Rev. Cindy Briggs-Biondi, a colleague in the West Virginia Annual Conference shared this prayer earlier today. I thought it was fitting for the day and it also carried me back to those days when I sat in Dr. Hauerwas’ classes at Duke. Those were challenging times to say the least, but I learned a lot…mainly, though, I learned that I don’t have all the answers.
Enjoy the prayer…or not. It should make you think.
“Sovereign Lord, foolish we are, believing that we can rule ourselves by selecting this or that person to rule over us. We are at it again. Help us not to think it is more significant than it is, but also give us and those we elect enough wisdom to acknowledge our follies. Help us laugh at ourselves, for without humor our politics cannot be humane. We desire to dominate and thus are dominated. Free us, dear Lord, for otherwise we perish. Amen.” -Stanley Hauerwas
A prayer challenge from Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball to the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church excerpted from Bishop Steiner Ball’s sermon on 10/13/12
“West Virginia and Garrett County members of the West Virginia Conference I am challenging you to join me in intentionally building that God connection. While most of us have morning or evening daily devotions, I am inviting you into something different.
Every day at or around noon we either think about or take a lunch break. So here is my challenge: Join me at lunch time in conversation/prayer with God.
Ask these two questions:
Where have I seen Christ at work in the last 24 hours and in what ways can I or the church partner with or support that work?
In the last 24 hours where has God been at work and I missed it, walked right by, failed to hear God’s voice, failed to turn aside?
And end that prayer time by asking God to give you the eyes of Christ, the ears of Christ, and the courage of Christ to risk faithful acts and actions in this world.
If you have 15 minutes for lunch – whether you eat or not – try to stop and pray on these things for at least 1 to 2 minutes. If you have 30 minutes – then try at least 2 to 3 minutes, if you have an hour, try to pray on these things for 5 to 6 minutes. Prayer is powerful and to practice this communally will put each of us and our congregation more in touch with God’s will and action, and we will be better able to hear God’s voice.”
God still speaks!
This is a challenge I intend to take up from our Bishop! Will you join me??
I walked about a mile to school everyday because I couldn’t stand to be on the bus that would take me. There was a bully on that bus that would hit me, spit on me or just call me names as my friends laughed. I never learned how to stand up to him…I just walked.
I set out this week to present something each day that would be a reminder for everyone to pray for children – both those in our sphere of influence and those around the world. I did this because the church I serve is going to hold a special service called “Children’s Sabbath” this Sunday where we honor the gift that children are to us and recommit ourselves to justice issues surrounding children.
Sometime early last week, I laid out a framework of topics to write about for this week. I knew I wanted to use the two prayers that have been shared and found video presentations of them that I thought were pretty good. I shared a “children’s sermon” from a recent worship service at First UMC, Princeton, and I did a justice piece on the topic of abortion.
The last piece I set out to do was today’s piece on bullying because there are some great educational opportunities coming up in our community on the issue and I thought that they needed to be shared. I also asked our youth group to do some anonymous sharing about bullying. (You’ll see their quotes peppered throughout this piece.)
I can’t really say that I’ve been the bully or even seen someone being bullied,
but I’ve been bullied.
You see, one time…most of the boys in my class called me gay…
Even kids my age and younger are getting bullied… I’m standing up to bullies.
One event, being held this evening at the Chuck Mathena Center is led by Keith Deltano and sponsored by the Mercer County Schools called “Bully-Proof Your Child”. You can learn more about Mr. Deltano’s program here – but it looks great to me and the presentation is free.
One time I was at the mall and I saw a guy screaming at his girlfriend.
She told him to stop and then he slapped her.
The third event, being held on October 22nd at 6:00 pm is a “Kindness Kounts Parade” being held on Mercer Street. This event is being sponsored by “Protect Our Kids 2012” which has set the goal of eliminating bullying in our schools and communities for our youth. They are looking for people to march in the parade and offering assistance to anyone who may need it for this issue.
Kindness Kounts Parade
I would love to put a group together from our congregation to participate. Anyone wish to join me?
One time, my bully and I were left unfortunately alone in the school grounds.
She asked if she could punch me and I, being afraid of her, assented.
The bruise stayed on my arm for weeks.
(I got the courage to confront her and she denies everything.
She lorded over me; I agreed to it all.)
However, I don’t think I was prepared for the actual flood of memories that this topic triggered for me.
The very first quote…well, it is mine. I am not sure when the last time I thought about those days were but I know that they were not fun. I am not sure to this day how much of being told to “turn the other cheek” in Sunday School and church had to do with what happened and my response but I am sure they had something to do with it. I just know that those were painful experiences that by the grace of God (and walking) I lived through and grew through. Some are not so blessed…so I am thankful. I doubt that my experience was unique either…especially when I read the quotes included in this post.
However, I know that this problem of bullying (like many of the problems in our society) have not gotten any better with time. It is only through addressing the causes and being willing to engage ourselves in the lives of those affected by this problem that we are able to do anything. And once again, I think the cross of Jesus calls us to reach out to those who are bullying as well as those who are being bullied. It is not an either/or situation – it is about people not just a “problem.” And as someone who knows the One who came to “live in the neighborhood with us” I think I have to be about the people…not just the problem.
So today I hope you will say a prayer. Maybe for yourself and the healing you may need – but also, say a prayer for the children in our community who are affected by bullying and for those who are working to help eliminate this problem.
And I would also add that if there is anyone reading this who needs to talk about what they are going through now…get in touch with me. I know where we can find help.
Okay…after yesterday’s LENGTHY and hopefully thought and action provoking post, I thought I would tame it down it a little bit again.
I first heard this prayer, written by Ina Hughes, shortly after one of the many school shootings that have plagued our country. I have used it as a personal prayer, a blessing prayer for children in congregations and as a worship prayer.
This video does a pretty good job of capturing the spirit of the prayer, although with this particular prayer, I am happy with just the text.
This week, as our congregation prepares for our Children’s Sabbath worship service, I want my thoughts and prayers to be with children everywhere. I hope that I can share with you some ways that you can do the same.
I have long been haunted by the words and melody that make up this song and have only attempted to sing it with a group one time. It was quite difficult, possibly because it is just so emotionally draining to sing. However, I love the message of this song and this video artist does a wonderful job capturing the nightmarish images that flash through my mind when I hear it.
“Can you hear the prayer of the children in your own heart…a prayer for love and forgiveness.”
As long as children like these find themselves living in a world filled with Christians, I will always be not quite home…
Not Quite Home 