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Dedicating
our Prayer Chain
"Keep
awake," Jesus once urged those who followed him, "for
you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" (Matthew
24:42).
A number of
years ago we held a prayer vigil in preparation for a spiritual
renewal weekend here. As part of it, folks were invited to choose
a specific ½-hour or more time period during the day or night to
pray for this event - for the speaker, the congregation - that we
might receive what the Lord wanted to share with us. Some of us
wondered how we could pray that long? Others of us, especially
those who picked a time after midnight, worried if we could stay
awake between the previous person’s phone call to when we passed
it on to the next person. Falling asleep is not just a concern, by
the way, of those who pray after bedtime. It’s easy to zone out
any time of day. Interestingly enough, many of us discovered that
time passed very quickly and we had little trouble filling it with
prayer. Others of us actually stayed awake. God had much to share.
Leading up to
the birth and dedication of Jesus, there were two persons who kept
vigil. Simeon, who was presumably a priest, though
scripture doesn’t actually say so, was "looking forward
to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him."
He prayed at the Temple, and when Mary and Joseph brought their
baby boy to be circumcised, Simeon praised God for answered
prayer, for he recognized the Messiah in Mary’s arms (Luke
2:25-35). Anna also kept watch. This 84-year-old
widow, called a "prophet" by Luke, "never
left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night
and day." Talk about dedication! She also came to this
tiny child and his startled parents on that day and praised God,
telling everyone who would listen to an old lady talk about this
baby (Luke 2:36-38).
Did you know
that there are Simeons and Annas in this congregation? Oh, they
may not spend night and day here at church, but they consider
prayer to be something powerful - especially when it comes to
praying for others. When they receive a request for prayer, they
don’t consider it a tidbit of gossip to be passed on. Rather,
they take whatever information is given - sometimes not very much
- and begin holding these hurting persons in their heart - placing
them on their inner altar, lifting them up to God, looking for the
redemption, the consolation, the healing of these persons.
I doubt any of
these would consider themselves worthy to be called an
"Anna" or a "Simeon," but - then, again - I
doubt the original Anna or Simeon would’ve thought they were
doing anything worthy of being included in a gospel story. No, it’s
just "salt of the earth" folks simply "keeping
awake" to the coming of the Lord.
We call this
ministry of our church a "prayer chain." I consider it
one of the most important things we do, especially when we do it
in the right spirit - for the glory of God and our neighbor’s
good. Just now, would those of you who are covenanting to be on
this chain for the coming year please stand. The rest of you,
would you reach out and touch (on a shoulder, arm or hand) one of
these persons nearest you. If you’re not close to one, touch
someone who is, or connect to a chain - so to speak - of those who
are. Understand? Let’s pray.
God, we thank you for the good news of Jesus, our Messiah
who has come into the world. He taught us your way. He
showed us your way by living, and dying, and rising again.
We thank you for your Holy Spirit, who empowers us to
follow the Christ today. We pray for the continued ability
to keep awake, not only to the future return of our Lord,
but also to the ways in which you come into people’s
lives today.
We ask
your blessing on these persons in our midst who desire to
minister with intercessory prayer for those in need, as
they are called upon. Help keep them awake to this task,
to the presence of your Holy Spirit in them, to the need
for confidentiality, and to your redeeming, consoling,
healing power. Help them to pass on by phone only what is
shared, and not to gossip along the way. We know that you
know the details. However you make us, like Simeon and
Anna, to become part of your ongoing good news story.
Send
these servants forth in peace, that their eyes open wide
may see your salvation, which you prepare in the presence
of all peoples, a light for revelation and for glory (adapts
Luke 2:29-32). In your name we pray. AMEN
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Witness
Christmas Project
This year, the
Witness commission has planned a project in conjunction with the
Family Crisis Center of Baltimore Co. (a ministry with which we
are heavily involved), helping families currently in or recently
released from the shelter. Beginning next Sunday, there will be a
Christmas tree in the area behind the sanctuary. On it will be
paper "ornaments" of various colors. On each is listed a
gift to purchase and donate, many with the first name of the
person. The colors determine the approximate cost of the suggested
gift. You are invited to pick up as many of these as you wish,
bringing the gift, with the ornament attached, back on or before
Sunday, December 19th, and place it under the tree. Wrapping paper
will be provided for each family in crisis, so that they can wrap
and give the gifts to each other.
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