Pray for Wisdom

Beloved of God,

    I sure hope you are praying for this body as we approach our congregational meeting this coming Sunday. We will do well to have you listening for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we join together. It will not be broadcast on Zoom, and so to hear from you we will need you to be in the room with us. 
    I also want to mention that a long time favorite ministry for the more senior members of our community will begin again this coming Wednesday, June 30th: McBaptist Breakfast. Anybody who ever called a significant other on a rotary phone is welcome to attend. 
    This fall we will begin again with adult Sunday school classes. If you are interested in teaching a class, I would love to speak with you about that and any needs of curriculum, supplies, or space you might have. Please feel free to email me if you are certain you’d like to teach or even if you’re just thinking about it. It’s worth talking over either way.
    Today is the last call for signups to have items picked up for our youth garage sale. If you can transport items on your own, you are welcome to bring them to the church through the week from 10am-3pm daily, or by appointment. The Garage sale will be July 10th.

    I’ve spent a good deal of time in the last several letters asking us to consider a few things:

1. What are my own unique spiritual gifts?
2. What are the spiritual gifts God has placed in this congregation?
3. In light of those gifts, and the needs of our community (local and global), how might this particular church use those gifts to further God’s kingdom in ways that fit us?

    We are fast approaching the fall, and we will likely have an opportunity to re-enter the regular ministry of this church in some ways that we were not able to over the past year. But the past year has also placed us in a position to reflect on some of the things that had been normal rhythms up to this point. Here’s what I would ask you to begin doing as regularly as God calls these things to your mind:

1. Pray that you will gain a deep sense of your own spiritual gifts, and where you are uniquely suited to lead, grow, study or serve. 
2. Pray that this body will have a deep sense of calling grounded in the gifts God has already placed among us.
3. Pray that as we enter the fall we will be attentive, imaginative, and responsive as we plan the time we spend together and the ways we serve the King and the Kingdom. 
   

The sermon text for Sunday is 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.

Please join me this week in also praying for:

• Those among us who are grieving.
• Those among us who are hurting or sick in mind, body or spirit.
• In praise for the recent rains.
• Wisdom and guidance as we approach this congregational meeting on Sunday.
• Those in positions of public trust at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Doctors, nurses, paramedics, PA’s and others working hard to keep us all well.
• First responders to all sorts of emergencies, whether on the road, in the forest, or in public places.
• Each other ( please email [email protected] if you’d like to be added to our prayer list). 

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall