St. Paul United Methodist Church

In times of anxiety, peace is worth its weight in gold.  After a very contentious meeting, a friend of mine prayed this prayer:

Lord of the 23rd Psalm,
I have known death,
and you have refreshed my soul.
I have known fear, 
and you have comforted me.
I have known hunger, 
and you have set a feast before me.
In the darkest valley
no calamity of humankind or nature has separated us.

Teach me to walk as you walk
besides those in mourning
so that they will know joy,
besides those in fear
that they will know comfort,
besides those in hunger
that they will feast until their cup overflows.

As your goodness and love follow me,
may mine follow my neighbor
that the threat of the worst terrors
may turn to the knowledge of the comforts of
the house of the Lord,
where you have invited us to dwell forever.

And so let me strive to help build on earth
what you have promised us in heaven.
In the face of all calamity, present and yet to come,
let me lead my neighbor beside quiet waters,
the quiet waters of the Good Shepherd.  Amen.

As you begin this week, maybe a week filled with anxiety, pray this prayer.  If not, pray it nonetheless.  

This week’s reading:
Monday –  Matthew 28
Tuesday – 1 Thessalonians 1
Wednesday – 1 Thessalonians 2
Thursday – 1 Thessalonians 3
Friday – 1 Thessalonians 4

Please Pray for:.
The St. Paul UMC family.
Those who are unwillingly absent.
Those who are grieving and depressed.
The United Methodist Church.
Our nation and our leaders.
The World.
The Lost.

Please Pray for:.

• The Ministers and St. Paul UMC family.
• Those who are unwillingly absent.
• Those who are grieving and depressed.
• The United Methodist Church.
• Our nation and our leaders.
• The World.
• The Lost.

I am often asked, “Why should I love God?”  There are multiple reasons why, but Bernard of Clairvaux gave these reasons.  He said one is to love because there is no one more worthy of your love.  Two, no one can return more in response to the love he or she has received.
 
He wrote, “God deserves our love because he first loved us.  His love for us was genuine because he sought nothing for himself.  See the object of his love:  enemies.  ‘For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him though the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!’ (Romans 5:10).  God’s love was unconditional…How much did he love?  The answer is in John’s Gospel: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave this one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16).  The Son, speaking of himself said, ‘The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them.’ (John 15:13).  We, the wicked, then should love the Righteous One in return.”
 
Ponder the deep love of God for you.  Allow it to drench your soul.  Respond in awe at the vastness of His love. 

This week’s reading:

• Monday –  Matthew 23
• Tuesday – Matthew 24
• Wednesday – Matthew 25
• Thursday – Matthew 26
• Friday – Matthew 27

Please Pray for:.

• The Ministers and St. Paul UMC family.
• Those who are unwillingly absent.
• Those who are grieving and depressed.
• The United Methodist Church.
• Our nation and our leaders.
• The World.
• The Lost.