Author of My Life

Rev. Jill Colley Robinson, Vermont District Superintendent wrote one of the NE Conference extended cabinet daily prayers this week. Pray with me as you read her prayer and reflect on my questions below:

… All the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

— Psalm 139.16b

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long …
                     — Fanny Crosby, UMH #369

Author of my life,

On any given day, at any given moment,
I am ready to say to you: “Here I am!”

But there are moments when I wonder: “How long, O Lord?”
And other moments when I am assured: “You will provide.”

There are moments when I feel forgotten by you,
And other moments when I am blessed with your steadfast gift —
love forever and ever.

There are moments when I feel pain and sorrow,
And other moments when I am set free.

There are moments when I feel shaken by the powers around me,
And other moments when I am revived by grace, 
like one receiving a cold cup of water in the heat of the day.

There are moments of darkness and death,
And other moments of light and life.

Author of my life,

On any given day, at any given moment,
I am ready to say to you: “Here I am!”

Thank you for already knowing, forgiving, and accompanying me 
through all of the other moments
as my story unfolds in your keeping.

I cannot wait for the next chapter. 
The title is Welcome.

Amen.

Rev. Jill Colley Robinson

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What is the title of your next chapter?

What is the title of Wesley's next chapter? 

What has God, the Author of our life, written?

I can't wait to turn the page!

Pastor Cheryl

Join us for worship at Wesley UMC - Concord NH
Sundays at 10:30 on YouTube at this link.

May God Bless Us

Grace and peace, dear one.

 It is a time of deep unrest in our world with many things in competition for our prayers and our spiritual energy. The COVID-19 epidemic tempts us to fear for our health and financial well-being. Police killings of unarmed black people and protests compel us to dismantle systemic racism and examine our own white privilege. The failure of some to understand the sacred worth and God-directed mandate to include all LGBTQ persons in all aspects of church life creates the potential for the split of the United Methodist Church.

 With so many important, life or death issues that need to be addressed, we sometimes feel overwhelmed. I believe that the tension of these challenging times is exactly what God calls us to lean into, not shy away from. I believe, as I will say in Sunday's sermon, that God equips us for this work--that "We ARE the equipment" as written in Matthew 10:10. St. Francis offers compelling words in the following blessing that help us lean into that tension. Pray with me:

 

May God bless you with discomfort,

At easy answers, half-truths,

And superficial relationships

So that you may live

Deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger

At injustice, oppression,

And exploitation of people,

So that you may work for

Justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears,

To shed for those who suffer pain,

Rejection, hunger and war,

So that you may reach out your hand

To comfort them and

To turn their pain to joy

And may God bless you

With enough foolishness

To believe that you can

Make a difference in the world,

So that you can do

What others claim cannot be done

To bring justice and kindness

To all our children and the poor.

Amen.

God bless you.
Rev. Cheryl L. Meachen

Join us for worship at Wesley UMC - Concord NH
Sundays at 10:30 on YouTube at this link.