For Such A Time as This May 20, 2020 – Karen Haldeman

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To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,

Looking Ahead to Graduation Sunday!  Last week for graduates to respond!

If you or someone you love is graduating this year (5th, 8th or 12th grades, or post high) we would love for you to be a part of our virtual Graduation Sunday service on June 7! Please take a moment to fill out this short informational form. https://forms.gle/DGLmKDBGHLCbXA5H7

Forms are due this week, no later than Sunday, May 24. Questions about the service may directed to Bethany Hoffer or Rachel Witkovsky.

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.

Pray for:                                                                                                            

Brenda Hayden, a classmate of Jeff Clouser, who lives in Midland, Michigan. Brenda’s home and church are being flooded now with the breaking of two damns. Prayers for all effected by this disaster. 

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 Karen Haldeman for providing today’s devotion. Karen reminds us of God’s faithfulness.  If you wish to respond to Karen directly, her email address is kbhaldeman@verizon.net. 

Shalom,
Dennis

Scripture - Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus

Thoughts:

It’s easy these days to become impatient: with social distancing restrictions, with closed businesses, with our family or housemates, maybe even with ourselves.  The following piece, written by 20th century French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, reminds us to extend grace and patience especially during times of uncertainty.

We are impatient of being, on the way to something
unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through
some stages of instability—
and that may take a very long time.
 
And so, I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually — let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.
 
Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
And accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

Prayer:

God, we often lack patience.  Help us to choose grace and forbearance when we are feeling impatient with those around us, with difficult situations, and with ourselves.

 


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