PRAYER IN COMMUNITY

Saturday, September 8  "Complete Winners"
John 17:21-22  (Message)

"The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me."
     Unity. Oneness.  That is what Jesus is praying for here for us, for you and me to become one with God.  Not to be fighting each other or excluding each other, but to become united together in God.  It's like working together to win a cooperative game where everyone is a winner, rather than trying to win by knocking others out of the game.  This game of life in Christ is for real and it is a cooperative game.  If we all open ourselves up to each other within the community, we will open all of us up to God.  Complete winners in love.  

Go! d365.org (Dale Tadlock)

Prayer is more than just a quiet time with God. It is entering into a community (a life together) as we seek to experience and be the presence of Christ. How might you open your life to others as you seek to be the answer to their prayers?   Listen!…Follow!…Share!…Encourage!…Inspire!…Pray!

Friday, September 7 "Call the Doctor!"
Matthew 9:12-13 
"On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (NIV)
"Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”  (MSG)

     I had to put two translations here today to show how strong Peterson makes the message: our community must be one that continually reaches out to include rather than exclude.  That IS our purpose. The church doesn't exist to 'coddle' those already attending (to hold worship just like they want so we can keep them and their money happy?) but to minister to the hurting and hungry of our world.  The reference to sacrifice concerns the ritual sacrifices as part of the Hebrew worship - Jesus says don't get caught up in the rules and regulations of religion - get out there and BE the doctor!  I wish we had quoted this passage a few times during General Assembly debate! 
     Worship is important, don't get me wrong.  But it should be a joyful response of the people in praise and thanksgiving - not the central purpose of the church that uses up all the energy of the congregation .... to the detriment of our call to mission, to be out inviting and welcoming, to be out healing and nurturing. Worship should pump us up and recharge us for the task at hand: our mission.  How are we doing as a church?  Are we the doctor or the coddled? How are we doing individually?  Do we need to refocus our energies?

Thursday, September 6  "Welcome!"

Romans 15:7 (Message)
"So reach out and welcome one another to God's glory. Jesus did it; now you do it!"
     Welcome!  Bienvenidos!  Greetings!  These are words that invite in, that gather people together.  Words that open us up as well as nurture another.  They can be accompanied by elaborate ceremony, food and drink, and celebration, or simply be open arms, a look, a gesture.  They indicate a willingness on our part to accept, regardless of background, habits, or faith.  Do we have a welcoming spirit that people sense upon meeting us?  Do we have an welcoming attitude that invites people in?  How can we nurture this spirit within us?  By following Christ's example!   We can practice this at church as we greet each other and newcomers.  We can practice it on the streets with people we don't even know.  You know the welcoming people - the ones that makes you feel at home as soon as they say hello!  Until we welcome, any other words we may say will come unheeded.  Welcome!  Come! 


Wednesday, September 5  "Together in Prayer"
James 5:16 (Message)
"Make this your common practice:  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.  The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."  

     Community is give and take.  This includes prayer.  We are quick to pray for others when needs become known.  But we are slow to open up our own life to our needs in prayer with others.  We somehow have the notion it is a show of weakness to ask for prayer - life we can't do it alone.  Guess what?  We can't, and the only weakness we are inherent in this attitude is in our trust that God is in charge in the long run.  May we strive to be as open in our prayer needs as we expect others to be with us.  Affirm the power of prayer offered in community together! 
     Today's scribble is somewhat linked to this.  I am late in posting for yesterday because during "devotion time" Rick and I were slowing ascending the summit of Handies Peak at 14,048' in the San Juan Range of the Colorado Rockies.  What an experience!  As we rose at 5am, I looked up at the Eastern sky - dark and black still - but with Orion's belt pointing to the peak, Venus sparkling just to the north of Orion, and the partial moon basking all in a glorious glow that lit our trail.  We stopped to say a prayer together shortly upon leaving, which I think set everything in motion for a perfect adventure.  Thank you, God!  

Tuesday, September 4  "Mealtime!"
Acts 2:46 (The Message)
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple, followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God." 
     The family that "plays together, stays together" or is it "prays together, stays together"?  Whichever, I would suggest even more that the family that eats together, stays together!  Sharing meals is a way of sharing lives.  Jesus knew this!  So much of his ministry revolved around meal time.  

     Do we make every meal a celebration?  Does it have to be fancy or is the celebration more in what happens AT the meal?  Do we praise God and offer thanks?  Do we joyfully include all in earnest conversation and compassion?  
     Mealtime is an opportunity for community growth - a sharing of joys and sorrows,k needs and hopes.  How can we use meals to strengthen our church community, collectively and individually?  "Guess who's coming to dinner" should be asked more often!  
Note:  I spent this morning in a different kind of devotion with God.  Up at 5am at 11,600' in a pristine alpine basin, the stars still blazing, the moon overhead, the creek still singing it's endless song.  Rick and I hit the trail, by moonlight, around 6 to climb our first 14er in the Colorado mountains.  It was magical and spiritual.  We prayed together before leaving for strength, breath, safety, and insight.  God is good!  Tonight, back at the home base, I'll play catch-up.  Two postings for Wednesday morning!  

Monday, September 3  "Intentional Harmony"
Acts 2:43-45 (The Message)
"Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met."

     As d365.org author Dale Tadlock writes, "The Christian life is not intended to be lived alone."  We are in this adventure together and we must take care of each other and allow others to care for us. The communes of the 60's really did reflect some of this attitude....only problem was that drugs, not faith, were the driving force of many.  Today  'intentional Christian communities' are emerging everywhere:  communities where a practicing faith, prayers, and caring for one another on an intense, personal level are at the core of the relationship.  Many are mission oriented, serving their local community, others are based on a common vocation. Luke introduced us to one such community in Philadelphia, The Simple Way, when he visited there several years ago.  Part of the Young Adult Volunteer program of the Presby church is the intentional community created by the YAVs.  Most of us are not ready to return to commune life - it involves a trust that our physical needs will be met by the group.  We are too independent for this. But how can aspects of this "togetherness" be practiced within our churches to bind us together so that all needs are met?  Are we taking care of each other within our church?  We know we can rely on God, but can we rely on each other as well?  What are we doing to live into this  family of faith?


PAUSE! d365.org  (Dale Tadlock)

"Sharing our personal thoughts and prayers can seem intimidating and uncomfortable.  But just as those in the early church had to overcome those fears, we do too.  The more we practice opening our lives to others, the easier it may become.  We would all benefit if we became more transparent and more humble to ask for help in prayer." 

Sunday, September 2 "Interconnected"
Acts 2: 42  (The Message)
"They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers."

     God did not intend for us to live life alone.  It is too difficult.  We need the support, encouragement, and prayers of those around us.  One of the hardest things we have to do as Christians is to ACCEPT as well as GIVE.  So much emphasis is placed on  service to others, that we forget that also extends inward - we NEED that same service FROM others.  Opening ourselves up to acknowledge and receive is hard.  It takes practice within prayer and community.  
     As we hiked yesterday through the aspen forests, I was reminded again of the 'web of life'.  So many plants, wildflowers, tiny bugs, all thrive in the aspen environment.  It is a community interdependent.  When the aspen is marred, water availability shifts, fire strikes, the whole community is affected.  We recognize this scientifically in nature....why do we find it so hard to acknowledge within our human communities?  We are one interconnected web ...giving to and needing the prayers of others.  

.