Watching will also give us a glimpse of what God is doing to help sustain us in this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> Watching is a time of spiritual observation (perception), to be on the look out, to be spiritually aware of matters to pray for. Ask God for insight, discernment, wisdom, to know on what to focus, and what your priorities should be. Ask the Lord what is on God’s heart and on God’s agenda. An opportunity to do what Jesus said “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and everything else you need will be provided.” Matt. 6:33.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> Watching is also a way of learning so that we can grow in our spiritual journey with God. Jesus often asked the followers to come and see what he was doing. To come and see where he was staying, so they could learn from him by being present. I’m watching several webinars to help improve my skills at leading our church in this very different time than any of us had anticipated. Watching how to help us raise the money we need so that we don’t close down our ministries. Watching how to do zoom meetings, so that they can go better. I’m very close to learning how to do a Bible Class all online in zoom and will be doing those shortly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> Watching is also how we will discover that God is creating again, new things that will bless us as we go along. On Sunday I’m sharing some ideas about how we can watch what God is doing in other places, that will benefit our life together as God’s family. I’m inviting you to watch our zoom and to invite as many people as you can, to watch along with you. When the Zoom information goes out on flash, you are encouraged to mention this to your friends and neighbors, those in your apartment complex, your family, your neighbors, your co-workers, your children’s friends etc. so they can join you in seeing what God is doing to help us in this time of stress and discouragement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;"> Pay attention to how God is working around you, so you too can say, see what new things God is doing, it is marvelous in our eyes. God’s blessings be upon all of you, while we are absent, one from the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva, sans-serif;">Pastor Jeff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-28987931528686836942020-07-15T13:36:00.003-07:002020-07-15T13:36:46.239-07:00An Hour of Prayer 4<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Dear Church Family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> As we gather tonight for prayer at 7 pm for AWE, let me offer a couple of ways to deepen your prayer life and find strength to deal with the challenges and uncertainties we find ourselves in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> Week Four in the spending an hour with God covers Praying Scripture. It’s realizing that the Bible is full of prayers of God’s people, like us, who find ourselves in a variety of difficult circumstances. By becoming more familiar with the Bible, especially the book of Psalms, we will find a lot of prayer lessons and examples on how to pray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> Praying Scripture is to feed you spiritually and to pray according to God’s agenda and revelation. The Word is our prayer manual, so pray God’s promises to Him, creating faith in your heart. Ask God what promises you can claim and how you can apply His Word in your own life and prayer time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> Jesus offered us the power of answered prayers if we followed the will of God for those requests, knowing ahead of time, that God loves to move God’s program and love into the world, God will gladly answer prayers that do the same. You might want to try reading 5 Psalms a day and pray the prayers you find there for yourself. Put your situations and challenges and setbacks into the prayers of the Psalms, and you will see what I mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> James, the brother of Jesus, who became a part of the disciples after the resurrection said we don’t have answers to prayer, because we don’t ask.(James 4:2b) So we need to be willing to ask, following the promises of answers when we follow the plans God has for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> I’m ask God to influence all of us for greater generosity. We all need to pray that NBUMC will have the financial resources, especially in this pandemic time, to be able to keep doing the things that are important to us. So if you would begin, maybe pause at 10:10 am or pm, and ask God to help provide financial resources for our church that would be awesome. You can be an answer to all our prayers with an increase in your giving. Even a $5 or $10 dollar a week increase will make a huge difference when we are just under our target of keeping everything and everyone in place for ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> May God bless your prayer time and your growing awareness of God’s work in the Scriptures and in the community, the family of God right here. Be sure to tell your friends, and send them the email that comes each week, for joining us on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFontBold;">Prayer for Our Community:</span></b><span style="font-family: "MS Gothic";">
</span><i><span style="font-family: AppleSystemUIFontItalic;">O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. May all that we do flow from our deep connection with you and all beings. Help us become a community that vulnerably shares each other’s burdens and the weight of glory. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our world. Knowing you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God, amen. (From Richard Rohr, email devotions)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"> May God’s peace be with you all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">Pastor Jeff</span><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3880511139836159573.post-9844115883234831612020-07-08T11:49:00.002-07:002020-07-08T11:49:10.401-07:00An Hour of Prayer 3<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;"> Dear Church Family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;"> We are beyond the fourth of July now, and heading into the slow(?) part of summer. We have the time to continue our prayer for an hour journey with today’s third segment. As I have said in the past, we can use all twelve to pray for an hour or develop each 5 minute segment and let it guide us in developing a stronger prayer life. We need more prayer now more than ever. It will be helpful to have more resources and tools for that struggle in this time of waiting and wondering in the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;"> Week Three is about Confession. Confession of sin and humiliation is an act of admitting your sinfulness to God and of cleansing you, as the Temple of God, allowing you entrance into God’s presence. This is a time of introspection and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal all unconfessed sins. Don’t ask God to change your circumstances, but to change you and forgive you. Sin can be doing something wrong, or simply missing the target that God had hoped for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;"> Confession allows you time to talk to God, knowing that God already knows everything about you. You don’t have to worry about hiding anything, God already knows all about it. Confession allows us to deal with the challenges we face and to ask God to make better, what has gone wrong, or we have done poorly, or have misunderstood about God’s intention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;"> Confession is all about getting a second chance to get this right this time. Confession helps download or remove the obstacles, the clutter in the way, so we can have a clear and clean workspace. It can be the beginning of a great relationship to God and through God to others. Sometimes we confess to God, sometimes we should confess to one another so that we can get that fresh start. There may be something in the way, that once taken away and dealt with, can begin a great new relationship. This could be in families, neighbors, workspaces, fellowship groups etc. wherever some trouble has been brewing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;"> The result of the confession is of course feeling and knowing deeply that you are forgiven and loved more than you thought possible. Forgiveness is our theme this Sunday and in the midst of struggles in our culture over the way we have treated people who are different than we, confession and pardon might be just the power to renew us all, as a community and as a country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;"> Join us on Wednesday nights for our AWE service at 7 pm. It is a time for prayer and reflection for equipping us for life in this world we live in. Next week’s five minute prayer thoughts are on Praying Scripture. Where do we find help for our prayer life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;">Blessings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Daytona, sans-serif;">Pastor Jeff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Pastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06846482609995292487noreply@blogger.com0