A message from Rev. Jim
Dear Members and Friends of CCEH,
A colleague shared this prayer with me today. It’s from the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches and speaks to my spirit. Perhaps it will speak to yours too.
God of life,
you have promised to be with us every day,
also in difficult days, like in times like these.
Give us
clarity in our minds,
strength in our work and discernment,
rest as we sleep,
peace in our minds.
Be with those
who need help
more than we do ourselves
help us to see what we can offer
from your love.
Amen.
It immediately made think of the scripture passage that I’ll be basing my sermon message on this coming Sunday, May 17 – John 15:4-7 – where Jesus says to his followers:
Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Lastly, a number of you told me that the prayer I offered at the conclusion of my Mother’s Day message last Sunday spoke to your heart. I offer it again here:
Loving God,
We thank you for the love of the mothers you have given us,
whose love is so precious that it cannot be measured,
whose patience seems to have no end.
May we see your loving hand behind them, guiding them.
We pray for new mothers, coming to terms with responsibility.
We pray for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
• for mothers who are tired or stressed or depressed;
• for mothers who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
• for mothers who are unable to adequately feed their children due to poverty;
• for mothers whose children have physical, mental or emotional challenges;
• for mothers who have children they do not want;
• for mothers who are raising children on their own;
• for mothers who have lost a child;
• for mothers who care for the children of others;
• for mothers whose children have left home;
• and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
We are grateful for mothers who cared for us when we were helpless;
• who comforted us when we were hurt;
• whose love and care we often took for granted.
We pray for those who are grieving the loss of their mother,
• for those who have never known a mother’s love;
• for those who have experienced the wonder of an adopted mother’s love…
Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender, and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good, living not just for themselves, but for God and for others. Amen.
Yours in Christ-Love,
Rev. Jim