For Such A Time as This – February 12, 2021 – Karen Haldeman

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To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,
 
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 Pastor Bill that week by Thursday evening. 
 
Prayer Request:

  • Joy Derck asks for prayers for her father Merle Brubaker who has suffered a broken hip from a fall.Please pray for wisdom in making treatment decisions and for Merle’s healing.
  • Jeff Clouser asks for prayers for his son Addison and for Addison’s mother Julie. Both have tested positive for COVID.
 
See this Saturday’s “Weekly Up” email for additional prayer concerns.
 
Thank You:
To all who call others to check in on them and to share our emails and devotions.
 
Today’s Devotion:
Karen Haldeman has written today’s devotion.  It contains an invitation for prayer in our sanctuary on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
 
Shalom,
Dennis
 
 
Scripture – Psalm 51, selected verses
Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
   blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
   and cleanse me from my sin….
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
   and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
   and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
   and sustain in me a willing spirit.
 
Thoughts
Have you ever given up something for Lent? Lent is most often marked in passing within Brethren circles, but it is a season that many of our spiritual “cousins” focus on during the weeks leading up to Easter. It is a somber time to remember our brokenness and to turn toward the God of healing as we prepare our hearts for Easter resurrection. Giving up something that prevents us from having a “new and right spirit” that the Psalmist talks about can free us to experience the “joy of salvation.”
 
This year during for Lent (which starts next week), you are invited to participate in several activities to prepare your heart for Easter. There will be opportunities to spend time in prayerful reflection in our sanctuary on Ash Wednesday (February 17, the beginning of Lent) and on Good Friday (April 2); look for more details in Saturday’s weekly update. And throughout Lent, many of these mid-week emails will invite us to focus on practices to deepen our relationship with God. Perhaps you even want to try giving something up to help you experience God’s presence in new ways.
 
I hope you will join us on this year’s Lenten journey toward Easter!
 
Prayer
God of mercy and steadfast love, walk with us this season on our journey toward new life. As we consider ways we have not loved you with our whole hearts or loved our neighbors as ourselves, bring your gentle love and forgiveness to renew our spirits. Amen.
 
 

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