Month: October 2024

Good evening God

Thank you again for guiding us thru another week. For some it has been a good week. For some it has been a busy week. And for some it has been a challenging and tough week. We see so many signs of your creation in the Fall colors. It seems like there are new colors every day , for this we are thankful

This week I became increasingly aware of how LIGHT or LIGHTS are a part of and Impact our lives. There are many things to be learned through light. We know that when you created the world you created night and Day. Genesis 1:3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. The original beginning of light and Dark.

Light or Lights are there to guide us and for us to see our way. Light makes things safe for us to move around whether in a vehicle or just walking. Without light signs our travel would be chaotic and out of control. Lights give us direction as well, it can tell us when to walk and when to wait . in the same way the light that you provide in our spiritual life can guide our faith walk. Psalm 119:105 says : Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path If we keep our heads up and appreciate what you want us to see we can be safe in our spiritual life. Can you imagine what it would be like to be out in a boat at night without navigational lights? Or to not be able to see that bright light of lighthouse on a foggy stormy night. We know how anxious we get when the power goes out in our house and the lights don’t work. We are thankful for the warning lights that you provide us as we navigate thru life.

We recognize that as days get shorter how important light is for getting our outside work done. We are able to see your handiwork in the trees and sunsets and sunrises.

We also recognize that you are present in the sunsets and night time as the light of Day fades. When it is dark and there is no daytime light it helps us vividly perceive the nighttime universe in Stars, Planets and the Moon. Yes Beauty in the Darkness. You provided darkness to so that we would have to slow down and rest. Help us to recognize this more.

And then in Matthew 5:16 you state In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

In this way we are challenged to be a light to others in the world where much light is needed. Help us to be a light in what ever corner of the world we are in. Help us to be beacons of light wherever we may be and what we may be experiencing, even when our energy levels and patience may be low.. Give us strength for this .

Thank you God for Light and Darkness, Day and Night.

We thank you for the ways you have provided some healing for those members around us.

For other who may be experiencing health concerns or medical follow-ups please be close to them as well. We know your ways are higher then our ways and your strength will always be there.

God for a world that often seems to be coming apart at the seams sometimes we ask that we could see and feel you at these times. For the unrest, wars and bombings around the world we pray for PEACE. We ask that leaders would understand the destruction that is caused by War. Be with the innocent children and families who live in fear. Grant them courage in troubled times.

We thank you for the ways you have been faithful to us here at WMC. We have been very Blessed by the leadership in our Pastors. Today we especially thank you for allowing Clare and Gloria to be a part of our lives here at WMC. We have been so blessed by your servant Clare and for the gifts you have bestowed on him. May Both Clare and Gloria feel your presence in their lives going forward. We join together in saying “ Well done you good and faithful servant.”

We want to recognize our HOF this week as well.

God, we do not know what the week ahead may have for us. But as we head out in whatever direction we may be going may we be the light that you want us to be. And we ask that you continue to shed light on both our physical and spiritual paths

In all this we ask it.
Amen

Creator God, we rejoice and give thanks this morning for the beauty of this world you have created. For brilliant red sumac, the dancing display of Northern Lights we have recently experienced, for the beauty of coloured leaves displayed in majesty throughout our forests, and for sunsets that gild the sky with beauty, lending hope to our hearts. We give thanks for rivers and streams, and for the wildlife that currently prepares for the bite of winter, just as you ordained. We give thanks for fertile fields where crops of beans and corn continue to be harvested, trusting your promise that in springtime, there will again be opportunity for new seeds to be planted. Oh God, we lift up your name in praise.

We echo the words of the Psalmist David who wrote

“Praise the Lord.

How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him.

He heals the brokenheartedd and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him,

who put their hope in his unfailing love…..

Praise the Lord” – Psalm 147

Holy God, we acknowledge that as we raise our hearts in praise, we also come to you with grieving hearts for a world that is writhing in pain and turmoil. God, we pray for the Middle East asking that you intervene in the minds and hearts of political leaders who only see war as the solution. God, change their hearts and minds; may your will be done!. Lord, we pray that leaders would seek peace, that people would come to know and understand that there is a better, holy way. We pray for Haiti, asking God for your protection of and blessing on the church in that country. May your church flourish and grow as followers of Jesus live out their faith in dangerous and tumultuous times. God, be their strength and guide!

We pray for all those in our congregation who continue to face health challenges.

Oh God, we also confess our individual needs to you as in this moment of silence we lift our burdens to you. (take a moment to acknowledge your needs to God) Thank you God for hearing our prayers and for your gift of peace.

God, we also take this opportunity to pray for the following individuals/families in our Households of Faith.

O God, pour out your love and peace on these individuals/families, and may they know your strengthening power in their lives.

We pray all this in the name of Jesus.

Amen

“I will enter his gates with Thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter
his courts with Praise”
Dear Lord, you are a God of love and bless us with so much. In the
quiet of this moment we pause to give you praise and thanksgiving for
the many daily blessings you give us which we take for granted – for
food, for water, clothes, our church family, friendship, peaceful
neighbourhoods, health, your grace and peace.

We are grateful for our church family. We say thank you for bringing
Matthew to us and the blessing of this service. We are grateful to
those who give generously of their time and energy, those we can confide
in and know they sympathize as we deal with challenges arising in our
lives. We know there are those around us with inner conflicts whether
physical, mental or spiritual. May they too feel your
presence.
“He leadeth me: O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort
fraught!”

We are thankful for health, for continued treatment and for healing
for those with recent challenges. We pray for those anticipating surgery
knowing you are in control. Give each one patience knowing you are with
them.
”Healer of our every ill, Light of each tomorrow, give us peace beyond
our fear and hope beyond our sorrow.
Remembering others in the congregation: Those in LTC, or living alone
and feeling alone with their thoughts. We pray for those who struggle
with the daily chore of living, morning prep, meals, etc. Lord you know
their needs and may we all know with the rising sun and the evening
sunset that you are watching over us daily.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face and the
things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory
and grace.”

We pray for those who survived the hurricane but have lost their homes,
possessions and worse, family and friends. Oh Lord we look to you for
food and water, clothes and a home for their care and comfort.

Lord have mercy on the people in countries suffering helplessly from the
effects of war today. Our hearts go out to those who just want to move
on with life and live peacefully. We are so fortunate that we can
worship in peace. Continue to nudge our hearts to remember those in
their suffering.
God’s grace is usually defined as ‘undeserved favor’. Grace cannot be
earned. It is something given to us. Because you Oh Lord gave your life
you have gifted us with life!
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once
was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

Remembering our Households of Faith this week.
We pray they have full, rich lives and healthy relationships with family
and friends.

Lord you know our thoughts, our words, deeds and actions. Lord God you
do know us better than we know ourselves.
“Be thou my vision…Be thou my Wisdom…Thy presence my light!”

With another new week, bless us with your continued grace, your
guidance, your peace and make us a light to those around us through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.