so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This week is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Many churches throughout the world gather together this week to worship God and to put aside their theological differences. It is a chance to gather as the children of God and to pray for everything that is going on in the world.
While we are not involved in this week with other churches this year, that doesn't mean that we cannot also be a part. Since I started here at Springs of Grace, I have tried to get in the habit of praying everyday before I begin work. What I have discovered is that my day seems to go so much smoother once I have begun with Morning Prayer. To me, it seems that only AFTER I have given praise to God that I can seem to focus more clearly and to be more relaxed while here at the office.
For those of you that might be interested in daily prayer, I can give you several resources. The first is that I point you to the green Lutheran Book of Worship. Not only is Matins (Morning Prayer) toward the beginning of the book, but several other prayer services are printed as well. Vespers (Evening Prayer), Compline (Prayer at the Close of the Day), 2 Responsive Prayers (Suffrages Morning and Noon), Propers and Psalms for daily prayer are also listed. While some of these brief prayer services do have music, it is also appropriate to speak rather than sing.
As this week continues, I ask each of you to be in prayer along with the rest of the church. If any of you need copies of one of these brief prayer services, please let me know, as I would be happy to help.
In our prayers this week: Jackie Martin (Surgery this morning), Lori Bailey (Surgery Tomorrow), Jane Lewis (Surgery Wednesday), Madison Fancher, Buddy and Ann Kelley, Alma Uhrhammer, Linwood Hackett. We also remember Chris, Michael, and Brenten, all serving our country overseas.
God's Peace,
