Month: September 2024

A prayer especially today from Pastor Matthew on this ‘World Heart Day’
Sunday:
“God, Maker of our amazing hearts, we pray thanksgiving for all the
doctors, nurses, and researchers who are helping us to understand the
human heart. We pray thanksgiving for the ingenuity that guides people
to perform complicated surgery on the heart. We pray thanksgiving for
all those who have learned therapies that help the heart to heal and
strengthen. Heavenly Trainer, bless and bolster our hearts today so that
they can keep pumping well. Amen.”

As we feel the beating of our hearts and wonder in amazement at each
lifegiving beat we are deeply grateful. Silently beating approximately
60 beats per minute our hearts allow us to enjoy the many gifts you give
us, the sun and warmth, the awesome sunsets, the changing moon, the
seasonal changes, relationships, family and so much more. We know these
gifts are from you and we praise and thank you for the many blessings
you have given us.
We thank you for giving leadership to those who prepared this morning’s
service. We pray your blessing on Pastor Matthew as he begins to know
and understand our church family. Pray for patience and your guidance
as he navigates these next weeks of seeking your will for this
congregation and for himself.
We thank you for the healing you have granted to those recovered from
surgery or injury. We do pray for those who await surgery. May they know

your grace and feel patience as waiting is long while
awaiting these surgeries.

We know there are those who have unspoken concerns. We too now remember
those in LTC and those who have lost loved ones, who may feel lonely and
discouraged. May they each be filled with daily comfort and peace. Lord
you alone can fill their needs with your loving kindness, care and
peace.
Today we too remember the families and friends of those deceased and
mourning with the tragic accident this past Monday north of Wellesley.
We pray for those who survived that moment when their lives were forever
changed. Be near to them as they recover physically but also emotionally
recalling those indelible moments in their minds. May each one know you
are Lord and feel your presence and your comfort. The farm accident
involving a tractor outside Wellesley this week, Lord we pray those
involved may too know you, find peace and comfort following this trauma.
Our minds go to the First Responders and those who arrive on these
scenes and react amidst their own thoughts, fears and concerns. May
they know and feel your presence as they perform their daily duties.

Our thoughts go afar to those in conflict in Israel and Lebanon,
Ukraine, Haiti and other countries disrupted by war. We pray for the
leaders making decisions! Somehow guide their thoughts and decisions.
For those in the midst of devastation who are powerless to make changes
oh Lord we don’t understand the why and wherefore but ask you to be near
these your people.

Praying for Our Households of Faith this week.
Oh Lord we know life is filled with daily challenges of living. May you
bless each of these households and hold them in your care!

This week the words of Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”
were drawn to my attention. Pastor Clare wondered how do we “Be still”
and quiet our hearts amongst life’s challenges?
Thursday afternoon I experienced the unveiling of the plaque now placed
at the Montreal River site commemorating the work and lives of the young
COs who stood for peace during World War 11.
These young men experienced many challenges in the uninhabited north
away from home and often in difficult situations. The words: “Be Still
and Know that I am God” again surfaced. How did these young people
mentally process your peace among those harsh and unsettling conditions?
How Lord do we internalize this peace you speak of?
Only by your grace did they and today do we experience the words of John
14: 27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to
you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid.
And Philippians 4:7 The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As we feel our hearts beat, Lord God we know you gifted us with life. We
know that only through you do we receive your gift of peace as we
navigate life.
Give us this peace we pray!
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

Holy and awesome God, we come to you this morning with hearts that are full and overflowing with both praise and grief. We come to you humbly as your children, with lips that offer words of rejoicing and sighs of pain.

This morning we rejoice in your goodness and answers to prayer as we welcome Pastor Matthew into his new role as our pastor here at Wellesley Mennonite. We pray for the presence and blessing of the Holy Spirit over both Mathew and Nina, as well as over their children as they adjust to a new home and community, and experience these early days of a new school year and workplace. God, may they know your peace and presence, as well as your holy guidance and mighty strength each day as they serve, study, and build relationships. Father God, we pray for Pastor Matthew that you would calm his spirit, fill his heart with your grace and love, and gently lead him as he shepherds this congregation in the months and years ahead. Fill him with courage and increase his faith as he walks with you.

This morning as we both rejoice and grieve, we also choose to proclaim the words of David in Psalm 23.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (NIV)

O God, we also pray for your peace to reign in our world, especially in the Middle East, Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Mould and soften the hearts of leaders that they may choose to walk in your way. We would also pray the same for Ukraine and Haiti. God, grant us wisdom as individuals to be peacemakers, caregivers, and people of grace in our community and world as you direct us.

We rejoice and give thanks with so many of our congregation who have received healing and renewed strength over the past weeks and months.

This morning we pray for the following families in our Households of Faith.

We pray all this in the name of Jesus.

Amen

The four C’s Challenge, Change, Conflict and Compassion

Hello again God

Thank- you for granting us another week and thank you for watching over us.

This week these four words came to my mind. Challenge, Change, Conflict and Compassion. In some way and time we have all have experienced these. We are constantly and individually being CHALLENGED in our lives, whether vocationally, physically, emotionally or in many other ways. In the secular world they say, “what does not kill you make you stronger”. In the spiritual world CHALLENGE may make us aware we can’t carry the burden alone and we are stretched. Stretched like Clare talked about last week. This stretching may make us aware that we need your presence in our lives more often then we think. We also face CHANGE in all our lives. Think of the Joesph story that Paul so eloquently led us through a couple weeks ago. What can we learn from all the CHANGE that happened to that family? We are even experiencing CHANGE here at WMC both today and in the coming weeks. Grant us patience, calmness, grace and understanding as we walk this path. Thank you, God, for the ways you have guided our CHANGE over the last year and a half. We graciously thank you for guiding and leading us even when we may not have been aware. In all our daily movements and interactions CHANGE can sometimes lead to CONFLICT. We also saw that in the Joesph story. CONFLICT can be hard and make us uneasy, angry, jealous, frustrated and may more emotions. However, somehow out of CONFLICT we arise often a little beaten and worn down but we arise having learned something about ourselves and those around us. Give us strength and love to support the CONFLICT we may experience. Only a God like yourself can allow that to happen. As we work thru the other three C’s we need COMPASSION, love and support to get thru. The type of COMPASSION that feeds five thousand people or forgives a disciple or follower that may have betrayed you, or the type of COMPASSION that it takes to forgive brothers who may have abused their younger brother. We long for that COMPASSION. We are thankful for the ways we have experienced that in our lives. GOD, we ask that you continue to provide that COMPASSION and support at times when our COMPASSION tanks are Low to Empty. Forgive us where we have missed the mark. Thank- you for the ways you are with us in CHALLENGE, CHANGE and CONFLICT and we thank you for the COMPASSION you provide us in each of our daily walks. Thank you God.

We continue to lift up our Leaders and Politicians . Whether Internationally, Federally, Provincially or Locally ,we ask for that our leaders have wisdom and integrity in all that they do. We also think of those in the world that do not live in the Peace that we experience. Hold all those who suffer close to you.

As School has returned to form we hold in our prayers all Administrators, Principles, and Teachers. Bless them all as they work with our next generation. Grant safety to all children as they attend school.

We also thank you for the ways you have heard and answered prayers for health concerns. We rejoice with those who are experiencing healing and good news in their health walks. For those still being challenged and having to make decisions daily God we ask your presence in their lives. For those unspoken needs before us we ask that you be with those who are suffering and may be facing big decisions. Be close to all who are struggling.

As we move thru CHANGE in Pastoral Roles, we are so thankful for allowing Paul to be a part of our congregation. Thank you for his leadership, care and support through this interim process. Continue to guide him as he continues to hear your call. Thank you also for continuing to Bless us with Clare and his leadership. We are truly blessed with his leadership, and genuine compassion. As we anticipate Matthew’s arrival we realize how blessed we have been in this time of transition at WMC. We look forward to the next Chapter here at WMC. Thank you for being such a faithful and loving God in our transition.

We are thankful for the opportunity to be somewhat of a presence in our community and we look for ways to be involved. Thank you for all those who participated in the WMC Community BBQ may your will be done here.

This week we lift up our Households of Faith here at WMC.

God we thank you for guiding us this past week and we ask that you continue to guide us as individuals and as a congregation. Thank you for how you have led us to date and for the ways you will continue to show COMPASSION to us in our daily walks and as a congregation.

In your name we ask it,

Amen

Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the many blessings you have given us. We thank you for
freedom to be and worship where we are. We remember those who worship in
secret, those who suffer as a result of war – Fear, hunger and
devastation all around them. Only you know their pain and desolation.
Give courage, strength and peace in this unsettled world.

In our congregation we remember those who are hurting whether with
health issues, with relationships, with loss of a family member or
friend, those awaiting diagnosis or treatment, those who suffer in
silence, all not knowing the future. May we each look to you, oh God,
for guidance, for peace and comfort from day to day.
Psalm 24: verse 1 & 2 state: The earth is the Lord’s and everything in
it, the world and all who live in it!
May we dwell in the knowledge that you have created us, you will expand
us but you have said you are with us, and you wish us to enjoy your
world. We only need to look to the awesome lighning show the skies
displayed recently, to the sunsets which become an expanse of star
filled skies these nights, the amazing feat of a spider web, the beauty
of our still lush green surroundings beginning to colour with fall
approaching, the amazing miracle of a newborn baby who then becomes that
school child. We do have daily reminders that this is your world and we
are all a part of it. Our prayer today is that the children returning
to school know they are loved and be given a desire to learn and grow.
May the teachers too be given patience while being models to and
teaching these children.

We do rejoice with the healing that is and has occurred in our church
family.

Thank you for giving your life so that we may live. For stretching us
and giving us daily strength. As we live into this next week may we
give you our praise and thanksgiving, knowing you have created us, may
we feel your presence in each of our lives in a very real way!
Amen

We celebrate this morning Lord as we gather together as three churches, praising you for the gift of salvation, and the amazing privilege of being adopted into the Body of Christ. We give thanks for your call to be your witnesses in our homes, our communities, and in our world.

This morning we would shout aloud the words of the Psalmist as he wrote “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods….Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” (Psalm 95)

Thank you, God, for your amazing care and love, for the privilege of knowing that as your children, we can live each day with hope. We also recognize that on days when we struggle with grief, fear, loneliness or loss, you invite us into your loving embrace, calling us to walk with our hands firmly grasped in yours. God be our strength, our rock, and our hope.

This weekend we pray especially for all our children, grandchildren, teens, and young adults as they head back into the classroom to start a new school year. Jesus, you have promised that you would never leave or forsake us, and we pray for your presence over each of these students. Give strength and wisdom as they meet new challenges, make new friendships, and grant them courage to trust you in all situations. Jesus, be their heavenly shepherd.

We also pray for all teachers, staff, and Principals, especially those who know Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Enable them to be the face of Jesus in their classroom, on the playground, in the office, and may they know daily the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. We also pray for parents as they release their child into a system that is not always perfect. Grant them courage, and spirit filled wisdom as they affirm when appropriate and challenge as needed. God we give you praise.

O God, we praise you for the many we know who have experienced your gift of physical healing and renewal over the past months. We rejoice in your goodness and grace. However, we also pray for those who are waiting for test results, for medical appointments, and for continued healing. God, may you continue to work in their lives and grant them patience and perseverance.