A good friend has been enjoying “At the Well.” The Maundy Thursday version is HERE in case you would like to try this blend of word, prayer and song. Many thanks to St. Timothy’s for these efforts in the midst of the pandemic!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

HUMOR – Christian Playbook humor links

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES:

• For People Critically Ill, or Facing Great Uncertainty – from New Zealand Prayer Book (bottom of first page shown HERE)
• Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 12, 2020:

• Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6 
• Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
• Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43 
• John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10

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“… You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day.”                                                                         ~ final two lines in “The Secret” by Ralph Spaulding Cushman

As a young adult, our dad received A Pocket Prayer Book from his pastor, Rev. E. Lester Stanton. What an appropriate gift! The way Dad talked about E. Lester Stanton made it clear that he was a mentor.

Our dad taught us a great deal about faith (more with his actions than his words in my case.) So…to read “The Secret” as a pass-along from those Gresham United Methodist Church days is really special.

We are certainly living in turbulent times. “The Secret” by Ralph Spaulding Cushman (1879-1960) certainly supports the notion of spending time with God early in the day. You can read the whole poem HERE

ACTION: Each of us has a unique faith journey to share. Today can you find an opportunity to share “The Secret” or other aspects of your journey with others in your midst?

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

HUMOR – Christian Playbook humor links

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES:

• For People Critically Ill, or Facing Great Uncertainty – from New Zealand Prayer Book (bottom of first page shown HERE)
• Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 12, 2020:

• Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6 
• Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
• Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43 
• John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

“It takes faith to follow Jesus. It takes blind faith to go ahead of Jesus into the unknown. It takes irrepressible faith to walk down a road your feet have never walked before. It takes intrepid faith to look back over your shoulder and see Jesus…” urging you ahead. ~ MaryAnn McKibben Dana (preaching from Matthew 21:1-11)

MaryAnn packs a lot into her 9-minute Palm Sunday sermon HERE

A19: Palm/Passion Sunday, Year A (2020)

That image of Jesus sending us on ahead is captivating. On Palm Sunday he gives some instruction in sending them on ahead, but in other cases, not so much. We too can find ourselves questioning why we are moved to certain actions. The prayerful response is sometimes seemingly correct and sometimes a “suitable mistake.”

PRAYER: Creator God, in these days of challenge, help us to lead with loving kindness. May we follow where necessary and lead where possible, knowing that while we won’t always “succeed,” the result will be significant for your kingdom to come…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

HUMOR – Christian Playbook humor links

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES:

• For People Critically Ill, or Facing Great Uncertainty – from New Zealand Prayer Book (bottom of first page shown HERE)
• Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 5, 2020:

• Isaiah 50:4-9a 
• Psalm 31:9-16 
• Philippians 2:5-11 
• Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE

We continue with the question: As we all grapple with the current social mandates, what new joys or purposes have we found ourselves focusing on?

Communicating seems to be an answer for many, at least based on some recent discussions. Old friends re-establishing contact after decades, grandchildren calling/texting their grandparents, etc.. A new-to-many product, Zoom**, has been a HUGE find, allowing people to see 1-100 friends/family/colleagues all at the same time!

In fact, Zoom has been useful for the MWPC worship team as we worship with the New England Club senior living community. Leaders connect using Zoom and then conference call in our senior members who do not necessarily have easy access to internet. While dealing with the usual “trials and tribulations” associated with new technology, this is allowing us to worship in spite of our isolation challenges. Maybe an opportunity for someone you know too? (user-friendly tips HERE for those less-technically oriented)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** this is certainly not the only product being used for such purposes – FB, Google and many others provide products with similar capabilities

HUMOR – Christian Playbook humor links

PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES:

• For People Critically Ill, or Facing Great Uncertainty – from New Zealand Prayer Book (bottom of first page shown HERE)
• Lenten Prayer by Rev. Dr. LP Jones: opportunities to read or listen
  • read HERE
  • listen HERE

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, April 5, 2020:

• Isaiah 50:4-9a 
• Psalm 31:9-16 
• Philippians 2:5-11 
• Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54

Know someone who might like receiving messages like this?**  If so, forward this message to them and they can sign up HERE