Dear friends,

At Gloria Dei! we have a Prayer Chain. You can call the coordinator and share a concern with her, and she will contact others who will raise your concern in prayer to God. We also list concerns in the Sunday bulletin, and send out general Emails when the occasion calls for it. Some people keep a list of persons for whom they’re praying in their pockets. They list each name with a specific concern: Sheila who has cancer; Anthony who lost his job; Steve who had an accident.

Have you thought about what we’re doing when we pray for others? We are lifting them in a very personal way to the God who loves and cherishes them. Prayer becomes the thread of compassion that binds us together with them as we bring their sorrows to God.  When I pray for others –even persons I don’t know personally- my soul connects with them. My prayer draws me into communion with them, and I sense that this communion is part of the infinite love of God that embraces us all.

Have you ever heard a person say, “I could feel myself being uplifted by all your prayers?” She may or may not have gotten what she wanted, but she did feel the bonds of human love, and the energy of God’s communion, that held her during her struggles.  It’s always great to read about research that suggests that people who have others pray for them, have a better chance of recovery. But joining ourselves to others as we sit in God’s presence, has its own very important spiritual reward.

God’s strength and joy be yours,
Pastor Ana

Dear friends,

When I’m with a group of kids in our Confirmation program, I like to get them to think about the words of Jesus, “You are the light of the world.” They like these words, but they feel that there’s something that doesn’t sound right. Isn’t Jesus the light? How can he say that about us? Isn’t that going too far?  Then we talk about light, and what it can and cannot do. Light is very powerful and helpful. Without it we would live in darkness. But light doesn’t actually bring anything. When we turn it on, we see what’s
there already.

Yes, Jesus is the light in our world. Thanks be to God, in the light of Christ’s life, we can see who we are and what God dreams and hopes for us. It’s in his light that we discover how to be in relationship with God and with each other. But he did say that we are the light too. We have a great role. As we relate to others in the family, or at work, in school, or in friendships, we can help light up what’s there inside them. We can help them discover the good news that they are God’s beloved children.

Who would we be without Christ’s light in us? Who would we be without the friend, spouse, parent, or mentor who kindled a light we didn’t know, inside us?

God’s blessings of strength and joy be yours,
Pastor Ana

Scripture Reading:   Matthew 10:41-42    Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’

I was alone and you called me.
I was sad and you brought me flowers.
I was suffering a great loss and you invited me for a silent walk.
I haven’t seen you for a while, nor heard your voice.
Wouldn’t you like to come and stay with me for a couple of days?

Do you know someone or some people whose very presence is a special gift to you?  Then you know the blessing that Jesus is speaking about to his disciples.  He teaches them that it is not IF or BECAUSE we welcome a disciple that we will receive a reward, but AS we welcome a disciple.  The verbs are in the present tense.  So the reward is for now, and the person herself is the reward.

When we welcome people, not just into the church or our homes, but into our hearts, minds and inner most centers, we quench one another’s thirst.  We are offering a cup of cold water in the name of Christ.  Jesus asks us to offer a cup of cold water, not in order to receive a reward in heaven, but in order to receive the blessing of the very presence if the other person.

Wouldn’t you like to come and stay with me for a couple of days? We could go to the Lyric, play tennis, or just stay home.  Your presence is a gift to
me.

In Christ’s’ Peace,
Pastor Ana