Prayer Letter of the Moravian Church-Northern Province

May 4, 2008

Seventh Sunday of Easter

 

Watchword for the Week  "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”  I Peter 5:7.

 

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Ascension Sunday

 

We live in a time and place when pills are the answer to most of our anxieties.  We take a pill to help us get going and another pill to help us slow down, a pill to relax and a pill to become excited, a pill to help us deal with our fears, etc.  Our text reminds us that Jesus and one’s relationship with Him is an antidote for anxiety.  Jesus will provide the means of dealing with anxieties.  But how can this be?  It happens because we have a friendship with Jesus.  It happens because we converse with Him on a daily basis.  It happens because Jesus CARES.  

 

May 6th is the anniversary of the West Side Moravian Congregation of Bethlehem, PA.

May 6th is the anniversary of the Bruderheim Moravian Congregation of Bruderheim, Alberta.

 

Government has become so inefficient that whenever it is involved in something we just assume it will be a mess.  Yet, there are so many things that government does so well.  It protects and establishes property rights; it provides a currency though which we can trade our skills for other items that we desire or need.  It provides basic human services and becomes the safety net for those who are less fortunate.  It provides the basis for the existence of the Church as a free entity.  But protecting these and the huge number of other privileges does carry a price, a price which is paid in taxation and also in the cost of defense.  Let us pray to our God that war will no longer be necessary and that people of goodwill will be called to the table to have a conversation about our problems.  Forgive us, O Lord, for the sin of self-centeredness.  Forgive us when we think our way is not only the right way, but the only way. Today, as we pray, let us think about places where conflict and war exist: Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, Pakistan, and the places where armies struggle with one another, let us pray for and expect peace.  Let us never tire of praying for peace. 

 

Pray for the consecration of Doc Nicholson who will be consecrated a Bishop of the Unity early in May as he serves as a Bishop of the Alaska Province.

 

Pray for Steve Gohdes, Pat Wollf, Ann Tyrell, Marion Perrin, Lynne Hennig, Ryerson Christie, and

Kerry Bloomer (elected members of the Canadian District Board).  Let us remember Jim Hicks, Bruce Nelson, Jason Andersen, Jeff Bradley, Kay Wipperfurth, Diane Klawikowski and Bruce Loppnow (elected members of the Western District Board).

 

Let us remember the Eastern District Synod, meeting June 18 -21, 2008; the Unity Synod, meeting July 27–August 7, 2009; and the Provincial Synod of the Northern Province, meeting June 17-21, 2010.  As the Church gathers week by week, let us pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and bless elections, visions and the visioning process and the leadership and participants who gather to seek God’s face and understand God’s vision.

 

Let us pray for the Provincial Elders of the Northern Province who meet in Bethlehem, May 9-10, 2008.

 

Let us exercise the power of prayer; let us remember the following as we intercede with our Heavenly Father concerning them:

 

·      Glenn Heintzelman, Leslie McKoy, Kay Rohn, Charlesworth Edwards, Sharon Conn, Don Michaels, John Case, Blair Couch, Polly Applefield, Sam Propsom, Joe Nicholas, Donald Fulton, and Kathy Wilson.

·       Let us remember Hal Cole and the many family members and persons who meet his needs on a daily basis.

·      For the Moravian Disaster Relief groups which continue to work in Mississippi and Nicaragua. Six young adults from the Western District will be traveling to a village in Sukatpin, Nicaragua.  The time for their trip will be from May 18-May 29, 2008.

·      Let us remember our Senior Seminary students whose studies are almost complete and who await calls to serve the church.  They are Jay Petrella, Judy Ganz, and Vicki Jens Page.  Graduation is May 10, 2008.

·      Let us pray for the many parents of individuals we know who are living in nursing homes, hospice facilities and at home with their families.  Pray for God’s grace, wisdom and understanding for them and their families.

 

 

Let us pray:

 

Lord, as we contemplate what it means not to be anxious and to rest in the Lord, help us to remain faithful in our relationship with you, Lord Jesus.  We recognize the power of the cross and the victory of the resurrection and ascension, but often we live our lives as if it were not true.  Often we take the responsibility of the Gospel on our shoulders and we act as if it all depends upon us, taking the miracle of God out of the equation.  Forgive us, Lord, for taking the initiative away from you.  Speak to our hearts and give us clear indications of your desires for your Church.  Amen

 

 

David L. Wickmann

Moravian Church-Northern Province