Prayers of the People for the week by Brandon Coz. 

All of us have our own personal experiences of encountering Christ in our lives.  Sometimes they come us as epiphanies where we have “mountain top” experiences that change how we see ourselves and the world.  These encounters can motivate us to seek out more divine experiences where we can come closer to God and taste the fruits of the Spirit.  Continually recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the presence of Christ around us can be described as abiding in Christ.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells his followers that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will abide in him, and he will abide in them.  This was such a controversial statement that many of his followers left him, but he did not retract his statement.  He only pressed his point further by rhetorically asking them if they were offended.  Abiding in Christ has been a goal for Christians from the beginning, and this week we will explore this teaching and how we might come closer to God.

Prayers of the People for the week by Brandon Coz. 

Special music for August 22, 2021.

A common question posed as an ice breaker or conversation starter is, “What would you ask for if you were told you could have anything you wanted?”  This can be asked through various scenarios such as finding a genie in a lamp or winning the lottery, but the common theme is identifying what is most important to us.  The answers we give can shed light on our principles, attitudes, and values allowing others to get a glimpse of our nature.

In this week’s passage, we look at King Solomon’s response to this question when God asks him what he desires.  Motivated by a commitment to serve faithfully and effectively as king, Solomon asks for discernment and understanding. God commends Solomon for his response and gives him what he asks for and much more.  Reflecting on Solomon’s story can help us think more deeply about our own motivations and what we ultimately want out of life.

Prayers of the People for the week by Brandon Coz. 

Special music from Brandon Coz.

This week we look into the story of the prophet Elijah when he was at the lowest point of his life.  He was being pursued by Queen Jezebel and was exhausted, alone, and ready to give up.  After journeying deep into the wilderness, he laid down, asking God to let him die, and went to sleep.  But God had a different plan for Elijah.  God sent an angel to give him nourishment and direction for a new mission in his life which he had never considered before.

Like Elijah, we sometimes come to a point in life where we don’t know how we can possibly go forward.  We may feel stuck in our relationships or career, or we may become physically limited because of illness or tragedy that impacts our ability to function in the ways we are accustomed to living.  But just when we think there is no hope, God opens a new door and sends nourishment for our soul with a direction to follow that we had never considered before.  Regardless of our circumstances, God can always enable us to accomplish more than we think is possible through faith and trust.

 Prayers of the People for the week by Brandon Coz. 

Instrumental piano version of the beloved hymn by Sheryl Clifton.