Opening Prayer

            Yes, Lord, you are our "light," our "salvation," as well as our "strength." Forgive us for allowing fear to rule us, as it does much more than we care to admit. This fear has a thousand names, but your perfect love casts it out. We come to you this hour as those who need:
                      the breath of your Spirit to blow through us,
                      the brightness of your light to shine in us and around us,
                      the fire of your love to bring us to life right now, and
                      the sight and sound of your glory to bring forth our "hallelujah."
            Yes, Lord, revive us again! Again, and again, and again! This we pray, in the name of the One who set his face to Jerusalem - your Son Jesus, our Christ. Amen!

God of my Belly

            The other week I met with my doctor. Can you guess what she told me I needed to do?... She said I needed to lose some weight. How am I going to do that? What do you think I should do?... (eat less, exercise etc.) Do you think I can do that? You do! It sure helps having someone believe in you, that you can do something - thank you!
             I wonder if I shouldn’t also pray about it. What do you think? Would it help? Why? How does prayer help? (With questions such as this, nudge the children toward:
                     - recognizing that God made this body to start with,
                     - that God cares about health,
                     - that God is God of my belly, too!
                     - that as a "citizen of heaven,"    I/we have strength
                            beyond my/our own ability, strength even to:
                                   - say no to extra food not needed,
                                   - to exercise.
             Do you still think I can lose some weight? Especially if God helps me, you say? I really appreciate your faith! The doctor says if I lose some weight, it might help me not to snore as much. I’ll be healthier, too. You all have been a big help! Would you pray with me.
             Lord, thank you for this body you gave me. Help me to take care of it. Help me not to eat so much. Help me to get more exercise. Thank you for this body we call the church, and especially for all my little brothers and sisters here. Help them, too. Finally, thank you for what you will do someday with this body, in heaven. Amen.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

          I came across a list of hymns, the way we would sing them if we were honest:
                     "I Surrender Some"
                     "Interesting Grace"
                     "Blessed Hunch"
                     "What An Acquaintance We Have in Jesus"
                     "Take My Life and Let Me Be"
                     "My Hope Is Built On Nothing Much"
                     "I'm Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives"
                     "Blest Be The Tie That Doesn't Cramp My Style"
                     "I've Got Peace Like A Trickle"
                     "A Comfy Mattress Is Our God"
                     "Just As I Pretend 2 BE"

          Humor aside, brothers and sisters, the words we’ll soon sing are true:
"Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all." ... Let’s worship God with our offerings.

Dedication Prayer

          Thank you, Lord, for your good humor, your good news, and for how this goodness seems to just overflow into our lives, even when things don't turn out as we think they should. Yes, God, you are great and you are good. Amen!