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Families and Children Racial/ethnic culture and specific ministries
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Committee on Deaf Ministries
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Disabilities
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ELMC
Prayer July 2008
As we enjoy all that the season of summer brings, let us pray this prophetic prayer offered to us by The Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz, member of the Pacific Asian American/Canadian Christian Education Ministries and the Director of the AADVENT Project at McCormick Theological Seminary.
Rock, Eagle's
Wings, the God who heard Hagar's cry in the wilderness,
you hear our cries when we are in the wilderness. You
hear our singing when we are in the garden, you hear our
questions when we cannot find our way.
Hear us, God, when our communities suffer because of racism, hate crimes, poverty, mental illness, and oppression of women. Hear us, God, when our communities suffer because we think that our education lifts us above other people's prejudice, only to find that we are just another face in the crowd. Hear us, God, when we reject our communities in our efforts to acculturate. Hear us, God, when we are rejected by our communities when we step out of the box. Hear the communities of Latin America and the Caribbean, might they find delight in your creation each day. Hear them when they cry out against injustice, political corruption, environmental degradation, and exploitation by multinational corporations. Hear those who suffer from the season’s natural disasters: floods, fires, earthquakes, and all the causes of displacement, including drought and war. God of solidarity, be with the people of Zimbabwe as the government continues to ignore their hopes and desires. Be with all the U.S. on July 4th, what we know as our Independence Day. Keep us mindful of those within our borders who cannot celebrate this day fully. Remind us of the oppression we as a country continue to inflict even as we celebrate our own liberation from colonizing forces. Be with the participants of various church assemblies and conferences, and be with those affected by the decisions they make. We pray especially for the Children’s Defense Fund 14th Annual Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry at the Haley Farm. Be with the leaders, youth and children attending Vacation Bible Schools and church camps. Keep them healthy, safe, and fed by your Word and the world’s beauty. Be with us as we go out in the world to share your good news and to be in solidarity with others.. Keep us faithful as we meet new challenges and hear the voices of those who are different from us. Amen.
Ecumenical
Prayer Cycle
Prayer is both individual and collective. Janis Pyle, coordinator for mission connections, Church of the Brethren General Board, Elgin, Ill., from the Program Committee on Education for Mission, invites us into an interactive experience. In sharing her personal petitions and expressions of gratitude, she provides a format to bring your specific experiences before God. She closes her prayer with universal petitions. She credits colleague Ken Neher, director of stewardship and donor development, for making her more aware of whimsical things and Napoléon Bonaparte as the originator of the prayer: “Thank you, God, for what you prevented today.”
Lord of Life,
O sing to the Lord a new song: Sing to the Lord, all the earth. (Psa. 96:1)
As wars rage, gas prices climb, and death tolls rise from natural disasters in Myanmar and China, I am tempted to declare all of life a disaster. But I settle down for a moment, despite seasonal allergies, and pause to recall the times that give me strength to be whole in the midst of a world of change. I thank you for the gift of memory to recall my beautiful God moments from the month of June:
. giving my life to Christ at church camp at age 10; . staying in Cabin 3 at Cass Lake Lodge in Minnesota each year; . smelling lilacs at my high school graduation; . biting into my grandmother’s strawberry rhubarb pie on our Iowa family farm; and . being grateful to Mr. Thompson, my eighth grade teacher who forced me to memorize James Russell Lowell’s ode to the month…What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days…
(Please bring before God your special memories of June.)
I thank you for the small whimsical things that feed and renew me:
. holding chubby smiling babies; . catching fireflies in Mason jars; . roasting marshmallows in a campfire circle; . hearing off-key children’s choirs; and . picking dew-laden blueberries.
(Please bring before God your whimsies.)
I bring before you my concerns:
. downsizing of denominations and communions and the departure of precious colleagues; . rising prices affecting my ability to travel; and . feeling like my best efforts are only a drop in the bucket.
(Please bring before God your specific concerns.)
…………………………………………………………………………
The future is uncertain for all of us, but we thank you for the special ways you have nurtured us in the past and, most of all, for what you have prevented from happening to us. Grant us the patience needed as we wait for our lives to unfold and the grace to accept life as a precious gift. Help us to understand the future as a gift not yet given. Make clear our assignments for our program groups. What portion of the world’s chaos is ours to transform? Where would you have us make light, life and order?
We pause to listen for your voice, individually and collectively, and praise you for the glorious month of June with all of its bright promise.
Amen.
NCC Meetings:
June 4-6, 2008
– NCC Communication Commission
Spring Meeting, Minneapolis, Minn.
Concerns/Observances: June 5 – Orthodox Ascension June 5 – World Environment Day (UN) June 15 – Orthodox PentecostJune 15 – Father's DayJune 20 – First day of Summer June 20 – World Refugee Day (UN) June 26 – International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (UN) Those who have suffered from the various natural disasters: tornadoes and fires in the US, earthquake in China, cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) Celebrate The Rev. Dr. Willa Ross, CME Church and member of the Committee on Families and Children and Ecumenical Youth Ministries Staff Team, on completing the Doctor of Ministry, Memphis Theological Seminary
Ecumenical Prayer
Cycle:
ELMC Prayer May 2008
We joyfully share this
month's offering from Kristen Glass,
Director for Young Adult Ministry
for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and member of the
Ecumenical Young Adult Ministries Team.
Holy God,
We celebrate partnership
between all of God's people in the world. We are blessed when we
come together as people of different ages and stages of faith in
order to live out God's call for us.
This month, we lift up to
You those who are involved in intergenerational
partnership of all kinds; we are
especially mindful of and give
You thanks for the gifts that young adults provide the
world and the church. We praise You
for people of all ages who live out their callings each day as
they connect with each other in life, service, and mission.
 We
are especially mindful of your mothering presence in the world.
Thank you, for mothers of all kinds, and for women who have
shaped and formed us. We
pray especially for those who are in need of comfort in times of
grief and celebrate the life of those who have gone before us.
We pray for the
faithful work carried out in meetings:
NCC Meetings:
May 19--NCC Executive Committee
Meeting; New York
May 20-21-
Christian-Jewish Dialogue Meeting, Boston, Mass.
May 21-23-
Interfaith Relations Commission Meeting, Boston, Mass.
May 30--Special Commission for the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast We remember faithfully: May 1st--National Day of Prayer May 11th--Pentecost for the Western Church May 11th--Mother's Day May 18th--Trinity Sunday--for Sacred Conversations on Race May 26th--Memorial Day And we celebrate the work of colleagues, especially, Eileen Lindner, NCC Director of Organizational Development, as she leaves her post after a 32 year tenure at the council, that God will direct her in new paths of ministry. We also pray for our former ELMC colleague, Patrice Rosner, as she discerns her next call in ministry as her present call as the Executive Director of Churches Uniting in Christ comes to an end at the end of this month. All of these things, Lord, we pray in your holy and gracious name. Amen. Ecumenical Prayer Cycle:
ELMC Prayer April 2008
We give thanks for this month's prayer offered by Rosemary Graham, Chair, NCC Committee on Disabilities and Representative of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Disabilities Commission and the Disabilities Ministries Director of South Atlantic Conference of Seventh-day Adventist (Atlanta,Ga).
Almighty God, Great Jehovah, Lord of All, we humbly come to your throne thanking you for who you are – creator, redeemer, sustainer, comforter, and restorer of brokenness.
Help us never to forget the sacrifice your son, Jesus, made for us on the cross in shedding his blood for our sins. May we bring glory, honor, and praise to you – triune God – by the way we live, the things we do, and the words we speak.
We pray for those affected by the recent storms, tornadoes, and floods. Redeem and restore that which was broken and lost. We pray for those in distress and despair; affected by disease; and those who have lost friends and family members in death. Surround them with your holy, comforting presence and fill them (and us) with hope, joy, and peace.
We also pray especially for:
-Thom C. in discernment for his new move in ministry -The birth of Eliana Marie (March 14th – first granddaughter of Mayra Castañeda, former ELMC Asst. Director) -Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter for many of the Orthodox church family -NCCCUSA Communions, Commissions and Committees -ELMC April Meetings -Ecumenical Disabilities Advocacy Network of the World Council of Churches -the war – soldiers and families affected -the presidential candidates, their families, and the election process -Our leadership and advocacy throughout America and around the world
Gracious God, you have taught us in your word that we are members of the one body of Christ each with a place to fill and a function to perform. Fill us with love for one another as we work together in your name, being Christ-like in our actions and relationships with one another. Unite and empower us in transforming the lives of hurting people.
In Christ’s name, Amen. ELMC Meetings: April 3-5: Ecumenical Young Adult Ministries Team Meeting; New York April 17-20: Higher Education Ministries Meeting; New York April 23: ELMC Administrative Board Meeting; Chicago April 24-26: Pacific Asian American Canadian Christian Education Ministries Meeting; San Jose, CA The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle
ELMC Prayer March 2008
We give thanks to The Rev. Dr. Arthur M. Kelly, Christian Education and SHAPE Program Coordinator, Kingdom Ministries Team, Church of God Ministries (Anderson) and Secretary of the ELMC Administrative Board, for this month's prayer offering which inspires hope even in the midst of difficulties.
A Prayer for Lent in Anticipation of Easter
In the Gospel reading (John 4) for the third Sunday of Lent[1], we are reminded that the One who knows all about us still sits with us and offers grace.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal— Have mercy on us.
our world surrounded by darkness and the light pale—more reason for hopelessness than hope.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal— have mercy on us.
No rumors, only the stark reality of wars; we are engaged on every front by the failures of power and the disasters of our pride
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal— have mercy on us.
The river of peace rolls sluggish, too often dammed by human struggle. In Darfur, The Sudan, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Kenya, Israel, Palestine, and our own streets peace stands beside the road and few notice that its wing lies broken by its side.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal— have mercy on us.
Yet, we are not without hope for there are those who live in the Resurrection, who have not forgotten the Risen Lord, and who still stand against great odds, mend broken wings and extend your reign—
For them—for us—we pray:
For those disciples who stand against the loss of hope and the disintegration of learning: Committee on Public Education and Literacy, Washington, DC (March 6-7)
For those disciples who speak truth to power and justice to politics: Ecumenical Advocacy Days, Washington, DC (March 7-10) For those who stand for the formation of learned and caring disciples of Jesus Christ: Committee on Uniform Series Meeting, Orlando, FL (March 9-13) For those disciples who stand against the loss of family, false definitions of family, and the loss of childhood: Committee on Families and Children; Washington, DC (March 10-12) For those disciples who remind us all that the gospel of love and peace is not just for us and that God desires a home with all peoples: Program Committee on Education for Mission; New York, NY (March 26-28) Help your disciples to pray, Lord: World Day of Prayer (March 7) Help your disciples to stand against oppression and speak justice for women everywhere: International Women's Day (March 8) For your disciples who begin their journey to the your cross: Beginning of Orthodox Great Lent (March 10) For your disciples who keep the watch of the wall against the ever-present denial of humanity to “those not like us”: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21) For your disciples who dig wells: World Water Day (March 22) For your disciples who celebrate the coming of true Life: Easter [Western Church] (March 23)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal— have mercy on us— save us from ourselves save us from harming others save us to your great purpose save us to stand in the gap for those at risk of falling save us for the work of peace.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal— have mercy on us.
Amen. [1] Revised Common Lectionary, Year A.
Ecumenical Prayer Cycle
ELMC Prayer January 2008 New Year Greetings, To begin our communal prayer cycle, we have this beautiful offering from Rev. Cassandra Carkuff Williams, National Coordinator, Discipleship Resource Development, American Baptist Churches in the USA. May your ministry in 2008 be fruitful and your life be filled with the blessings of God. God of redemption, As we plan for our lives and work in the year ahead, may we be responsive to your voice, heeding whatever call you would place on us and our respective organizations, even if that call seems contrary to our preoccupations. Make us prophetic, courageous, flexible, and authentic. Keep our work ever-seasoned with integrity, so that we might share your message of love and justice in powerful, world-changing ways. We are thankful for the year that has passed, for your good gifts and for your sustenance in challenging times. We ask a special blessing on those who experienced difficult transitions in 2007, especially for those who lost loved ones, lost employment, suffered life-changing illnesses, and endured family struggles. We are thankful for the year that lies ahead. Keep us plugging along, day by day, step by step, breath by breath, by the power of your Spirit. And hold before us the vision of you kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Special Days:
Concerns and Celebrations:
the NCC Meetings:
Ecumenical Prayer Cycle:
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But
in your great compassion, you provide friends and
companions on the journey. You have provided the gift
of Jesus Christ, the one who showed us how to worship
you, the one who shows us each day how to serve you, the
one who helps us find our voices that others try to
silence, the one who helps us listen to the voices of
others we would rather not hear.
You
are above all, through all, beneath all. You alone are worthy of
praise. With the Psalmist I declare: 
As
this new season of spring abounds with fresh rain, blooming
buds, and az
In
this darkened season of the journey
In this season of mystical visitors, new beginnings, and great
expectations, bless us with your vision. Help us to share the joy of
the magi and open up to you our treasures—our gifts to you of
cooperative ministry, witness, and devotion.