For Such A Time as This – February 24, 2021 – Karen Haldeman

 To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,
 
Denominational Online Worship Opportunity
“Venturing Forth Boldly as a Faith Family” is the theme of a denomination-wide, online worship gathering of the Church of the Brethren for this Saturday, February 27.  The worship will be live streamed at 8 p.m. Eastern time.  The service is planned by the Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee.  A link for the worship service and more information is at www.brethren.org/ac/online-worship-2021
 
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 Requests:

Jose Aponte requests prayers.Due to a recent probation violation, Jose’s must now serve his full remaining sentence, which will be completed in March 2022.He can file for early parole in September of 2021.Letters of encouragement can be sent to:
Jose E. Aponte
Lebanon County Correctional Facility
730 East Walnut Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
There is no limit to the number of letters that may be written or received, providing that the contents of the letters are not obscene or threatening in any way.  All non-official letters directed to inmates will be opened and checked for contraband. Incoming mail will be delivered after it has been processed, usually within twenty-four hours after delivery.

Pat Miller asks for prayers as she anticipates outpatient surgery next Tuesday. She also asks for prayers as she and Paul grieve the loss last week of their cherished dog, Buddy.
 
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:
Continuing our Lenten theme on the prayers of Jesus, Karen Haldeman offers us these reflections and ideas for deepening our relationship with God.
 
Shalom,
Dennis
 
Scripture
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  He fasted forty days and forty nights… – Matthew 4:1.
 
And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayer. - Mark 1:35.
 
Thoughts
The gospels tell us a lot about Jesus’ prayer life.  We read that before he even began his ministry, Jesus spent 40 days alone in the wilderness, strengthening his sense of calling as well as his trust in God.  And we read in numerous scripture passages how Jesus often went off by himself to pray for a while.
 
About 200 years after Jesus’ time on earth, several groups of Christians wanted to focus all their energies on a life of prayer and service. So, they began living in small communities in the desert, where they could more easily give up the distractions that got in the way of a relationship with God.  These men (and a few women) are known as “the desert fathers (and mothers).” 
 
Most of us are not going to move to the desert or wilderness to deepen our trust in God’s presence, but there are several things we can practice that—like desert fathers—can help us set aside distractions that prevent us from living in the ways of Jesus.  Here are a few simple things you can try this week:
 
Begin each day by taking 5 minutes to ask God to be with you as you go about your daily routines and interaction with people.  (I like to do this with a cup of tea in hand while I watch the sunrise).
At the end of each day, take a few minutes to reflect on how you gave and received God’s love throughout the day.  Thank God for these opportunities.
Ask God to give you a “word.”  The desert fathers received visitors who asked them for a word of wisdom by which to live their lives.  What “word” are you being invited to live by this week?
 
Prayer
God who invites us into your presence, fill us with desire to deepen our times of prayer so that we will strengthen our calling to live in your ways.  Amen.