Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg
Prayer by Augustine, 354 – 430 AD
Look upon us, O Lord,
and let all the darkness of our souls
vanish before the beams of thy brightness.
Fill us with holy love,
and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom.
All our desire is known unto thee,
therefore perfect what thou hast begun,
and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek thy face,
turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory.
Then shall our longing be satisfied,
and our peace shall be perfect.
Lenten Prayer
Dear God,
In this season of Lent we’re reminded of our own difficulties and struggles.
Sometimes the way has seemed too dark.
Sometimes we feel like our lives have been marked by such grief and pain,
we don’t see how our circumstance can ever change.
But in the midst of our weakness, we ask that you would be strong on our behalf.
Lord, rise up within us, let your Spirit shine out of every broken place we’ve walked through.
Allow your power to be manifest through our own weakness,
so that others will recognize it is You who is at work on our behalf.
We ask that you would trade the ashes of our lives for the beauty of your Presence.
Trade our mourning and grief for the oil of joy and gladness from your Spirit.
Trade our despair for hope and praise.
We choose to give you thanks today and believe that this season of darkness will fade away.
Thank you that you are with us in whatever we face, and that you are greater than this trial.
We know and recognize that you are Sovereign,
we thank you for the victory that is ours because of Christ Jesus,
and we are confident that you have good still in store for our future.
We thank you that you are at work right now, trading our ashes for greater beauty.
We praise you, for you make all things new.
Amen
Prayer for Lent
Heavenly Father,
As I enter another week of my Lenten journey,
guide me to the path that leads to you.
Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength,
and peace as I strive to become the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings and sins.
As I renew my resolve each day to become a better person,
let me hear your voice in the deepest reaches of my heart.
Give me rest in you.
Help me to accept others,
showing them your great love instead of casting judgment.
Stay with me through the busy days this week
and remind me that when I need comfort, solitude, wisdom, or guidance,
I can always turn to you.
Help me develop discipline and generosity through fasting and almsgiving,
and come closer to you through prayer this Lent.
In your name I pray,
Amen.
Philippians 4:10-19 NIV
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Wade Burleson: Eyes that Avoid the Lust for People from Emmanuel Enid on Vimeo.
Whatever wilderness the Spirit has brought you to:
walk in boldness, as a beloved child of God
walk in peace, under the shelter of the Most High
walk in faith, knowing Christ walks with you.
Amen.
1
I cannot stomach Hillsong music after hearing the testimony of Brett Sengstock. He was molested by Frank Houston who was one of the founders of Hellsong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g2FgAu1NYw
Could use some prayer. Am considering a church change. No real spiritual issue except that I’m a bit isolated due to a big age gap in the church. Social activities are almost all geared at retired folks. I’ve already talked to a few of the leadership council, and they actually encouraged me to try other churches. They’ve had a hard time trying to break this church out of their focus on older members, which is unfortunate, because it may not be around much longer if they keep going that way.
Still, looking for a new church is hard. I have a few on my list, in a couple denominations. Curious about an episocopal church which has Hebrew classes taught by a retired university professor. They also have a lot of ministries to the homeless. Another Methodist church does some really interesting things with inner city ministry.
It sounds weird, but it’d be really nice to just find a good friend to hang out with occasionally so I can take a break from caring for my aging parent.
sigh
R McPherson,
I’ve never understood these objections. Henry Ford was an anti-Semite, but I would drive a Ford.
I think we can separate the behaviors of a leader in an organization from the quality of their product, when buying the product does not support that individual.
R McPherson,
Thank you for reminding me. I will try to remember not to post their music. I get it.
ishy,
I prayed for you today. I understand how hard it is to look for another church, I went thru it myself for many years. I landed in a denomination that I had not considered-Lutheran Missouri Synod.I haven’t been so happy in a church in many, many years. Keep your heart open and eventually it will happen.
Clevin,
For some people. certain groups or music can trigger difficult memories. I have trouble listening to Sovereign Grace music because I know many of the victims.
R McPherson,
Forget Hillsong.
Here’s an old one from my old Lutheran Hymnal that everyone can sing.
Not your trendy stuff of today, but at least it had a time and key signature…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSpYz-Y6gq4
ichi…praying for your church search. Many of us have been there…
dee,
Thank you, Dee. I actually went to a LCMS church as a child. It had the most lovely pastor. I know of one, but it’s quite far away from where I live.
A couple years ago, I went to the evangelical Lutheran church that is a bit closer, but not a single person willingly spoke to me there (the greeter barely gave me a nod). It was a tiny church, so surely they knew I was a first time visitor. There was a large ELCA church where I used to live that had the kindest people, so I was a bit surprised.
Today I went to a mini-mega. They did manage to surprise me a bit, which doesn’t happen often in new churches. They are a bit charismatic, so I was expecting certain theology, but the message was fairly grounded and actually referred to the Bible a lot more than most trendy megas. It was a two-hour service though. And it didn’t really have good reason to be. I did sign up to visit their singles group. They actually have a singles pastor, which even most super-megas don’t usually have because singles don’t rate high enough in importance for them. Might hang out with their singles a bit and go elsewhere for church.
dee,
Thanks, Dee Brett Sengstock’s story really broke my heart. I really just wanted people to know. Hillsong church has spread to this country as well.
Muff Potter,
Thanks! I love it!
___
“Let Our 501c3 Days Going Forward Get That Much Better, Perhaps?”
hmmm…
Wade, you are correct; the SBC is being systematically and enigmatically destroyed from within by those malfeasants in its very leadership…
You have very powerful friends. When the time is right, Lord willing, (and the creek don’t rise) start a new conference. If I may be so bold, many disputing churches with their integrity still intact would happily follow your lead.
Compromise is never a good option.
The Lord bless your endeavors, and you prayers…
A mighty fortress is ‘still’ our God!
ATB
Sòpy
—
Intermission:
MercyMe – “Best News Ever”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=acbcKrnnJAk
;~)
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