Monday, April 27, 2020

Pandemic Prayerbook

Friends - The link I gave for the Pandemic Prayerbook did not go through. Google the information below to take you to the prayerbook


https://darcywiley.com/pandemic-prayerbook-for-the-coronavirus-crisis/

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Pandemic Prayerbook

https://mcusercontent.com/64431fc5084f98d69a6260bf2/files/32369fbe-3006-4044-a8a3-dd992e6b2943/PandemicPrayerbook.pdfcDownload Pandemic Prayerbook


Friends - Mike and I recently contributed to the Pandemic Prayerbook, a collection of prayers for individual aspects of the current pandemic. Prayers are for medical professionals, those experiencing disappointment of special occasions, individuals in nursing homes, journalists, and many others.

Click on the above link to read these prayers. I hope you will find comfort and peace from words contributed by 30 writers.

Peace to all in these times which are challenging. Seek God always.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

More Prayers for These Days

Recently, Mike and I were asked to write a prayer for an aspect of the corona virus, social isolation, etc.  I chose to write a prayer about those experiencing disappointment during this time - my prayer will appear next week.

Mike chose to write a prayer for journalists.

                                           A Prayer for Journalists

O Lord, our God, we know that after creating our world, you looked out on all that you had created and declared it was good. That story begins our Bible, a book filled with stories about you continuing to work in our world through your people.

Since then, we have been story tellers. We tell stories to describe our world, to report on events all around us, to let others know what people are doing and how that might affect us and others.

In  our times, journalists serve as story tellers. They tell us about our world, our nationour state, our community, our neighbors. In doing so, Lord, they help us keep informed and connected. Their stories open your world to us, tell us about people, both near to and far from us, about events all over the world, about our institutions and their activities. We benefit from these stories and how they impact us and others.

As we know, and as you know, O Lord, our journalists perform valuable work for us. They update us, as well as bringing us new stories about which we need to know. We need their stories even more in the trying times in which we now find ourselves.

So, we lift all journalists in prayer as they continue to perform the work they perform. Give them clarity of vision, necessary knowledge and insight, a commitment to being truthful about what they report, a fearlessness in dealing with what can be difficult and even situations and the people involved in those situations who may not want their stories told. Give them an awareness of their own opinions and biases and how to keep these in check as they report their stories. Above all, may they remember that the people about whom they report are human beings, are your children, all of them, even those whom they may not like, or whose actions may be reprehensible to them.

We also know, O Lord, that many discount and disrespect journalists and their work, accusing them of under minding our country, our leaders and institutions. That can make it difficult for journalists as they do their jobs. Help them keep on task and do the best they can in their reporting their stories that help keep us informed.

We thank you, O Lord, for journalists and the work they do. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.


Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Prayers for these days

I will be posting a few prayers for these times of unique living. I pray you will find comfort and insight and most importantly feel God with you.

God you are creating everyday when we see new blossoms on flowers amd changes in the sky. You create in us too as we have experiences bringing new insights and thoughts. Open our heartto share your love with others. Amen.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

A Few Thoughts for Trying Times For Everyone

Going through a drawer the other day, I found a piece of writing I presented many years ago to a group of young mothers (MOPS) at my church. I put together ten thoughts adapted from Mother Teresa's top ten I'd read in a magazine.

Here are my top ten thoughts for these days of challenge and isolation for all people, hoping one may give you encouragement.

1. Miracles come everyday - be alert for them - when a child accomplishes a skill, when we have a few moments to sit and read, when everyone likes a new dish for dinner,when someone learns to ride a bike, when a flower blooms, when you hear God's voice and respond.

2. Remember to keep an empty bowl somewhere in your house as a reminder emptiness leaves room for God to come in.

3. Think about experiences which have caused you to grow - have these been in ordinary times or in moments when you've felt stretched?

4. Anything done with love, however seemingly insignificant reflects God.

5. Simplicity opens the pathway to God. What can you live without? Simplifying life enables one to focus on each person you encounter in your family, with friends, or people you meet.

6. Treat each person -  as if they were Jesus - everyone is created in God's image, including you, your family, friends, and people everywhere.

7. What did Jesus say about possessions? What sort of items did Jesus have? Can you trust God to provide everything you need?

8. Treat everyone with love.

9. Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God. Mother Teresa began praying each day at 4 am., trying to find the silence of her heart where God talked to her. Her motto was:

"The fruit of silence is prayer."
"The fruit of prayer is faith."
"The fruit of faith is love."
"The fruit of love is service."
"The fruit of service is peace."

10. It's easy to write a check, but more effective to serve a meal or take pledges for a charity walk.

Prayer: God, during these times of isolation help us take time to go deeper into our souls and find new spaces of your presence. We pray daily for healthcare workers, grocery employees and others who are caring for us. We pray healing for those affected by the virus. In your expansive mercy we come to you, knowing our life in you is the deepest place of meaning. Amen.