This Sunday God will bless us with the presence of Celia Whitler sharing her voice and life with us during both worship services. Her emphasis will be concerning Children’s Sabbath that we will celebrate. Children’s Sabbath is a time for us celebrate how God blessed us with children and how God calls us to bless and support our children, nurturing them in the loving care of a loving God. Celia and her acoustic guitarist, Will Dyer, will share the importance of good stewardship of God’s gift of children, the children of God.
During our time together, we will remember our responsibility to support children in mind, body, and soul. Through teaching and modeling God’s grace and love, God calls us to care about his children’s physical and emotional needs. Whether through Safe Sanctuary, meeting the children’s needs for food, clothing, and shelter, our call of God is to live out what Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:17).
In Matthew 6:19-24, the writer shares three teachings of Jesus during his Sermon on the Mount. The first is storing up treasure in heaven. Jesus does not explain how we go about this storing, but I would imagine one primary way is how we nurture the children in our families, community, and the world. The second is the proclamation that our eyes are the windows of our souls and the light of Christ enters and exits through them. This allows each of us to see through the eyes of Jesus Christ. Thus, how do we see our children through the eyes of Christ rather than our own? The third is we cannot serve to two masters. Thus, are we spinning wheels trying to serve two or more masters? If we serve one master, Jesus Christ, how does that affect our nurturing of our children?
Yes, these teachings of Jesus are stirring and challenging for each of us. As we come to celebrate Children’s Sabbath, may God challenge each of us to do our part to store up treasures in heaven through our children. O Lord, forgive us when we treat our children as possessions or interruptions in our lives. Forgive us when we place our welfare above theirs. Work within us and encourage us to see you through the eyes of your children. Amen
Grace and peace to all,
Pastor Jack
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
sorry
Funny thing happened at the office today. I had two people say, "I posted a comment to your blog but it was now responded to or published." Well, I didn't know I had to approve the comment for publishing...duh. So, I apologize for the difficulty. I just approved the two comments on the last blog entry. Thanks for your comments and make a great day in the Lord.
Jack
PS. A new post will arrive this evening.
Jack
PS. A new post will arrive this evening.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Praying On Behalf of Others
Read: Matthew 6:5-15
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6b
I remember sitting in a Worship class in seminary. The class discussed the development of worship from the early church to the present. The professor had us discover the meaning of the architecture of sanctuaries. We discovered what the placement and design of the narthex, nave, and chancel area signified in our worship. For example, the item that was place central or forefront in the chancel area declared what was most important; such as if it was the pulpit, then preaching the Word was most important, if it was the Communion table or altar, then the sacrament of Holy Communion was most important, etc.
However, we also learned the importance of styles of worship. We United Methodists participate in what is known as a liturgical church. Liturgy means work of the people and in a United Methodist Church, we believe the emphasis is in the work of the people, their participation in worship; such as singing of hymns and spiritual songs, reading of acts of worship during Holy Communion, and praying prayers in unison.
When the professor led our discussion concerning the unison prayers, I balked in my mind saying, “I don’t know why we say the Lord’s Prayer in church each and every Sunday in worship. When you say it so much, you lose its meaning and power.”
I cannot recall if I posed that very question or some fellow seminarian did for others and me that day. I do remember the professor’s response that changed my heart and mindset concerning reciting the Lord’s Prayer in each service. Paraphrasing Dr. Faille he stated, “The reason we are to recite the Lord’s Prayer aloud and in unison is that there are always people in our pews who cannot say the Lord’s Prayer themselves. If we take seriously our mission as a liturgical church to reach out, then we recite the prayer on behalf of the one who does not know the prayer or the one, due to life situations, is unable to recite the prayer at that moment in life.”
Wow! What a transformation of my own heart and mind! It is a pleasure and honor to know that when I recite the Lord’s Prayer each Sunday with the people, that I am saying it for the child, youth, or a struggling mother, dad, or grandparent who is unable to pray. Furthermore, oh how wonderful it has been when the people said the prayer on behalf of me in my times of struggle, turmoil, or loneliness. In either case, the persons who pray the prayer, enter into their room, close the door, and pray to the Father on behalf of another. Therefore, our prayer is to the Father, in the name of Christ, is not so much for ourselves but rather on behalf of the people.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us to pray. May we enter into our closet now, close the door, and pray:
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6b
I remember sitting in a Worship class in seminary. The class discussed the development of worship from the early church to the present. The professor had us discover the meaning of the architecture of sanctuaries. We discovered what the placement and design of the narthex, nave, and chancel area signified in our worship. For example, the item that was place central or forefront in the chancel area declared what was most important; such as if it was the pulpit, then preaching the Word was most important, if it was the Communion table or altar, then the sacrament of Holy Communion was most important, etc.
However, we also learned the importance of styles of worship. We United Methodists participate in what is known as a liturgical church. Liturgy means work of the people and in a United Methodist Church, we believe the emphasis is in the work of the people, their participation in worship; such as singing of hymns and spiritual songs, reading of acts of worship during Holy Communion, and praying prayers in unison.
When the professor led our discussion concerning the unison prayers, I balked in my mind saying, “I don’t know why we say the Lord’s Prayer in church each and every Sunday in worship. When you say it so much, you lose its meaning and power.”
I cannot recall if I posed that very question or some fellow seminarian did for others and me that day. I do remember the professor’s response that changed my heart and mindset concerning reciting the Lord’s Prayer in each service. Paraphrasing Dr. Faille he stated, “The reason we are to recite the Lord’s Prayer aloud and in unison is that there are always people in our pews who cannot say the Lord’s Prayer themselves. If we take seriously our mission as a liturgical church to reach out, then we recite the prayer on behalf of the one who does not know the prayer or the one, due to life situations, is unable to recite the prayer at that moment in life.”
Wow! What a transformation of my own heart and mind! It is a pleasure and honor to know that when I recite the Lord’s Prayer each Sunday with the people, that I am saying it for the child, youth, or a struggling mother, dad, or grandparent who is unable to pray. Furthermore, oh how wonderful it has been when the people said the prayer on behalf of me in my times of struggle, turmoil, or loneliness. In either case, the persons who pray the prayer, enter into their room, close the door, and pray to the Father on behalf of another. Therefore, our prayer is to the Father, in the name of Christ, is not so much for ourselves but rather on behalf of the people.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us to pray. May we enter into our closet now, close the door, and pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever.
Amen.Grace and peace,
Pastor Jack
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