Month: January 2025

LIGHTS

Everyday our life is guided by lights. Green to go, Red to stop, Yellow to caution. If we see flashing blue or redlights we are concerned and very aware of our current situation. When we enter our house at night one of the first things we do is snap on the lights so we can see. As the days grow longer daylight last longer. Increasing daylight forces us to reset our outdoor light timers.., 😊 . Light and/or lights are good and important in our lives . They guide us along the way. We need light to grow and feel healthy. Even plants need light to help in photosynthesis. We maybe appreciate light more when we are travelling at night when it would be impossible to see down the road with out light. So light is good and we are thankful for the many values of light

So in the same way we need light for our physical well being we know and can trust that God provides light in order to guide our spiritual life.

There are many verses in the bible about light but several stand out in this instance :

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Very encouraging words on light. May we understand this and look to turn on our spiritual light switch, so we don’t fumble in spiritual darkness.

God, we thank you for many answered prayers in our congregation. For the health and well being of each member we ask that you hold close all those who may be suffering or experiencing health issues. It can be scary if we try go it alone. Help us to be humble in sharing our needs . God you know the unspoken requests. We ask that you stand close with those needs.

Our world seems too chaotic and everchanging at time when we want consistency, normalcy, and some form of control. We ask that you be with all world leaders as the make decisions on a stage that seems to be more a carousel then a platform. Please grant presence of mind, integrity and unselfishness to those who govern whether internationally, nationally, or locally. Being a leader is not easy and it requires the ability to make sometimes quick decisions. Please grant clarity of mind for those making these decisions.

Thank you for the many gifts and talents that you have provide many members here at WMC. Continue to be with Pastor Matthew as he leads us and supports us. Bless both Matthew and Nina as they continue to make this transition.

Thank you for the many gifts of Leadership, Pastorship, Administration, Mentoring, Caring, Song leading …..etc. over the 50 years that WMC has been in existence. Thank you for those who are heading up the celebration. Give them energy as they take on this role.

This week we ask for prayers for our HOF

May they all feel your presence at some level.

God in the same way we require light to see our way may in our every day physical life may we in turn be light in a world that may often be dark and in desperate . A world in need of light that provides direction. Give us clarity to see when and where we can be that light.

In all this we ask it,

AMEN

We pray for others who are continuing in hospital or recovering at home. As we speak their names, we lift them to you:

We pray for our Households of Faith.

We pray for our world. So many looming uncertainties. So many things teetering on the edge. We yearn for an end to violence. We yearn for new political pathways, and different ways of solving problems. We yearn for good news, for bold announcements of the strategies that are working, of the places where new pathways are being discovered.

Holy God, there are many other prayers in our hearts. In these moments of silence we will pray these other prayers, also paying attention for your help, listening for your unexpressed groans.

AMEN.

Hello God

Thank you for granting us another week and being with us in the good and the bad.

From time to time, we all have experienced times of uncertainty, frustration, ‘over our head” situations and just plain feeling weak. We sometimes feel like we are out on our own and we don’t have the physical, mental or emotional strength to handle our current situation. We thank you for the words the Psalmist provides in Psalms 46.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

I believe that if God could be present in these natural challenges he is more then capable of being there for us in our challenges, whatever they maybe. However, in order to truly experience this we are reminded in the first part of verse 10 that it requires us to “Be still and know that I am God” Yes …be still and give it over to God. We don’t have to do it all on our own but we do have to pause and hand it over. Can we do that ?? God help us to truly understand that you are there in the most trying situations.

God this week we ask that you be with those in the world who are living thru War and never know when things may escalate. We give you thanks for living in a country that has Peace. We offer prayers for our Leaders of this Great country Canada. We are at a crossroads in our Country and we ask that you continue to give guidance to all our leaders whether nationally or provincially. Please continue to give clarity of mind to all our leaders especially in this time of transition.

We thank you for answering prayer when it come to health situations. We ask that you continue to be with those who are healing and for those that may be anticipating medical testing and/or further medical procedures . In particular we keep in mind the following requests made known:

Thank you for the Christmas season we have just come thru and for time we could spend with family and friends. A truly special time. For those who may have experienced family loss in past year may they feel your peace and presence.

We pray for our Households of Faith this week.

God, we thank you for the reminder in Psalms that you will be with us when we are facing challenging situations in our personal or public lives and experiences . Help us to pause “be still” for a moment and know you have things in control.

In all this we ask it

Amen

Holy God, we come together in prayer.

We pray for our Households of Faith.

We pray for our world that seems to ooze with violence and anguish. Lord, can you create some new options? Can you help us write new stories? Can you intervene when someone is planning to injure or kill? Can you inspire us with visions of wholehearted community, or visions of the common good? Lord have mercy.

At the same time, we give thanks for the big things and the little things that lift our spirits. Thank you for new animal species discovered this week: the starry night gecko, the patagona chaski hummingbird, the Guianan long-nosed armadillo. Beautiful work, God! Thank you for the news of the recent World Plogging Championship, where participants pick up litter while jogging. Thank you that making the world a better place can be filled with joy and camaraderie.

Jesus, thank you for being born, thank you for being the mysterious Word, thank you for shining the Light all around. Make us into light for all to see. Make us into your building, sheltering others. Amen.