Prayer for Peace

This prayer came from the “Everyone Needs a Rabbi” site. I found the words powerful. The thoughts expressed caused me to pause and pray.

~ Betty Hertz, Lay Leader

Prayer adapted from “A Prayer for Israel”

by Rabbi David Wolpe:

El Maleh Rachamim — Compassionate God,

We pray not to wipe out haters but to banish hatred.

Not to destroy sinners but to lessen sin.

Our prayers are not for a perfect world but a better one

Where parents are not bereaved by the savagery of sudden attacks

Or children orphaned by blades glinting in a noonday sun.

Help us, dear God, to have the courage to remain strong, to stand fast.

Spread your light on the dark hearts of the slayers

And your comfort to the bereaved hearts of families of the slain.

Let calm return to Your city Jerusalem, to Israel and Palestine, Your blessed land.

We grieve with those wounded in body and spirit,

Pray for the fortitude of our sisters and brothers,

And ask you to awaken the world to our struggle and help us bring peace.

Amen.

Reflection on Donation Sunday

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

"The mission of St. John is to grow disciples of Jesus Christ …"

 We say it every Sunday, but what does it mean? Aren't disciples those 12 that Jesus chose? You know those who answered Jesus' call to "Follow me?" I used to think I wasn't holy enough to be a disciple; I was just an everyday person. But then I realized Jesus called everyday people to serve Him, and He continues to call me and you.

I saw you serving as Jesus' disciples on Donation Sunday through:

• your generous donations of snack items and winter clothing for our unhoused sisters and brothers filling Rooms 120 and 121;

• your loving hands (young and old) assembling over 400 snack bags;

• your financial donations making purchases of hand warmers, underwear, emergency blankets, and much more possible.

 The idea of Donation Sunday came from some St. John members who went to the 3rd and Ingra encampment every Tuesday this summer. They handed out supplies during the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness pop-up event. This activity led to discussing our neighbors' needs with the St. John Mission and Outreach Committee. The committee agreed to make the first Sunday of every month Donation Sunday, giving everyone a chance to "love and serve our neighbors."

While Donation Sunday happens only once a month, you are welcome to bring items any time or donate to the Unhoused Neighbor Fund. Even if the elimination of encampments happens, the shelters will be full and need our support. Whatever you donate will be distributed to our neighbors.

A prayer written by Mother Teresa from UMH, p. 446:

Make us worthy, Lord,

To serve those throughout the world who live and die in poverty or hunger.

Give then, through our hands, this day their daily bread.

And by our understanding love,

Give peace and joy.

Amen.

Reflection on Romans 14:19

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

“So let’s strive for the things that bring peace and the things that build each other up.”

I heard 70+ enthusiastic VBS kids say this verse loud enough to raise the St. John roof! As often happens, I felt God’s thump on my head and heard this message: “Betty, how have you been doing with the words the children shared?”  God knew I needed a course correction.

I have been part of the Anchorage Assembly’s  Task Force on Sanctioned Allowed Campgrounds for the past few weeks. My frustration level increased at each session. Community members and nonprofit representatives shared creative solutions and developed well-thought-out plans. BUT the political process moved slowly and, at times, didn’t seem to be moving at all. I kept thinking about the unsheltered in our community whose basic needs weren’t being met. I wanted to scream, “Don’t you see Anchorage has a health and safety crisis?”

Did you hear me grumbling? Perhaps you mistakenly asked me how things were going and then listened to my ranting. When I heard Romans 14:19, I realized my thinking and grumbling weren’t bringing peace to my soul - much less I wasn’t building anyone up.

Then I accepted the reality – without a miracle - the resolution of the allowed camping issue won’t happen this summer. So, I asked myself, what can I do that will I build up others? I will seek out the volunteers already helping at the various camps and join them in their mission work. Of course, as I discover ways to help, I will share specific needs with my compassionate St. John family members.

Caring God,

Thank you for the wisdom of your words heard through the voices of our children.

Just as you give us unconditional love, guide us in ways to share that love with our unsheltered community members.

Help us find ways to build up each person we meet.

Give us strength to be disciples joyfully sharing your light.

In your beloved son’s name,

Amen

Reflection: Bread, Light, Shepherd, Vine, Way, Resurrection, Life

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

What's in a name? The Gospel of John

As a result of studying the I AM statements this Lent, my image of Jesus has become clearer … Bread, Light, Shepherd, Vine, Way, Resurrection, Life. Each element has caused me to pause and think about what part each one plays in my spiritual life. To close out this reflection series, I am sharing Rob Fuquay's litany in The God We Can Know Study Guide, p. 45.

Challenge:       Just as God spoke to Moses, God wants to speak to us. Let us open our hearts to God who wants to be known and who says.

Response:       "I AM WHO I AM."

Challenge:       When life pressures us to care more for things than for God, remember that Jesus said,

Response:       "I am the Bread of Life. Come to me and never be hungry."

Challenge:       When we feel puzzled about which choices are right, we can ask for guidance from the one who said,

Response:       "I am the Light of the World."

Challenge:       When we feel vulnerable and lost, remember that we are continually being sought by the one who said,

Response:       "I am the Good Shepherd and the Gate. Come to me."

Challenge:       When we feel powerless and weary, we can find power offered to us by the one who said,

Response:       "I am the True Vine. Abide in me."

Challenge:       When we wonder who's in and who's out with God, we can find reassurance in the grace embodied in Jesus who welcomed all,

Response:       "I am the Way. Follow me."

Challenge:       When we face loss and pain, we can find hope in the one who promised us renewed and abundant life, saying,

Response:       "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Live in me."

My prayer for you:

Beloved Redeemer,

Open our hearts and guide us when we feel:

Pressured,

Puzzled,

Vulnerable,

Weary,

Grace-less,

Pained.

Help us hear the reassuring words Jesus spoke.

Remind us we can find peace when we rest in your loving arms.

Renew us daily.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Reflection: I AM the Resurrection and the Life

By Betty Hertz, St. John Lay Leader

What's in a Name?

"I AM the Resurrection and the Life." John 11:25

My first response to this I AM statement was, "Alleluia! Amen." But, of course, God redirected my thinking, and I knew I had to go deeper to understand this scripture better. So, I used the lectio divina practice to help me. This "holy reading" of a Bible passage involves listening for a word or phrase that gets your attention, reflecting on how the word or phrase connects to your life now, receiving an invitation from God to understand the connection, and praying about how God wants you to move forward. In this scripture, the word believe grabbed me.

25  Jesus said to her (Martha), "I am the resurrection and the life.[b] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,[c] the Son of God, the one coming into the world." John 11:25-27.

I wondered, "How would I respond to Jesus' saying do you believe I am the resurrection?'" Would my response be similar to Martha's and not answer the question? As I thought about my answer, this quote from The God We Can Know came to mind, "We truly believe someone when we are able to put our trust fully in the person" (p.109). Rob Fuquay suggested inserting trust where belief appears in the verses and reflecting on its effect. So it reads:

25 Jesus said to her (Martha), "I am the resurrection and the life.[b] Those who trust in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and trusts in me will never die. Do you trust this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I trust that you are the Messiah,[c] the Son of God, the one coming into the world."

By inserting trust, I experienced a stronger connection with Jesus' words. Trust brings hope and peace, which is what I hear the scripture saying. What other words might you insert in the passage to make it more meaningful for you?

As I thought about trust, the image of a frequently used trust exercise in team-building workshops came to mind. One person stands behind another, and the front person is told to fall back into their partner's arms. They believe the partner can catch them, BUT the one falling needs to trust the partner will catch them. Have you had times when you were falling, and you trusted God would catch you? I know I have. As Pastor Emily said on Easter Sunday, God meets us at our tombs when we are distraught, and if we trust Him, he gives us new life. I have found this to be true for me. In dealing with the deaths of loved ones, I have pleaded, "Just make things normal again. Restore my life. Relieve me of the pain." But God has caught me and put me on a new path each time - changed my thinking and actions. As a result, I have experienced God's gift of spiritual resurrection.

Thinking about trusting the transformations God has given me reminds me of the hymn "Because He Lives":

             Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;

            Because He lives, all fear is gone;

            Because I know He holds the future

            And life is worth the living

            Just because He lives.

 Reflection question:

Have you ever asked God to restore things … put them back the way they were? And instead, He transformed you? Did this cause you to let go of fear and trust God more?