finding Grace in Surprising Ways

Download this message from our partner church, the ELCJHL through the Evangelical Lutheran Church America sends us this message of Hope as we prepare and long for the Christ Child to be made known to us. This message includes a story of life today, a prayer and questions for reflection. (there are some blank pages in between each section.) Pray for peace today.

It is a joy to gather together for worship. Participate in person, or join by livestream. This is the link for October to December:

Zoom link for Oct to December – Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88296371112?pwd=SMNpfiSfatUyVxahGLdNRSmDjBN5O1.1

Plan a September prayer walk for creation’s water, food, economy and peace. Pray from home too, if walking is a challenge.

How to walk in prayer: alone or with a few people, plan a starting point, and walk quietly, observing the things around you, being aware of sounds, aromas, and the people you pass. A prayer walk is, like all prayers, an ongoing conversation with God. By doing this while walking, you bring your entire being into the space, hearing, feeling, and sensing all that God has created. You may pray without words and simply walk, or you might want to repeat one word or a short phrase, or simply express thanks for all the you see. Plan a few stopping spots for focused prayer.

For a stop near water: find a waterway, or pool, or fountain, splash-pad, or even a puddle. Pause in thanksgiving for water. Say this prayer:

The waters of the earth refresh, revive and nourish your creation. We thank you for the beautiful waterfalls, the sparkling blue green oceans, the refreshing fresh water sources, and the rains that nourish our crops and cool our earth. Help us to be better caretakers of these gifts. Help us to keep our water sources germ, disease and pollution free to not only continue to nurture humanity, but also to sustain our plant and animal life too. Help us to remember that all things are interconnected and help us to continue to be strong co-creators with you. Amen.

For a stop near a source of food – garden, market, grocery store, corner store, field, and pray this prayer

Creator God, You have entrusted us to care not only for your creation, but for one another. Help us to do your will, to make sustainable choices in our caring for this earth you have blessed us with, and help us to always be mindful of how our choices impact the health and well-being of others. We lift up farmers whose seasons are shifting and whose soil is tired. Be near to those planting or harvesting in hope despite failed rains and shrinking harvests. Bless the hands learning to care for the earth— with methods that heal the land, and knowledge sown in the field and shared with the village. May each seed planted in hope bear fruit in justice. Guide us in this challenge, to honour your creation and feed your people. Amen.

Stop to pray for the economic health of the world – where your treasure is, there also your heart shall be – plan to stop at a place that is important and special to you. Thinking of the larger world, pray this prayer:

Heavenly Father, You call us to love one another, and care for one another as though we are caring for you. Help us to always see you in the faces of others. Help us to reach out to those we encounter that need hope, encouragement, love, peace and the gifts you have given us to share. We lift up those whose harvests have thinned, whose nets return empty— where one unravelling basket leaves many hands empty. Bless those restoring work that feeds and sustains many, growing crops that endure uncertain climes, sharing skills and trades that leave the land whole. Strengthen women shaping new futures with their own hands. Let these efforts spark renewal that is steady against the storms to come. Guide us in this challenge, to honour your creation and help rebuild what the shifting seasons have undone. Amen.

Pray for peace: Stop anywhere and pray this prayer:

God our peacekeeper, We live in a world where peace is often elusive. Help us to work hard and strive for peace in all that we do. Help us to look for you in our interactions with others. Help us to offer your peace to everyone we encounter and lead the way into a world that promotes harmony, where we all love each other the way you would have us love each other. We lift up communities where the drying earth has strained the ties that hold neighbours together and frayed the bonds within families. Bless those who draw others near— who make space for every voice and build peace through trust and listening hearts. Protect women and girls on long walks for water and wood. Strengthen voices that welcome dialogue, leaders who mend broken bridges, and teachers planting seeds of dignity and respect. Let justice fall like rain, bringing healing to the land and to lives. Guide us in this challenge, to honour your creation and carry your peace into the world. Amen.

from Canadian Lutheran World Relief

Return to your starting point, if you would like music for the return walk, here are 2 suggestions: Between darkness and light, in 3 languages: Arabic, Hebrew, and English.

A livelier tune with a chorus of “ho ya” is fun too. The words are- may peace be in our heart, may peace be in our home, May peace be in our land, may peace be in our world Ho ya!.

Salam Aleikum means Gods peace be with you. here is the link:

hi folks, this is a hymn we will be singing on Sunday. It was sung at my ordination service and is especially meaningful to me, as well as having words we will hear in scripture today.

Hi

Here is the zoom link for July, August and September.

Note that zoom will not be available at the parish picnics (sorry)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83597259783?pwd=M8R5Kg0JcQuJTY1wVmQJsHBq6aa8jJ.1

Meeting ID: 835 9725 9783

Passcode: 167717

thankyou for being so patient waiting for the last story! Here is an extra story as a special Thankyou. Love from Pastor Pam ❤️

have fun with this song. It makes me laugh 😆

the Activity to help us learn kindness is COOKIE BAKING! Yummmm and I know it would be great to eat them up, but it’s even more fun to eat one and share the rest! Who will you share your cookies with?

God bless each of you as you continue growing up to be filled with the gifts of the spirit! Amen

Hi – today we are going to talk about patience and the good things we may notice if we are patient. I know it is realllllly hard to be patient sometimes – we want to interrupt when someone is talking because we just need to tell them something soo very exciting – or sometimes it is hard to wait for things – like birthdays or Christmas. But if we take a deep breath and wait………………. it will be worth it!

The story today is from a book that i have, but it has disappeared, so I’m using a recording of the story: it is called “OWL MOON” and i hope you will be patient to enjoy it to the end!. Dont forget your blanket and pillow.

todays activity is making bubbles. See how big a bubble you can make, and how small. How long before they pop, and how high can they float? Have fun.

gracious God, you know that we sometimes find that waiting is really hard. Forgive us when we are impatient. Help us remember that good things take time. Amen.

story for today, do you have your blanket and pillow? The story is called “How the Fawn Got its Spots, and it is from a book called Native Stories from KEEPERS OF THE ANIMALS.

the activity today is a finger path that takes us to the place where people work or live. As our finger arrives, stop, think about the person and say “God bless name. “ you can add other thoughts too, as you pray. End your prayer by saying Amen. ( that means.. may it be so)

Holy one, loving God, you bring peace to all creation by taking care of us. Help us to see your love and to be your peace in the world. When we feel like fighting, or when we feel, angry, help us to remember to be like you and help us stop, count to 10, (or 100) until our anger fizzles out, and then to act in love. Amen.

Welcome to VBS summer story time. Grab a blanket and a pillow and snuggle down for a story: Today we read the story PARTNERS, from the book “Does God Have a Big Toe?”

ACTIVITY to help us understand JOY – the activity bag should have some playdo. We heard the story about how God created the world, the universe, and that gave God a lot of Joy. Joy is that bubbly feeling inside that makes you smile, feel good, and feel content. Use the playdoh to create some things that look like things that make you joyful. Share them with the people around you and see what things give them bubbly contented joy.

Joyful music: Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory Glory woohoo!!https://youtu.be/jnI0Lnd65bE?si=z3xUgLh4Y83TPOf9

Dear God, you created the world to bring you joy and we are part of that joy. Help us to share happiness, joy and contentedness with all the people we love. AMEN