Who Is My Neighbor (40 Days of Prayer - Week 3)

Our 40 Days of Prayer series has been such a blessing as we’ve gathered in small group Bible Studies to learn how to pray in newer, perhaps deeper ways.  We took this even further on March’s First Wednesday as we were given the opportunity to use 10 prayer stations as well as the labyrinth that continues to be set up in G004 (off of the gym) through Sunday, March 11.  It was a joy to watch people of all ages engage in these together and listen to the voice of God in various hands on experiences.

We aren’t even half-way through this series, so if you haven’t yet had a chance to be involved, please explore our website for materials and jump in at any time.  Participating in studies, discussions, and experiences of prayer is always fruitful…communicating with the Lord of the Universe is the most important act in which we can engage.

Another opportunity for powerful prayer will take place this Sunday, March 11th at 3:00 p.m. in the Worship Center.  Sometimes, the people Jesus points out as our neighbors are literally in our neighborhood!  Living in the Bloomington/Normal area means that we have many, many wonderful employers and a few very large ones.  We are grateful for each of them…..large or small.  Just as we would pray for those around the globe who are in a time of change and uncertainty, so we are called to pray for those in our own communities in that same situation.  
McLean County is a very transient area as folks move in and out due to jobs, school, family, etc.  However, we find ourselves at a time right now when those who may have seen themselves as having put down roots in B/N are finding themselves at a certain or possible relocation or even job loss.  This brings, of course, much stress on employers, employees, families, and companies and/or organizations that are secondarily rocked by these changes.

Our neighbors are in Buliisa.  Our neighbors are in Haiti.  Our neighbors are the homeless in Bloomington/Normal.  Our neighbors are children.  Our neighbors are elderly.  And our neighbors are those we know….now and anytime…..who need our prayers.  Many of them live in Bloomington/Normal right now.  May they know that they are loved, supported in prayer, and in the strong arms of Jesus.
 

About the Author
Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC

Who Is My Neighbor?

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As we continue our 40 Days of Prayer Series throughout Lent, I am reminded of the Scripture from which this column is named.  In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus answers the question, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  As he often did, Jesus answered the question with a question.  Ultimately, he helps his listeners to think about who we consider to be our neighbors.  While Lent is a time for self-examination, we can’t look at ourselves without examining how we are responding to the needs around us.

The first week in our study/prayer journal was ‘The Purpose of Prayer.’  Isn’t that obvious?  The purpose of prayer is to get what we want from God, right?  OK…..maybe that’s not the purpose.  However, do we pray as if that’s the case?  How often do we pray that God will give us the opportunities to make a difference in the world….even in the midst of our chaos? 

I would like for us to do something that won’t cause us to leave our houses, make any special trips, or cost us a dime.  I would like for us to spend time in prayer specifically praying for the following:

1-The homeless in Bloomington/Normal and the agencies that serve them.

2-Those who have to eat ‘cheap’ rather than nutritious food and ministries who attempt to alleviate this problem.

3-Those who live in substandard housing because they can’t afford anything better and they can’t risk upsetting their landlords.  Pray for landlords to be faithful and for more affordable housing to be made available.

This is just a beginning, but I think you can see where I’m going.  The purpose of prayer isn’t only to ask for our needs to be met…...we also have a responsibility to our neighbors. 

May we look for the power of God to be unleashed in our world as the prayers of God’s people abound.

——————- 

Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC. 

Deeper Dive Podcast (40 Days of Prayer - Week 2)

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Randy, Debbie, and Isaac talk more about prayer and what it means to be miraculous.

Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.

About the Authors
Randy and Debbie Reese are Co-Directing Pastors at Calvary UMC
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Deeper Dive Podcast (40 Days of Prayer - Week 1)

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Randy, Debbie, and Isaac talk about different forms of Prayer and the habit of praying.
Find out more about the Ignatian practice of imaginative prayer here.
Find out more about icons in prayer here.

Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.

About the Authors
Randy and Debbie Reese are Co-Directing Pastors at Calvary UMC
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Sunday Worship (40 Days of Prayer - Week 1)

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This week we'll be exploring Ephesians 4:11-16: 

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
 

Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here. 

Deeper Dive Podcast (Lightened By The Light - Week 6)

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Randy, Debbie, and Isaac continue to talk about the Transfiguration.

Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.

About the Authors
Randy and Debbie Reese are Co-Directing Pastors at Calvary UMC
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Sunday Worship (Lightened by the Light - Week 6)

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This week we'll be exploring Matthew 17:1-9.  

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here. 

A Light to My Path (Lightened by the Light - Week 6)

Our Scripture for the coming week comes from Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 17, verses 1-9:

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Question for Reflection:

Why do you think Jesus told them not to tell anyone until "the Son of Man has been raised from the dead”?

Deeper Dive Podcast (Lightened By The Light - Week 5)

Randy, Debbie, and Isaac talk about the unique and expanding role of located space and memory in worship.

Listen in your device's podcast app – Apple version here and Android version here or use the desktop-only player below.

About the Authors
Randy and Debbie Reese are Co-Directing Pastors at Calvary UMC
Isaac Gaff is the Managing Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Calvary UMC

Sunday Worship (Lightened By The Light - Week 5)

This week we'll be exploring Psalm 84, verses 1-12:

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.


Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.
 

Each Sunday you can find the live stream here or watch the archive here. 

A Light To My Path (Lightened By The Light - Week 5)

Our Scripture for the coming week comes from Psalm 84, verses 1-12:

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.


Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Question for Reflection:

What does it mean to dwell?
 

Who Is My Neighbor? (Lightened By The Light - Week 4)

This past Sunday, Randy preached a sermon using Micah 6:1-8 as his text.  He asked, “What does God want from us?”  That question was this generation’s version of the question being asked by the people of Israel in the Micah passage.  What does God ‘require’ of us?  That answer is very simple:  “....to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

As a homework assignment, we were asked to practice mercy as we sought opportunities to care for and about others.  Randy suggested that we give you some ideas in this article….not just for this week, but for every week.  Of course in addition to the ideas listed below, you might read through former articles in this series to get ideas.  For some of this, mercy comes very easily and we see opportunities everywhere we look.  For others of us, we have to be very intentional about seeking out these opportunities and even more intentional about following through with actually fulfilling those acts.  Either way, God calls us to love mercy…..not because we ‘have to’, but because we are people of God with the heart of God.

So…here we go.  Feel free to add to this list and if you’ve experienced mercy from others in ways not listed here, please pass those stories along to me and/or others.

Let’s do the obvious ones first:

  • Visit someone in prison or jail.  Even if you don’t know anyone in this situation, call first and ask if there is someone who doesn’t get visitors.  We have Bibles at church if you’d like to take one to leave, or just spend time with the person without preaching ‘at’ them.
  • Visit a nursing home.  Randy mentioned this at one of the services Sunday.  Ask at the desk who might not have visitors or who is really down that particular day.  Whether they are communicative or not, you will be a blessing to them.
  • Call or stop by Home Sweet Home or Safe Harbor to see how you might be of help.  Try to offer an opportunity to sit down with a resident to just be a friend to them rather than a person who will judge them or look down on them.
  • Offer to care for a friend’s children for a few hours so your friend can get out of the house, go on a date, or just do nothing for a change.
  • Prepare a meal and take it to someone who has just gotten home from the hospital, or has had a baby or has lost a loved one or has just moved or…just anyone!
  • Bake some cookies and take them to a neighbor, the fire station, the police officer with the radar gun, etc.
  • Let someone go in front of you at the store (especially if they have a crying or fussy child).
  • Help someone carry their groceries to their car (only if you don’t look like you’re going to steal them!).
  • Help a neighbor (who knows you) carry their groceries into the house.
  • Sit in the middle of the row at church so that someone else can sit on the end.
  • Smile at the parents of a screaming child to let them know it’s OK.
  • Pay for someone’s meal or for the person behind you at a toll booth or fast food, etc.

There are so many more ideas…hopefully this gave you enough to whet your appetite.  If we would follow the words of the prophet Micah to act justly, love mercy and to walk kindly with our God, how might our world be blessed?

About the Author
Debbie Reese is the Co-Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC

Love Your Neighbor (Lightened By The Light - Week 4)

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In light of Micah 6:8 this week (to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God), Rowan Williams addresses how this looks toward our neighbor:

To assume the right to judge, or to assume that you have arrived at a settled spiritual maturity that entitles you to prescribe confidently at a distance for another’s sickness, is in fact to leave others without the therapy they need for their souls; it is to cut them off from God, to leave them in their spiritual slavery — while reinforcing your own slavery.

Williams, Rowan. Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another (Kindle Locations 431-434). New Seeds. Kindle Edition.