Christ Comes to Us in The Breaking of the Bread

 

“Christ Comes in the Breaking of Bread”  Matthew 26”:26-30 12/6/20 2^nd Advent at Lake Murray Presbyterian by Dr. J. Ben Sloan
“Take eat this is my body…Drink from it all of you. This my blood of the covenant poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”  [Advent means “coming” and I have been talking about ways that Christ comes to us today.  Last week we mentioned through listening and praying.  Today, on communion Sunday I want to speak of how Christ comes in the sacrament of communion.]

My wife bought me a DNA test for Christmas- which I love.  I have been doing a lot of research all weekend.  I have seen pictures for the first time in my life of some ancestors going back to the American Revolution.  Of course, I never knew them, but seeing their portraits brought me closer to them.  Of course there are no pictures or portraits of Jesus but He used a symbol as a way to get closer to Him.  He said this is me.  When you see this bread and this cup, this is me- and remember what I have done for you.  Communion is a gift.  When we were planning for where worship was going to be during the pandemic, one of the questions several elders asked was when can we have communion and how can we do it?  It is not to be ignored- even in a pandemic.  So we have what we call online communion for those watching online and we have hygienic kits for those here.       There have always been different people with differing views on what communion means or is.  For some, it is simply a memorial- do this in remembrance of me- so that we would never forget that Jesus died on the cross for us to be forgiven.
In that sense it is called “an ordinance” like a command or law to be obeyed.  But the vast majority of the church sees communion as much more than something we have to do to remember.  Most see Holy Communion as  a sacrament- where the presence of Christ in the form of the Holy Spirit comes to those who are prepared for such a presence.  It is more than just a rationalistic law there is a mystery that occurs.  John Calvin, the founder of the Presbyterian Church, who is often accused of being overly rationalistic, said that in the eucharistic meal Christ is more vividly present than in any other rite or ceremony in the church.  In other words- look for His coming in communion. 
     The words of Jesus “This is my body” and “This is my blood of the covenant” are not talking about a magical change from bread to the actual body of Christ as much as the spiritual presence of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.  I will never forget Rahn McCrady’s sister- and Elinor Harris’s aunt, Tina Pitts, telling me years ago that she had a deeply moving conversion experience during communion at Eastminster.  Sometimes people say, “I can’t experience God.”  But communion is what our confessions call “a means of grace” or a tool or gift of God to experience His presence if you are open to it.  I know some in this congregation who believe communion is the most moving part of worship for them.
     Communion is also sometimes called in the church “eucharist.”  Eucharist comes from the Greek word to give thanks or praise.  The sacrifice of Christ is remembered in a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.   We remember Christ’s death for our sake.  We remember He gave Himself for us.  He risked leaving the almighty throne in heaven to become a baby, and risked dying on the cross- trusting the Father would raise Him.   Sacrifice is an important part of finding peace.  We recognize we have peace by those who sacrifice- so we celebrate Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.  To get a vaccine, some had to be willing to risk their own health to try it out.  Jennifer Haller is a 43 year old mother of two from Seattle.  She was the first to try the Moderna-NIH vaccine on March 16 in their Phase 1 trials.  Now there were no animal trials on this vaccine.  Yet she took a risk to help others, and today she said she’d do it again.  Her risk and the development of a vaccine is important.  But as everyone knows.  If a vaccine works but no one is willing to try it, it means nothing.  Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross may be the way to get into heaven and escape death.  But if you are not willing to believe and trust in Him, it means nothing too.   We give thanks and praise in a visible way in communion- euchareo- that Christ risked, even more sacrificed, that we who trust and follow Him might have life now and in eternity.  When we give thanks to Christ, we find the living Christ comes to us in our hearts- giving us hope, comfort, strength, joy, and peace. 

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Remember you go nowhere by accident.  Where you are going, God is sending you.  Where you are He has placed you.  God has a purpose for your life- right where you are.  Christ Jesus, who indwells you has something that He wants to do in and through your life wherever you are.  Believe this and go in His love, grace, and power in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Amen.   (Richard Halverson Benediction)

In the Midst of the Storm

A prayer for the day: You, O God, are Lord of heaven and earth. We pray for the Bahamas, our nation, and our state in the face of Hurricane Dorian. We thank you for your Spirit at work even in the midst of this storm. We pray for those in the path of the storm that they would have your protection, your help, and your healing. We pray for first responders who put themselves in harm's way to help others: for police, firefighters, the coast guard, physicians, nurses, all those who help and volunteer. We pray that you would raise up volunteers and care among your people as a witness to you and instruments of your peace and healing.
Lord we bow before your mercy, and ask for your grace, protection and help.

     Today, Hurricane Dorian is kind of hitting South Carolina.  At one point they were saying it would make landfall in our state, but we think not at this point.  In the midlands, we are getting just a little wind and a little rain, which is needed.
     There is an old song "God Moves in a Mysterious Way"  that says: "O fearful saints, fresh courage take.  The clouds you so much dread are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head."
There is much truth to be taught in this, but it is often truth we cannot hear because we leave God out.  Even Christians act as if God has nothing to do with creation, with the weather, with answered prayers or anything else.
      More people care about trying to diagnose the storm than to pray to the One who calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  Some just will not believe God can do that, or that God even wants to do that.   Part of this is we value this life so much, that if we lose our things or our stuff is destroyed then we think our lives are over.  This is a spiritually unhealthy way to look at life.  Why?  Because at some point we will ALL lose everything in this life- our stuff, our family, our great knowledge, our health, our beauty, our strength and handsomeness.
     I can remember having a house fire ruin much of my house, and having to move out.  If I had earnestly believed that my life was about stuff, then my life would have been destroyed and depression would have taken over.  Instead, I was glad to live through a dangerous situation.  God is not just here to bless us with safety and health.  In order to reach heaven we will lose both of these.  If we think God only exists to help us add stuff upon stuff in this life, then we are merely using God- like a Genie in a lamp.  Life is not just about what I can get and accumulate here.
     I am not afraid to trust in God and proclaim Him as the ruler of the wind and waves. I am not afraid to ask God for protection, or even to change the weather pattern.  God is not less powerful than our computers who simply try to diagnose (many times poorly) what He is doing.  These storms show the crisis of our faith in our day and culture.  Jesus, in the story below was asleep in the boat during the storm while the disciples panicked.  His rebuke to his disciples was perhaps more powerful than his rebuke to the wind and waves: "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"  In our world, we would rather choose to have no help than to believe we can call on God for help.  In doing so, we deny the help of the Almighty, and leave ourselves to the mercies of the wind and waves of life.  But if we do not recognize God's hand of protection then we will not thank Him.  If we do not believe that God can save us or help us then we will not draw close to Him or be grateful to Him.
    So today, if you have no hurricane blowing away your belongings- give thanks to God our deliverer, our shield, our protector, our refuge and strength and ever-present help in trouble.

"Jesus was in the boat.  A furious squall came up and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.   Jesus was in the stern sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Peace! Be still!  Then the wind dies down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith? "  They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey him!"  (Mark 4:37-41)

Sermon on God in the Storm

Thoughts on the Moonlanding Fiftieth anniversary,

The heavens are telling the glory of God; the earth proclaims the work of His hands.  (Psalm 19:1)

I watched in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the flight to the moon (July 20, 1969) a documentary "For All Mankind" with the astronaut's film footage and commentary.  I believe it was Neil Armstrong talking when the astronaut said, "In space I felt like an alien, but on the moon I felt at home even though the earth was a long ways away.  But I realized we were there by the grace of God.  I felt something other than what we could visually sense.  A spiritual presence was there.  Perhaps it was because so many people on the earth were focusing their attention on us- maybe sending signals to us somehow.  I sensed maybe like the first people on the earth- they were all alone but had a special communication.  We felt an unseen love.  We were not alone." 
    Buzz Aldrin was an elder at Webster Presbyterian church outside Houston.   He told his pastor that he wanted to convey that this event was more than electronics, computers, and rockets.  The pastor later told Guideposts magazine that "One of the principal symbols is that God reveals Himself in the common elements of everyday life." Aldrich poured grapejuice (with just enough gravity on the moon) into a chalice from his church.  He laid the elements out on a small table.  He asked the world listening in to take a few moments of silence and "to give thanks in his own individual way."  Then he read John 15:5 (one of my favorite verses): "I am the vine, you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, for you can do nothing without me."  Aldrich partook after reading the verse and he said he felt a strong unity with his church back home and the church around the world. 
     Aldrich was a missionary of sorts.  He brought his faith with him to the moon.  Wherever we go, we need to do the same.  He did his work well and He was not embarrassed (despite pressure from Madeline Murray Ohaire) to speak a good word about the One who made the moon, the earth, and the heavens. 

Prayer: Lord, wherever I am may I remember you and your love for me.

[Part taken from "Nine things you should know About the Communion Service on the Moon" by Joe Carter on the GospelCoalition.com website. ]


     

The Temple is Built

7The priests  then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 8The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. 9These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. 10There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

11The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. 12All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. 13The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good;

his love endures forever.”

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, 14and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. (2 Chronicles 5)

Thoughts: One of the most amazing things Solomon did was build the Temple.  It was magnificent- one of the wonders of the world.  The shekinah glory filled the Temple to confirm that God had accepted the sacrifice of their labor.  This was the same cloud that was with the Israelites when they left Egypt. It was the same glory on Sinai when Moses received the Ten Commandments.  It was the same glory that filled the Tabernacle, and the same glory around Jesus at the transfiguration, and when he ascended to heaven.   God came in response to their gift, their praises, and their worship.  So God still comes when we give ourselves to Him.  

Prayer: Lord, may your presence be with me as I give myself to you.   

Thoughts on The Use of Chemical Weapons

Both Russia and Syria signed the Geneva Protocol that prohibited the use of chemical weapons.  This protocol began after the terror of chemical weapon use in World War I.   My grandfather was sprayed with mustard gas in France by the Germans in that war.  Syria was caught using Sarin gas 8/21/13 and four other attacks.  The UN confirmed the use.  The UN pointed to the government that had the weapons stockpiled, and that these were used against the rebels fighting the government.   The United States congress authorized the use of force in response to the use of chemical weapons in response.  The government drew a famous "red line in the sand" to stop the use, but did not follow through.  The Syrian government used weapons again December 2016 and precipitated a tomahawk missile attack in response by the US (a single site attack).  This morning the United States fired about 100 missiles into Syria in response to chemical weapons again, risking tensions with Russia who has troops in Syria and is allied with Syria.  The United States has 2,000 troops in the eastern half of Syria.

"They must turn from evil and do good.  They must seek peace and pursue it."  (1 Peter 3:11; Ps. 34:14).

Thoughts: It is sad that a nation feels they can use chemical weapons on their own people.  Saddam Hussein did this in Iraq and this fueled the second Iraq War by the US.  The United States cannot be the policeman of the world.  Yet, if the Syrian government were to use chemical weapons and go unpunished then they could use the weapons against Israel or US troops and feel no one will blink an eye.  Or Iran or Russia could be empowered to use chemical weapons too.
     There are those who think Christians should not care about the world.  But that is not what the Bible says.  The Jews cared only for their nation.  But both before and after his resurrection Jesus encouraged the disciples to care for the people in all nations.  Chemical weapons are considered weapons of mass destruction (in the class as nuclear weapons).  We should be in prayer for our leaders and also pray that the use of chemical and nuclear weapons to not be used again.

Prayer: Lord, we need your mercy.  Protect our world from evil, and evil we would bring on ourselves.  Give wisdom to our leaders.  Lord, there is not much we can do, but you can do all things.  We pray for the people of Syria as they face regular terror and hardships.

https://www.pcusa.org/news/2017/4/11/pcusa-co-moderator-requests-prayer-syria-urges-con/

How to Pray in a Prayer Vigil

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45A4A829ABF85-prayer

So how do we pray in our Prayer Vigil?

1) Plan on an extended time- have a Bible beside you, a prayer list/journal- or computer beside you (you can access our church web page and church prayer list that way).  You may want to make sure you have access to a cup of water or coffee.  Tell your family/friends you will be unavailable for about 15 minutes. 

2) Posture and Place- Change your posture.  You may want to stand, kneel, sit, open or close your eyes- fold or raise your hands for variety.  Pick a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. 

3) Prayer- think about ACTS- Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. 
Adoration- consider praying over the names of God- or the attributes of God.
Confession- use the Ten Commandments and confess each one. Read Psalm 51
Thanksgiving- Make a list of things you want to thank God for in your prayer journal .
Supplication- use the prayer requests in the prayer page- and add your own.
    Pray for family, friends, neighbors, church needs (like stewardship campaign and building new building).  Pray for yourself- how you might grow physically, spiritually, mentally, and socially. 

If you work your way through this- you may find that 15 minutes is not enough. 

Here is a link on why have prayer vigils.

11/2/13- Keep Praying!

KEEP PRAYING!

 

Prayer Vigil 11/2- link:

 

Note: We are postponing the prayer walk until the ground breaking of the new building.

 

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ² He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 

 

 

⁴ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

 

 (Luke 18:1-7)

 

 

 

10/31/13- Prayer for the Least, the Last and the Lost

Prayers for Church around the World  The Persecuted Church; The Poor, The Oppressed, The Lost

Don't forget our Prayer Vigil Saturday- Sunday.
Sign up Here
We also will have a big meeting in the Fellowship Hall during Sunday School hour to close out the thirty days. 

Here is a Youtube video Tracie made to encourage you in the Vigil
Here is a video on "The Legacy of Prayer"

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because treat is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  (Mt. 5:10-12)

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. (Acts 10:4) 

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1). 

This is the last day of our Thirty Days in Prayer,  It ends with praying for the church.  When we think of the persecuted church we realize how blessed we are in America.  Just the talk of losing our freedom bristles us.  But the Christians in Nigeria and Egypt are having their churches blown up.  

This weekend we are called to prayer for the persecuted church.  See this article in Christianity Today (click here).

We are called to care for the least, the last, and the lost.  Those who are mentally, physically, and spiritually needy.  One of the simple and even most effective things we can do is pray for those in need.  We may not be able to give much away, or to spend time working- but the very first step toward helping- and a step we can all take is to pray for those in need.  

Here are some things we can do to pray for these in need. 

1) Read of those in Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan and other lands who are persecuted (click here for a map and link).  Take a map and pray for those in need.  

2) Pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child (dedication 11/17).  Say a prayer for those who will receive the gifts. 

3) Make a top three list of those you know who do not profess or practice the faith. Put this list on a post it note- or your phone- a visible place where you can pray for those in need.  Paul prayed for the salvation of those who were the lost sheep of Israel.  Jesus wept over Jerusalem who would not come to him, and prayed, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."  Certainly, we do not need to look hard to see people in gangs, addicted to drugs or alcohol, addicted to lust, who are shallow and practicing self-destructive and God-forsaken behavior.  But all of us need God's grace, hope, and love.  Prayer especially for those severely lost and wandering has to be a blessing.  

Prayer: Lord, Give me grace to pray for the least, the last, and the lost today.  Incline your ear and answer me, O Lord, for I too am poor and needy.  (Psalm 86:1,2)


International Justice Missions has Presbyterian roots and is endorsed by the Fellowship of Presbyterians.  It focuses on injustices around the world. Some hit home- including human trafficking that occurs in South Carolina. 

10/30/13- Praying for Church and State

Prayers for our Community and Those We Serve
For our Denomination and the Fellowship
For our Country and Its Leaders

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  (1 Timothy 2:1,2)


Here are some ideas to help you pray for these things:

Prayers for our Community and Those We Serve- Chapin, Irmo, Little Mountain; Lexington and Richland County;
Mayor: Stanley Shealy, Troy Crump- Police ChiefCounty Council: Jim Kinard (chair), Frank Townsend, Smokey Davis, Billy Derrick, Johnny Jeffcoat, Bobby Keisler, Debra Summers, Bill Banning, Brad Matthews, Todd Cullum, Johnny Jeffcoat School Board: Ellen Baumgardner, Robert Gantt, Jan Hammond, Carol Sloop, Ed White, Kim Murphy, Jim Turner, Beth Hutchison- Watson,Local Law Enforcement: Police- Dave Rodgers; Sherriff: James Metts; Ronnie Lott

For our Denomination and the Fellowship- PCUSA- esp. Grady Parsons; Jim Singleton of the Fellowship of Presbyterians

    For Trinity Presbytery- Danny Murphy, Jim Rowell; Moderator Joanne Scotland

For our Country and Its Leaders-

STATE GOVT: Rep. Walton McLeod; Sen. Ronnie Cromer; Gov. Niki Haley
US GOVT.  Rep.Joe Wilson; Sen. Lindsay Graham, Sen. Tim Scott
SUPREME COURT- Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993), Clarence Thomas (1991), Stephen Breyer (1994), Antonia Scalia (1986), John Roberts (2005),  Anthony Kennedy (1988), Sonia Sotomayor (2009), Elana Kagan (2010)
PRESIDENT Barak Obama; Vice President: Joe Biden; Sec of State: John Kerry

See this blog for more information on why we should pray for those over us.
http://dailybelief.blogspot.com/

 

Prayer for Children and Youth

Prayers for children and youth and the new building.

Pray for our children- again using the pictorial directory.

Pray for our children’s Sunday School Teachers and youth group advisors.

Nursery Workers: Bennett Brown, Jennifer Williams, Kelly Shaffer; Preschool- Gail Comalander, Mandy Harrington, Janet Graham; Kindergarten- Elinor Harris, Liz Knott, Farrah Brown, Merideth Strawhorn; 1st & 2nd Grade- Susan Adams, Beth Burnett and Blaine Burnett; 3rd- 4th- Debbie Ferguson; 5th- 7th Pam Harrell; 8th Tracie Stewart; Sr. High Megan;

 

Youth Advisors: JJs- Manyd Harrington, Amy Stebbins, Carri Tucker; Ann Summers; Middlers- Longs, Berrys, Donahues; Sr. Highs- Meg Senn, Tom Hattaway, Robin Melvin, Edwards

Pray for our youth as they face temptations to turn away from God and parents.  Pray for them to be strong witnesses among their friends and schools;  Pray for our youth as a new high school and middle school separates and adds both excitement and stress to our youth group.  Pray for the Presbytery Middler Retreat.

Pray for Jane Jermac, Megan McMillan, our preschool.

 

Pray for our new Children’s Ministry Building- especially the bank loan approval and the bidding process. 
Pray for decisions that we make on the architecture, scope of our programs and decision making on the new building.

Pray for patience during the construction period and wisdom to do the very best we can to care for our children during

this period. 

10-28-13- Pray for Each Other

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."  (Galatians 6:2)
Pray for each other that you may be healed (James 5:16)
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  Be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. (Ephesians 6:18)

Video of the Pumpkin Prayer

Prayers for the sorrows, joys, and challenges  those in our church and community face

PRAYER FOR SORROWS:

Those who have cancer: Especially Hanes McEntire, Shirley Salisbury, Phil Trefsgar, Joe David, Kay Sloan, Jan Overstreet.

Those who are grieving: Roland Lavigne family; Sue Madden family; Bob Gjerstsen family; Jonathan McNaughton family;
Those who recently lost mothers- Pat O’Cain, Julie Bickley, Julia Belk

PRAYER FOR JOYS:
Pray for Mary Margaret and Nils Shirley just married 10/14.
Pray for Tinsley McCrary and Eric Ponder to be married 12/14.
Pray for George Webb and Billie  to be married 12-28.

PRAYER FOR CHALLENGES:
Landy Higginbotham and continued tests and possible heart surgery in a few months.
The 21 homeless students in Cbapin and their families and what we are to do about this.

Here is a piece speaking of the need to intercede in the church: http://dailybelief.blogspot.com/ (10/28 post).

Prayer Labyrinth at LMPC

10/27/13- Pray for LMPC and its leaders

PRAYER FOR CHURCH MEMBERS ANDLMPC LEADERS:

 

² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  (Colossians 4:2-4)

 

¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other (James 5:16)

Prayer Helps:
1) Take the new pictorial directory and pray through it- looking at the faces and family members.

    You may access this online at: http://www.lmpchurch.org/members-only/pictorial-directory-2013/

     Or you may take the new Telephone Directory that is in your stewardship packet.

2) Pray for your officers- elders and deacons- they are found in the front of your telephone directory or online:

http://www.lmpchurch.org/about/leadership/elders/

3) Pray for your pastors: Tracie, Ben, Bo

4) Pray for the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee

5) Pray for church staff- Sherri Lindler, Laura Mars, Mandy McCathern, Walter Cuttino, Sara Beardsley, Janet Roberts

10/25/13- Praying Our Own Prayers

A Month in Prayer

Praying Our Prayers

Video of the Prayer Wall
 

²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23,24)

 

We are almost at the end of our month-long focus on prayer.
It is our prayer you have gained much from this experience.

Prayer is extremely important.
It does change things. Here are a few examples.

Several studies have found a connection between prayer and healing. Patient who were prayed for had better outcomes than those who had no prayers on their behalf. This proved true even when the patients did not know that prayers were said on their behalf.
Patients from the San Francisco General Medical Center were randomly divided into placebo and test groups. Patients in the test group were prayed for by Christians; the placebo group received no prayer. There were no statistical differences between the placebo and the prayer groups before prayer was initiated. The results demonstrated that patients who were prayed for suffered "less congestive heart failure, required less diuretic and antibiotic therapy,
had fewer episodes of pneumonia, had fewer cardiac arrests, and were less frequently intubated and ventilated."
 (Rich Deem, GodandScience.org)
Prayer also improves marriages.
There is an often-cited statistic that 50 percent of marriages
 end in divorce — even among churchgoers.
But that statistic is misleading.
When studies that distinguish between couples who claim a nominal faith and those who prioritize church attendance and faith, one finds a much lower divorce rate among committed Christians.
Here are a few examples of the role of prayer in sustaining a marriage:

Baylor University did a study that showed a 0-2% “fear of divorce”
for couples that pray together daily.
Gallup did a study in 1991 that showed praying together as a couple is “the most powerful correlate to marital happiness.”

The University of Virginia and Bowling Green State University independently found that regular church attendance cuts the likelihood of divorce by 30 to 35 percent.
When you add prayer into the mix, divorce plummets.
A 1998 survey by the Georgia Family Council found that among couples who prayed together weekly, only 7 percent had seriously considered divorce, compared to 65 percent of those who never prayed together.

Hours of Prayer

Within many Christian faith traditions there is an official set of daily prayers. These prayers consist primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and Scripture readings. The early Christians continued the Jewish practice of reciting prayers at certain hours of the day or night. The Apostles continued to the Jewish custom of praying at the third, sixth and ninth hours and at midnight (Acts 10:3, 9; 16:25; etc.).  Christian prayer in the early church consisted of almost the same elements as Jewish prayer: recital or chanting psalms and reading the Scriptures. By the time of the Roman Empire, the Jews (and early Christians) began to use the Roman system of conducting the business day to schedule their times for prayer. In Roman cities, the bell in the forum rang the beginning of the business day and noted the day's progress by striking again around the hours designated for continued. By 60 AD the oldest known Christian liturgical manual recommended praying the Lord's Prayer three times a day. By the second and third centuries the Church fathers had firmly established regular times of prayer throughout the day.

Hours of Prayer

By the third century, the Desert Fathers (the earliest monks),
 began to live out Paul's command to "pray without ceasing.”
 One group of monks would pray one fixed-hour prayer
while having another group pray the next prayer
so that prayer would occur continually.
Over time as Christian monastic communities developed in both the East and West, longer prayers were used.
The cycle of prayer became the norm of daily life in monasteries.
 By the fourth century, the characteristics of the canonical hours more or less took their present shape. Secular (non-monastic) clergymen and lay people also prayed shorter prayers at fixed hours.
Bede’s Rule further codified these prayers and the hours of prayer grew more elaborate until the Reformation.
After the Reformation, the Catholic Church simplified these prayers and Lutherans and Anglicans continued to use modified versions of praying the hours.
Reformed people embraced this ancient tradition during the last century’s liturgical renewal movement though modifying it.

This week there are no set prayers.
We will make suggestions about things for which to pray,
but you will create your own prayers each day.

Bring your prayers and share them at our prayer walk
this Saturday.

Also use them during theprayer vigil
we are holding Saturday 11/2.

Pray Ya’ll!!

10/25/13- More Modern Prayers

A Month in Prayer

Praying the Prayers of the Reformers          October 25

"This is how you should pray...Forgive us Our Debts as We forgive our debtors."  Mt. 6:12
Reformation Day Tree Video

 

John Wesley (1703-1791)

Forgive them all, O Lord:

Our sins of omission and our sins of commission;
The sins of our youth and the sins of our riper years;
The sins of our souls and the sins of our bodies;
Our secret and our more open sins;
Our sins of ignorance and surprise;
And our more deliberate and presumptuous sins;
The sins we have done to please ourselves;
And the sins we have done to please others;
The sins we know and remember;
And the sins we have forgotten;
The sins we have striven to hide from others;
And the sins by which we have made others offend....

Forgive them, O Lord,
forgive them all for HIS sake
Who died for our sins
And rose for our justification,
And now stands at YOUR RIGHT HAND
To make intercession for us,
Jesus Christ our Savior!
Amen Amen Amen!!!

John Wesley (1703-1791) was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. He is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement. Methodism stressed personal piety and used itinerant preachers who travelled widely to evangelize and preached often in open spaces to those who would not otherwise come to church. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day including  prison reform and abolition. Throughout his life Wesley remained within the Established Church and insisted that his movement was well within the bounds of the Anglican tradition. At the age of five, Wesley was rescued from his father’s burning rectory. This escape made a deep impression on his mind and he regarded himself as providentially set apart, a "brand plucked from the burning" (Zechariah 3:2). After being ordained, he and his brother both traveled to Savannah, Georgia with George Whitfield to work among the colonists and Native Americans. It was on the voyage to the colonies that the Wesleys came into contact with Moravian who influenced them with their deep faith and piety. Returning to England after a troubled time in America, Wesley’s life changed on May 24, 1738 a Moravian meeting on Aldersgate Street, London. He heard a reading of Martin Luther's preface to Romans, and "I felt my heart strangely warmed.” The rest of his life Wesley preached wherever he could, formed Methodist, societies, opened chapels, examined and commissioned preachers, administered aid charities, superintended schools and orphanages, and received at least £20,000 for his publications but gave most of it away. He travelled usually on horseback, preaching two or three times each day. It was recorded that he "rode 250,000 miles, gave away 30,000 pounds ... and preached more than 40,000 sermons.” Wesley married at the age of 48, but the union was not happy and produced no children. When his wife left him after fifteen years, Wesley wrote in his journal, "I did not forsake her, I did not dismiss her, I will not recall her."  Toward the end of his life he was widely respected and referred to as "the best loved man in England.” When he died at the age of 87, Wesley’s last words were "The best of all is God is with us.”



Sojourner Truth (c. 1797 – 1883)

Oh, God,
you know I have no money,
but you can make the people do for me,
and you must make the people do for me.
I will never give you peace till you do, God.


Sojourner Truth (c. 1797 – 1883) is the self-given name after 1843 of an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist.  She was born in New York, and was sold at the age of nine at an auction with a flock of sheep for $100. She was owned by four people some of whom treated her very harshly including daily beatings with a bundle of rods.  Around 1815, Truth met and fell in love with a slave named Robert from a neighboring farm.  Robert's owner forbade the relationship, and Robert was savagely beaten. He died from those injuries.  Truth was forced to marry an older slave named Thomas. She bore him five children. Late in 1826, Truth escaped to freedom with her infant daughter, Sophia. She had to leave her other children behind She found her way to the home of Isaac and Maria Van Wagener, who took her and her baby in. Isaac offered to buy her services from her owner for the remainder of the year until the state's emancipation took effect for $20.00. Truth learned that her son Peter, then five years old, had been sold illegally by her former owner to an owner in Alabama. With the help of the Van Wageners, she took the issue to court and, after months of legal proceedings, got back her son, who had been abused by his new owner. Truth was one of the first black women to go to court against a white man and win the case.  She had a life-changing religious experience during her stay with the Van Wageners and became a devout Christian. "The Spirit calls me, and I must go," she said.  Truth became a Methodist and preaching about the abolition of slavery, women's rights, prison reform, and against capital punishment. More than 3,000 people crowded into the Battle Creek Tabernacle to pay their last respects to the black heroine when she died. In 2009 Truth was first black woman honored with a bust in the US Capitol and in 1997 NASA named the Mars Pathfinder's robotic rover "Sojourner" after her.
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Karl Barth (1886-1968)

Lord, our God,
 you know who we are:
People with good and bad consciences;
satisfied and dissatisfied,
sure and unsure people;
Christians out of conviction
and Christians out of habit;
believers, half-believers, and unbelievers…
But now we all stand before you:
in all our inequality equal in this,
that we are all in the wrong before you
and among each other…
but also in that your grace is promised to
and turned toward all of us
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Karl Barth (1886-1968) was a Swiss Reformed theologian and professor of theology. Both the most prolific and influential theologian of the twentieth century, his thought emphasized the sovereignty of God, the sinfulness of humanity, and the "infinite qualitative distinction between God and mankind was professor of theology. While teaching in Germany, Barth became a leader in the Confessing Church which actively opposed Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. The Confessing Church sought to prevent the Nazis from taking over the existing church and establishing a state church controlled by the regime. This struggle culminated in Barth's authorship of the Barmen Declaration, which fiercely criticized Christians who supported the Nazis. The Barmen Declaration is in our PCUSA Book of Confessions.  Barth had to leave Germany in 1935 after he refused to swear allegiance to Adolf Hitler and went back to Switzerland and became a professor in Basel. Barth’s systematic theology, Church Dogmatics, runs to over six million words and 8,000 pages in English. It is over 9,000 in German making it one of the longest works of systematic theology ever written.  Barth’s influence expanded well beyond the academic realm to mainstream culture, leading him to be featured on the cover of Time on April 20, 1962.