Post on 21-Jun-2020
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Prayers,Politics,PeacePrayerVigil
Friday,November4th—Sunday,November6th,2016 Withthe2016PresidentialElectiononlydaysaway,ourcommunityhasfounditselfinanenvironmentoftensionandanxiety.Manypeoplefindthemselvesconflictedoverhowtovote,andwhethertovoteforaperson,aparty,ortheissuesthemselves.Thisweekend,letusunitetogetherinprayerasweseekGod’swisdominhowtoproceedbothbeforeandaftertheelection.LetusrememberthatweultimatelyfollowaleaderevenhigherthanthePresidentoftheUnitedStates…ultimatelywefollowJesus.Letuspraytogetherforourcountry,ourfutureleaders,andourunityasanation,butletusalsofindcomfortinknowingthatwefollowaSaviorwhodefiesallpoliticalpartiesandoffersusabetterwayoflifethroughdiscipleship. Rev.JulieSchendelFridayAfternoon
“Imetthoseofoursocietywhohadvotesintheensuingelection,and
advisedthem,
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1.Tovote,withoutfeeorreward,forthepersontheyjudgedmostworthy,
2.Tospeaknoevilofthepersontheyvotedagainst,and3.Totakecaretheirspiritswerenotsharpenedagainstthosethatvoted
ontheotherside.” —JohnWesley,October6,1774ThisquotefromJohnWesley’spersonaljournalsumsupourgoalofapproachingthePresidentialelectionwithdiscernment,respect,andunity.
Discernment:Voteforthepersonyoujudgemostworthy.Respect:Speaknoeviloftheopposingcandidate.Unity:Seektounifyyourownspiritwiththosewhoseviewsaredifferentthanyourown,andensurewecanmoveforwardtogether.ThisweekendweareseekingtoalignourmindswiththatofChrist,
andperhapsevenJohnWesley,todiscernhowbesttovoteforthenextleaderofourcountry,respectwhateverdecisionismade,andunifyourheartswithoneanotheraswefacewhateverthefuturemayhold.Inthesedaysbeforetheelection,everyoneseemstowaverbetweenhopeandfear:hopethatthereisstillachanceforthe“right”outcometooccur,fearthatourcountrywillbeweakenedorheadedfortroubleiftheoppositecomestrue.ThisisthetimetoturnoureyesuponJesus,andthewordsofthatfamiliarhymncometomind…
Osoul,areyouwearyandtroubled?Nolightinthedarknessyousee?
There’salightforalookattheSavior,Andlifemoreabundantandfree.
TurnyoureyesuponJesus,
Lookfullinhiswonderfulface,Andthethingsoftheearthwillgrowstrangelydim,
Inthelightofhisgloryandgrace.
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Prayer:LovingGod,letusrestintheassurancethatwecanfinddiscernmentinourdecisionsandpeaceabouttheactionswearetaking.Letusgivethanksthatwearenotaloneinourhopeorourfear,andinsteadfindguidancefromyouinallthatwedo.Remindusthatyouarethelightthatshinesinthedarkness,andthedarknesscannotovercomeit.Amen.FridayNight
Discernmentisoneofthose“churchy”words.Wedon’toftenhearitinthesecularworld,andinsteadreserveitformattersthatrelatetoourreligiousandspirituallives.Insteadofsayingwe’remakingadecision,orweighingouroptions,weusediscernmentasawaytogiveweightandimportancetotheprocessofhowwechoose.Yetthisworddeservesthatsignificance,becauseitisthoughttobedonewithanelementbeyondourownunderstandinganddecision-making.DiscernmentinvolvestheHolySpirit,seekingdirectionfromGodasameansofunderstandingourroleasdisciplesofJesusbypursuingaholypath.
HenryNouwendescribeddiscernmentas:“aspiritualunderstandingandanexperientialknowledgeofhowGodisactiveindailylifethatisacquiredthroughdisciplinedspiritualpractice.DiscernmentisfaithfullivingandlisteningtoGod’sloveanddirectionsothatwecanfulfillourindividualcallingandsharedmission.”1
Aswefacethecomingelection,letusturntoGodtodiscernnotonlyhowweshouldvote,butalsohowwecanbeanexampleofChristintheworldbyreflectingcompassion,patience,empathy,andrespectwiththosewhomweagreeanddisagree.LetusallowtheHolySpirittoguideouractionsandourwordsinawaythatispleasingtoGod.Prayer:AlmightyGod,inaworldofchangeyouplacedeternityinourheartsandgaveuspowertodiscerngoodfromevil.Grantussincerity,thatwemaypersistentlyseekthethingsthatendure,refusingthosewhichperish,andthat,amidthingsvanishinganddeceptive,wemayseethetruthsteadily,followthelightfaithfully,andgroweverricherinthat1HenriNouwen.Discernment:ReadingtheSignsofDailyLife,p.3.
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lovewhichisthelifeofallpeople;throughJesusChristourSavior.Amen.2SaturdayEarlyMorning “Donotbeconformedtothisworld,butbetransformedbytherenewingofyourminds,sothatyoumaydiscernwhatisthewillofGod—whatisgoodandacceptableandperfect.ForbythegracegiventomeIsaytoeveryoneamongyounottothinkofyourselfmorehighlythanyououghttothink,buttothinkwithsoberjudgment,eachaccordingtothemeasureoffaiththatGodhasassigned.”
Romans12:2-3 Paultellsusnottobeconformedtothisworld,todiscernthewillofGodsothatwemightdiscoverwhatisgoodandacceptableandperfect.IknowwhenitcomestoelectingthenextPresident,itfeelsasifnoneofourchoicesaregoodandacceptableandperfect.Yetwearestillencouragedtoexerciseourfreedomtovote,afreedomthatmanybeforeusfoughtlongandhardsothatwemighthaveasayinwholeadsourcountry.Sointimesofuncertainty,weturntoGodtoaskforwisdomandclarity,todiscernthewillofGod.Prayer:CreatorGod,youhaveformedusinyourimageandgivenusknowledge.Yetyoushapedusfromthedustandgaveushumility.Letusfindthecarefulbalancebetweenthosetwosothatwemightserveyouwithsoberjudgment.Youhavegivenusfaithtotrustinyouaswemakedecisionsthatshapeourworldandthosewholeadit.Leadusnowasweprayforourleadersandchooseourpathintothefuture.Amen.SaturdayLateMorning Overthepastcoupleofmonths,IhavebeenvisitingseveraldifferentSundaySchoolclassestosharethestoryofmycalltoministryandthejourneythateventuallyledmetoPeachtreeRdUMC.IfoundmyselfusingtheworddiscernseveraltimesasItalkedaboutanswering2TheUnitedMethodistBookofWorship,#510.
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thecalltoministry,choosingaseminary,decidingwhetherornottobecomeafosterparent.
Someoftheclassespickeduponthatword,andaskedmewhatmymethodofdiscernmentlookedlike.Iwasalittletakenabackbythatquestionandsaid,“Youmean,youwantathreestepprocessofhowtodiscernamajordecision?”Withhopeintheireyes,theyeagerlynoddedasiftosay,“Yes,please,that’dbegreat.”Ithoughtaboutitforaminute.Whilethereisnoeasythree-stepprocesstofinddivineassuranceaboutadecision,Ididnoticeseveralrepeatedbehaviorsmostofmydecisionshadincommon.
First,Ieducatemyself.WhenIwasconsideringordination,IaskedeveryoneIcouldthinkoftheiropinion,theprosandcons,thebiggestchallengesandthegreatestrewardsofordainedministry,andwhatallwasinvolvedintheprocess.Iaskedthosewhoservedinministryandchosenottogetordainedhowtheirexperiencewasdifferent,andwhatlimitationsorfreedomstheyfoundtakingadifferentroute.
IspoketopeopleIthoughtwouldagreewithmeandaskedthoseIknewwoulddisagree.IwantedtogatherasmuchinformationfromallpossiblescenariosasIthoughtthroughmyoptions.Itmayhavebeeneasier,atfirst,toaskonlythosewhoIknewfeltthesamewayIdid.Butbylisteningtotheopposingsidesaswell,Iwasbetterabletomakeamoreinformeddecisionbasedonaplethoraofknowledgeinsteadofanemotionalinstinct.AndIfeelthatbalancedwisdomservedmewell.
Anothercommonthemethathasbeencrucialtomydiscernmenthasalwaysbeenprayer.Ipraythrougheverystepoftheprocess.Ipraybeforemakingadecisionandcontinueafteritismade.IaskGodforwisdomandthentrytostopaskingortalking,andfinallylistenforGod’sresponse.
Intheend,Ilookforadecisionthatwillbringmepeace.IfIamnotatpeacewithwhatIhavedecided,IcontinuetheprocessofdiscernmentuntilIfeelsomethinghaschanged.Sometimesitjusttakestime.Sometimesitrequiresmoreresearchormoreprayer.SometimesIsimplymakeadecisionandtrustthatGodwillbewithmethroughitnomatterwhat.
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Prayer:Godofwisdom,allowusamomenttoreflectonallyouhavetaughtus,sothatwemightmakedecisionsthatarepleasingtoyou.Allowustohearyourvoiceinawaythatgivesusassuranceandpeace.Giveusthestrengthtobeyourhandsandfeetinthisworldsothatwemightseekjusticeforallofyourchildrenandworktogethertowardrespectandunity.Amen.SaturdayAfternoon “FortheLord’ssakeaccepttheauthorityofeveryhumaninstitution,whetheroftheemperorassupreme,orofgovernors,assentbyhimtopunishthosewhodowrongandtopraisethosewhodoright.ForitisGod’swillthatbydoingrightyoushouldsilencetheignoranceofthefoolish.AsservantsofGod,liveasfreepeople,yetdonotuseyourfreedomasapretextforevil.Honoreveryone.Lovethefamilyofbelievers.FearGod.Honortheemperor.”
1Peter2:13-17 It’shardtothinkofrespectingapoliticalleaderwithwhomyoudonotagree.Yetwhen“our”candidatewins,weexpectforthemtherespectofthosewhovoteddifferently.Believeitornot,wedon’talwayshavetoagreewithsomeonetorespecthimorher.AsservantsofGodwearecalledtoahigherstandardofliving:toliveasfreepeople,yetnottousethatfreedomforevil.PartofourbaptismalvowsintheUnitedMethodistChurchincludethesequestions:Doyourenouncethespiritualforcesofwickedness,rejecttheevilpowersoftheworld,andrepentofyoursin?DoyouacceptthefreedomandpowerGodgivesyoutoresistevil,injustice,andoppressioninwhateverforms
theypresentthemselves? Wearecalledtoturnawayfromevil.Similarly,wearecalledtoseekjustice,lovemercy,andwalkhumblywithourGod,justasthescriptureinMicah6:8suggests.Whenwefollowthesescriptures,andpledgeouragreementtoourbaptismalvows,wearepromisingtoberespectfultooneanotherbyusingthefreedomGodhasgivenusinaway
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thathonorsGod.Thereisnohonorintreatingoneanotherwithhatredorcontempt.Wedonotshowrespectwhenweallowourangertospewoutontootherswhothinkdifferentlythanwedo. Reading1Peterinaslightlydifferentlanguage,wehearthesewordsfromTheMessage:“ExerciseyourfreedombyservingGod,notbybreakingtherules.Treateveryoneyoumeetwithdignity.Loveyourspiritualfamily.RevereGod.Respectthegovernment.”Dignity.Love.Reverence.Respect.Letustreateveryoneinthismanner,justasGodhastaughtus.Prayer:LordAlmighty,wehumbleourselvesbeforeyouasyourfaithfulservants.Wegivethanksforthefreedomyouhavegivenusasyourfollowers,andseektousethatfreedominwaysthathonorandglorifyyourname.Helpustotreatoneanotherwiththesamerespectanddignitythatwehopetobetreatedwithourselves.Amen. SaturdayNight
OneofmyfavoritechildhoodbookswasWheretheWildThingsArebyMauriceSendak.It’sastoryaboutawildlittleboynamedMaxwhohasavividimagination.Onenight,aftermuchroughplayandrunning
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aboutthehouse,Max’smothersendshimtobedwithoutsupperfordisrespectfulbehavior.Angryandupsetinhisbedroom,hewishestogosomewherehe’llbelovedbestofall.Thenhisimaginationtakesflight,andamysteriousforestbeginstogrowaroundhim,andhesailsofftoafarawaylandwheretheWildThingsare.TherehebecomesthekingoftheWildThingsandthey“letthewildrumpusstart!”Eventhoughherulesinthisnewworld,andcandowhateverhewants,eventuallyMaxgetshomesickandsailsbacktohisownroom.Therehefindswaitingforhimhissupper,stillhot. Thebeautifulpartofthisstoryistheunconditionallovethemothershows.EventhoughMaxdisrespectedher,shestilltakescareofhisneedsaboveallelse.Didhelearnanythingabouttheconsequencesofbeingdisrespectful?Maybe.Maybenot.Didherealizethataboveallelse,heisalwaysloved?Ithinkso. Perhapstherearetimeswewouldliketoimagineaworldwherewealwaysgetourownway,wherewearelovedbestofall,andwherewecanmakeupwhateverruleswelike.Yetifeveryonelivedbythismeans,wewouldhavemuchworsethanawildrumpus.Wewouldhavechaos.Whenwedon’tgetourway,it’shardtoberespectful.However,ifwelearnanythingfromthemotherinthisstory,it’sthatsometimes,evenwhenothersdon’tbehavethewaywewantthemto,wecanstillshowforgivenessandlove.Always.
“Iftheyrespectyou,respectthem.Iftheydisrespectyou,stillrespectthem.Donotallowtheactionsofotherstodecreaseyourgoodmanners,becauseyourepresentyourself,notothers.”3Prayer:LovingGod,wegivethanksthatyouloveusevenwhenweareundeserving.Wegivethanksthatyourforgivenessandgracearenotdependentonouractions.Teachushowtoberespectfulofoneanotherevenourowninstinctsmakeusstray.Helpustofollowyourexamplesothatwemightbemoreloving,slowtoanger,andgenerouswithourrespect.Amen. 3MohammadZeyara
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SundayEarlyMorning
PeopleliketoarguewhetherJesuswouldbeaRepublicanoraDemocrat.Fortunately,hesetanexampleofbeingsomethinggreaterthaneitherpoliticalparty,oftenturningthegovernmentupsidedown.Jesustaughtthatourultimateallegianceisnottoapersonvotedintooffice,buttoourCreator.Wehavetheabilitytochoosewhomwefollow,andwhomwemakeourSavior.
“Letusnotseektherepublicananswerorthedemocraticanswer,buttherightanswer.Letusnotseektofixtheblameforthepast.Letusaccept
ourownresponsibilityforthefuture.”JohnF.Kennedy
Prayer:LambofGod,inaworldthatseemssodivisive,weseektofindunitywithourbrothersandsistersinChrist.Remindusthatyourkingdomwasnotofthisworld,butonethatinvitesustogreaterthings.Helpustoputasideblame,hurtfeelings,distrust,andfear.Giveusstrengthasweputourfaithinyouandyourkingdom.Amen.
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SundayLateMorning
Sometimesitfeelsasifthereisnorightanswer.Inaseasonwhereourcountryfeelsanxiousanddivided,onewouldthinkthepeaceablesolutionwouldbetoseekunity.Onesuchcompanysoughttouniteusalltogetheroversomethingassimpleascoffee.Starbucksrecentlyreleasedanew,limitededitiongreencup.Onitwerepicturesof132differentpeopledrawnwithasingleline. NBCNewsreportedthefollowingstatementStarbucksreleasedabouttheirnewcup:
"Duringadivisivetimeinourcountry,Starbuckswantedtocreateasymbolofunityasareminderofoursharedvalues,andtheneedtobegoodtoeachother,"saidHowardSchultz,thecoffeegiant'schairman
andCEO.
ThecupwasdesignedbyartistShogoOtawhosketchedhundredsoffigures—fromfarmerstobaristas—embracinginonecontinuousline.Otasaidhehopedthedesignwouldserveasasymbolfor"stitching
peopletogetherasaunitedcommunity."
Despitetheattempttounifyus,thisgreencupquicklygainedcritiquefrompeopleaccusingStarbucksofhavingabiasedagenda.Whatevergoodwillwasattemptedsoongavewaytocomplaintsandmoreanger.Weliveinaworldwheresomepeoplewillfindanyreason
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tofight.Aspeopleoffaith,letusriseabovetheneedtolookfortroubleandseekinsteadtobepeacemakers.
“Bearwithoneanotherand,ifanyonehasacomplaintagainstanother,forgiveeachother;justastheLordhasforgivenyou,soyoualsomustforgive.Aboveall,clotheyourselveswithlove,whichbindseverythingtogetherinperfectharmony.”
Colossians3:13-14
Prayer:God,wearesotiredofbeingangry.Wedon’thavemuchfightleftinus.Helpustofindthepeace.Helpustoletgoofourresentmentandbitternessandworktowardunityinstead.Wewanttobelievethatitispossibletoforgiveothersaseasilyasyouforgiveus.Wewanttobedrawntogetherinperfectharmonysothatwemightloveoneanothermoreeasily.DearGod,letitbeso,andletitbeginwithus.Amen.SundayAfternoon WhenIwasinseminaryIservedinmyfirstjobasayouthminister.Thatfirstsummerwetooktheyouthtoaweeklongmissiontripinthemountains.Theretheyinformedmethatitwas“tradition”toplaypranksoneachotherthroughouttheweek,andsharedallkindsofstoriesofthesillyandplayfulpranksthathadbeenpulledinyearspast.Thisallsoundedlikeahorribleideatome,butknewifItriedtobanpranks,theymightpullthemanyway,andthingscouldgetoutofcontrol.SoIagreed,withafewrules.Prankscouldnothurtorembarrassanybody.Prankscouldnotharmanybody’sproperty.Prankshadtobedonebeforelightsoutwiththesupervisionofanadult.Aslongaseveryonefollowedtheserules,whatcouldgowrong…right? Throughouttheweekeveryoneplayedalongandhadafewgoodlaughs,andweevenmadealotofprogressonourworksites,gettingalongbeautifully,untilthelastnight.AfteralongweekofconstructionworkIwasenjoyingrelaxingafewextramomentsatthedinnertable,untiloneoftheyouthcametomeinhysterics.AllIunderstoodwassomethingaboutboysandcrickets.Ifollowedheruptothegirl’sroomsandfoundallofmygirlsscreaming,crying,andfightingwiththeboys.
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Theguys,includingthemalechaperones,hadpurchasedover300livescricketsandreleasedthemintoeachofthegirl’srooms…intheirsuitcases,underthebedsheets,intheirsnackcontainers.Cricketswereeverywhere.Itwaschaos. Fastforwardthroughthecatchingofthecrickets,theapologizingtothemissiondirectors,andtheseparationofthegirls,theguys,andthecounselors.Theonlywaytogetthroughthisdebaclewastogathertogetherandtalktooneanother.Wespentthebetterpartofthenightallowingeachsidetosharetheirsideofthestory…theguysinsistingtheyfollowedalltherules(infact,theydid),thegirlslamentingtheirembarrassmentandickfactor,thecounselorsfeelingremorseforme,yetstillfindingitallfunny.Eachgroupwasallowedtotalk,uninterrupted,untiltheyfelttheyhadbeenheard.Bytheendofthenight,eachgroupapologizedforgoingtoofar,overreacting,notthinkingthingsthrough.Issuesthathadnothingtodowithcricketsgotbroughtintotheconversation,andwedealtwiththoseinturn.Itwaslikethecricketincidenthadreleasedeveryillfeelinganyonehadexperiencedforyears,andbroughtitalltothetable.EvenIgotaccusedofafewthings,andlikeanygoodleadermust,Itookresponsibilityformyfaultsandapologized. Afterthatnight,everyoneleftwithhugsandsmiles,andthehealingbegan.Ouryouthgroupgrewstrongerfromthattrip,becausewelearnedhowtolistentooneanother.Weknewthatourgroupwasmadeupofmanydifferentpersonalitieswithvariousopinionsandfavoritesandannoyances.Yetwelearnedhowtoembraceoneanother.Welearnedhowtotalktooneanother,andhowtobeawareofourshortcomings.Mostimportantly,welearnedhowtoforgiveandmoston.Prayer:EverlastingGod,sometimesinlifewewishtherewasamediatortobalanceoutadebateandmakeitfair.Eventhen,wewanttoblamethemediatorifthingsaren’tgoingourway.Helpustolearntofightfair,toreallyhearoneanotherandacknowledgethatweseethingsdifferently.Remindusthatdisagreementisok,sothatwecanlearntomoveontogether,unified,andstrengthenedwithoneanother.Drawustogetherasyourpeoplesowemaystandunited.Amen.Sundaynight
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NomatterwhathappensNovember8th,thesunwillstillriseWednesdaymorning.JesuswillstillbeourLordandSavior,andwewillstillbeapeopleunitedtogetherinChrist.Letusrememberthatthereismorethatunitesusthandividesus.Prayer:
WalterBrueggemann’s“PostElectionDay”Prayer:YoucreatorGodwhohasorderedusinfamiliesandcommunities,inclansandtribes,instatesandnations.YoucreatorGodwhoenactyourgovernanceinwaysovertandinwayshidden.Youexerciseyourwillforpeaceandjusticeandforfreedom.Wegiveyouthanksforthepeaceableorderofournationandforthechanceofchoosing—allthemanipulativemoneynotwithstanding.Wepraynowfornewgovernancethatyourwillandpurposemayprevail,thatourleadersmayhaveasenseofjusticeandgoodness,thatweascitizensmaycareaboutthepublicfaceofyour
purpose.WeprayinthenameofJesuswhowasexecutedbytheauthorities.4
Amen.
4WalterBrueggemann.PrayersforaPrivilegedPeople,p.149.