Devotional from The Fellowship for Sunday, June 24 Lectionary Readings

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost June 24, 2012 Mark 4:35-41   “Other boats were with him.” (Mark 4:36) Devotion Mark 4 tells the tale of the great windstorm on the Sea of Galilee. We know the story. A storm whips up. The disciples fear for their lives. Jesus calms the storm. And he wonders aloud over their slowness to comprehend his message. Jesus provided what they needed that dark night: protection, a calming presence, another demonstration of the mercy and mystery of God. But the words that intrigue me the most today are in verse 36: “Other boats were with him.” We have no record of the reaction of these other boaters to the terrible storm. There are no notes indicating how well these other fishermen knew or followed Jesus. Yet they benefitted from the calmed seas, the mercy and the mystery, as well. When Jesus provides for us, how might those provisions affect those around us? Are the gifts of God meant for us exclusively? Or do the gifts of God also flow out from us like the waters to touch even those who may not know Jesus well? Prayer Provide for us, God, even in our slowness, so others might know your mercy and mystery. Amen. Rev. Meredith Vanderminden Chair, Fellowship Spiritual Formation Interest Area Executive Director, Art Divina Pastor of Spiritual Formation, Queensbury United Methodist Church Queensbury, NY

A Pastoral Prayer Reflecting Jonah 2

We are in the second week of a sermon series on Jonah, below you will find the first draft of tomorrow's pastoral prayer:

A Pastoral Prayer Reflecting Jonah 2

Most merciful God, sometimes, like Jonah, we stubbornly refuse your word when it comes to us. Instead of dropping our nets and following you, we run in the other direction from the work you are calling us to do.

At times God, we are so consumed with hatred for our enemies, your creation, that we are blind to the hard and wonderful reality that everyone on earth is your child.

When we run away from the tasks that you have given us, life seems to go ok, for a while, anyway. Then, inevitably, the fabric that is the life we weave apart from God begins to unravel, just a bit, on the edges. Then, before our very eyes, our life can tear and unwind and be reduced to a disparate collection of strands of thread.

When this happens we ought to remember that we are not alone in our disobedience.  We can summon the words of our brother Jonah: “Out of my despair, I cried to you…the floods overwhelmed me, the waters surrounded me right by my throat and the deep enclosed me as the seaweed wrapped around my head. I sank down to the roots of the mountains where the vaults of the earth prepared to close me in forever.”

God, some of us have been in that place.

But YOU, merciful and righteous and grace-giving God, you never leave us alone.  It is often we when we are at our lowest point, that we also remember the other words of our brother Jonah, spoken in his distress: “I remembered YHWH, my God, and my prayer came before you in your holy Temple.  Deliverance comes for YHWH.”

You, God, are our deliverer. 

Just as you delivered Jonah from the depths of the sea, just as you delivered Jesus from the depths of the tomb, deliver us in this life, O Lord, so that we may see your will done on earth as it is in heaven.  And we can pray with faithfulness, the prayer of your son, our deliverer, who taught us to pray, saying, “Our Father…”

Table Setting for Week Two of Jonah

The rocks in the glass bowl's came from last week's ritual action.

Pentecost!

Pentecost Sunday is fast approaching! How will you observe this day? Perhaps this devotional from The Fellowship will help to spur you on!

Pentecost Sunday  May 27, 2012 Acts 2:1-21   “And at the sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered,   because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.” (Acts 2:6) Devotion How do you notice the presence of the Holy Spirit? On Pentecost, there were many signs: tongues of fires, a mighty rush of wind, a cacophony of languages. These were the announcements of the Spirit’s stunning and gracious entrance into our time and space. And those gathered took note. The Spirit still comes, drawing us today in the presence of the Three-In-One. But do we still take note? What sounds do you hear, what “foreign” languages herald this Presence? Bird song wakes the morning. A baby gurgles in delight. A hurting soul cries in pain. Do you hear the Spirit present there? This week, take note of the surprising ways you hear the sounds that announce the presence of the Spirit sent in Christ’s name. Prayer God, open my ears that I might hear the Spirit at work in your creation. Rev. Candice Ricker Pastor, New Hope United Methodist Church West Topsham, VT

A Devotion on Waiting

The Rev. Candice Ricker provides a good word about God's preparing us through waiting via a devotion she wrote for The Fellowship for Ascension Sunday. “So stay here in the city…”  (Luke 24:49b) Devotion “And see, I am sending what my Father promised…,” Jesus said to his disciples. They knew something was coming. It was big. It was important. It might just change them. But they had to wait. “Stay here in the city.” It’s hard to wait. We wait for answers to prayer. We wait for good news. We wait for God to renew the church. So often it feels as if we are told “stay here in the city…” when all we want to do is rush into the future. Waiting helps us prepare. Like the disciples waiting in the upper room, God readies us in the downtime. God changes and shapes us so we can see the abundant Love that will yet come. God slowly opens us so we are ready to receive the work of the Spirit. Moses waited in the wilderness. The Israelites looked for the long-awaited Messiah. We wait for Jesus’ return. May God prepare us in the waiting. Prayer God, slow us down long enough to ready a place within for your Spirit of Love. Rev. Candice Ricker Pastor, New Hope United Methodist Church West Topsham, VT