September 11, 2020
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Dear Lake B Friends and Family, I want to take the opportunity in this letter to invite you into a special season of prayer for our community. In the coming weeks, we will be talking during Sunday service about the Lord’s Prayer. As you know, this is an ancient and beautiful teaching of Jesus’ – instructing his disciples on how they and we should pray. We are hoping in this series to discover anew the relevance of this ancient prayer to our modern-day context and lives. As part of your commitment to walking with us in this series, would you commit daily to reading slowly, Matthew 6:9-13. This is where the Lord’s prayer is offered. These words come in the context of the full Sermon on the Mount – Matthew chapters 5-7. I invite you also to consider spending more time in that passage of scripture. This Sunday, I will introduce this prayer series and share about the nature of this prayer. One of the things I was reminded of in preparing for this sermon is that this prayer is to be prayed in community with others. Jesus uses plural pronouns throughout this prayer – signaling to us that prayer is to be done with others. In community. This is difficult just practically, given that we cannot gather with others for our normal Sunday service. It is also difficult because we are really not used to the interdependent nature of community that God has designed. We have been raised in a culture of community that idolizes independence and individuality – so much so that we have missed the truth that we experience God most deeply in trusting and committed relationships. To pray “Our Father” is to pray together with others. As difficult as it might feel, I’d like for us to stretch ourselves – and find others with whom you can pray once a week – even if it’s on the phone just for a few minutes. Pray specifically if you will for those in our community who are in need right now. In need of healing, in need of basic provision – like food and shelter and jobs. Pray for the ministry of Lake B – for guidance for our staff and our elders. Pray for families who are under quite a bit of stress now – finding ways to make sure their children have what they need to participate in the education process. Many of our families do not have the kind of resources to support their children during this time of online learning. Pray for our teachers also who are having to re-learn and to find creative ways to engage children for online instruction. And would you continue to pray for the Spirit of God to guide the Church in wisdom in this election season. We know that God is beyond and above any political leader, or party. My prayer is that in this season, we can become a place of healing, of hope, of justice and of relief for those who are suffering in this time. Practice praying the Lord’s prayer together – with others. I know this is risky and will require some initiative on your part. You can blame it on me if you want or that helps! Finally, I want to invite you to please sign up to participate in the small groups that will begin in October. (see slide below). This will be a place to dive deeper into Sunday sermons with others and also will be a time to pray with your community. I look forward to this! Grateful for your partnership in the Gospel, Pastor Lina |