FROM THE PASTOR'S PEN ...
Dear Friends,
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been observed in mid-January for more than 100 years. This year the date
is January 18 - 25, so I have been thinking about how we Christians pray for one another. Scripture tells us that from
the earliest times prayer has been one of the central practices of the church. Acts 2:42 says, "They devoted themselves
to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
Each week in worship
we pray for each other before we share the bread and the cup; it is a powerful time for our community in our worship.
Sometimes I am asked by people to lift up their names in the prayer on Sundays and I am happy to do that. Other times
we simply pray for "all who suffer," remembering always that prayer is personal, whether we say names or not.
And though one person may say the prayer in a single voice, it is done on behalf of the church; we are all praying together.
Yet, how are we doing at praying for each other when we are apart from each other? How are we doing at thinking
about the concerns of our own church members (as well as Christians across the globe) and making those prayers a central part
of the practicing of our faith? Some of us ask questions such as, "What should I say?" or "Is God listening?"
or say, "I would rather not pray in front of others..." I hope we do not allow concerns about praying interfere
with our practice of it. F.B. Meyers, Baptist preacher and evangelist, said this about prayer, "The great tragedy
of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer."
Let's pursue more and more that deeper connection
with God (and one another) to be found in prayer. The printed prayer list (filled with concerns and celebrations) is
located outside the church office.
Peace to you,
Kris
PREVIOUS NOTE
FROM THE PASTOR
Dear Friends,
It is the week before Christmas.
The signs of the approaching day of celebration are all around. The sanctuary is filled with poinsettias; food boxes
prepared by some of our church members are downstairs. The mitten tree is covered with gloves and mittens. To
top if off, this year we have the uncommon opportunity to celebrate Christmas Day on Sunday morning in worship. We are
even planning to have a birthday cake that morning. Now, if we just had snow.
The other night I watched one
of the many versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol on TV. A particular scene struck my heart this time.
It is when the "Spirit of Christmas Past" visits Scrooge and takes him back to the time when he was a child.
I had forgotten that Scrooge had been poor as a child - and lonely, too. When Scrooge sees himself and remembers what
that had been like, a tear drips down his face.
I think we all feel a little bit like crying when we think about
lonely children who don't have enough for a good life. It hurts at any time of the year; it especially hurts when we
think that some of these children are living in our own church neighborhood.
As the new year begins, you may be
looking for a new way to help others. I just learned that a new non-profit organization is being formed to help children
in the North Limestone neighborhood. The timing seemed right, so I have included an insert about their work in this
newsletter.
Check it out. it may touch your heart. As this year ends and a new one begins, it is a
great time to consider new ways to befriend others in the name of Jesus, who came to us as a child.
Peace and Joy
to you!
Kris