For Such A Time As This 050620 – Jan Wessell
To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,
Help Us Celebrate Mother’s Day!
Pictures and photos are starting to come in! But we need more! See yesterday’s email on how you can help.
Joys and Concerns
If you have a joy or concern you would like us to share and pray about, please call, text or email it to me. If you would like it included in our Sunday Worship sharing and prayer time, please share it with me that week by Friday morning.
Joy!
Jose’ Aponte is now at the Conewago Snyder treatment center. He can receive mail at:
Conewago Snyder
c/o Jose’ Aponte
18336 Rt. 522
Beaverton, PA 17813
Concerns:
Thank You:
To all who call others to check in on them and share our emails and devotions.
Today’s Devotion:
I am thankful to Jan Wessell for providing today’s devotion. Jan reminds us that the hardest work can be hanging in there, but even then, we are not alone. If you wish to respond to Jan directly, her email address is wesselljm@gmail.com.
Shalom,
Dennis
Scripture - Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Thoughts:
It seems like I’m in a new phase of this marathon, some distance now from the starting point, with its energy of a new challenge, and at the same time far from the finish line — in the middle where the threat has become a familiar companion while there doesn’t seem to be a solution in sight. For me, this is the “one foot in front of the other” phase; far from the comfortable past and not quite certain about where I'll end up; a time to just keep going, slowly and steadily, and trust that it will work out. This is a tough phase for me, far from either grounding point, but also a quieter place of almost-respite, where all there is to do is keep going at an even pace that will allow me to – keep going. I will never go back to the same point where I started this race, and the finish line is definitely there even though not yet in sight. Right now, I move ahead, not dropping out and not surging forward with all I’ve got.
We’re running in the back stretch, but we’re not running alone. As Hebrews reminds us, we move surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses, those before us who have been right where we are, maybe different times and contexts, but the same race. They ran their back stretch with perseverance just we run ours with perseverance now. For us as for them, each step forward is a step in trust that we are in no way close to being alone, that the finish line is real and good, and that God’s constant love holds us close.
Prayer:
God of grace and abiding love, you are with us step by step. You continue to give us strength for this race. In whatever place we find ourselves, you meet us there, you stay with us there, then you guide us on. May your vision be our vision and your way forward be ours. Amen.
Help Us Celebrate Mother’s Day!
Pictures and photos are starting to come in! But we need more! See yesterday’s email on how you can help.
Joys and Concerns
If you have a joy or concern you would like us to share and pray about, please call, text or email it to me. If you would like it included in our Sunday Worship sharing and prayer time, please share it with me that week by Friday morning.
Joy!
Jose’ Aponte is now at the Conewago Snyder treatment center. He can receive mail at:
Conewago Snyder
c/o Jose’ Aponte
18336 Rt. 522
Beaverton, PA 17813
Concerns:
- For Gloria Kettering, someone whom Betty Schell has cared for. Gloria was taken to HMC on Saturday for evaluation. Gloria will be 90 on May 13.
- For Jill Speicher as she continues to recover at home.
- For those alone in hospitals and those who have lost their jobs
- For all people, no matter what their circumstances, challenges, or joys
Thank You:
To all who call others to check in on them and share our emails and devotions.
Today’s Devotion:
I am thankful to Jan Wessell for providing today’s devotion. Jan reminds us that the hardest work can be hanging in there, but even then, we are not alone. If you wish to respond to Jan directly, her email address is wesselljm@gmail.com.
Shalom,
Dennis
Scripture - Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Thoughts:
It seems like I’m in a new phase of this marathon, some distance now from the starting point, with its energy of a new challenge, and at the same time far from the finish line — in the middle where the threat has become a familiar companion while there doesn’t seem to be a solution in sight. For me, this is the “one foot in front of the other” phase; far from the comfortable past and not quite certain about where I'll end up; a time to just keep going, slowly and steadily, and trust that it will work out. This is a tough phase for me, far from either grounding point, but also a quieter place of almost-respite, where all there is to do is keep going at an even pace that will allow me to – keep going. I will never go back to the same point where I started this race, and the finish line is definitely there even though not yet in sight. Right now, I move ahead, not dropping out and not surging forward with all I’ve got.
We’re running in the back stretch, but we’re not running alone. As Hebrews reminds us, we move surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses, those before us who have been right where we are, maybe different times and contexts, but the same race. They ran their back stretch with perseverance just we run ours with perseverance now. For us as for them, each step forward is a step in trust that we are in no way close to being alone, that the finish line is real and good, and that God’s constant love holds us close.
Prayer:
God of grace and abiding love, you are with us step by step. You continue to give us strength for this race. In whatever place we find ourselves, you meet us there, you stay with us there, then you guide us on. May your vision be our vision and your way forward be ours. Amen.
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