HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-08-30, Page 26By Pastor Brent KipferBrussels Mennonite FellowshipDo you ever find it hard to pray?
If you said no, I would suspect one
of four things: you are a new
Christian experiencing the freshness
of life with Jesus, you are not being
completely honest; you talk to God
mainly through pre-written prayers
or you have an extremely rare
gift.
At one time or another, most
Christians get stuck in their
conversation with God. In our
busyness, we may get out of the
habit of regular prayer. If we are
tired or sick, we may lack energy to
pray. We may get caught in a rut,
repeating the same words or phrases
without much conviction or
meaning. In a moment of crisis, we
may be at a loss to know how to
pray.
After Mother Teresa’s death, her
diary was made public. Some
readers were surprised to find out
that she had had seasons of dryness
in her walk with God. At times, God
seemed distant to her and she longed
for him to confirm his presence in
her heart.
John of the Cross wrote movingly
about the “dark night of the soul” – atime when believers press in towardGod and yet struggle to experience
his love.
The apostle Paul was familiar with
spiritual struggle and discovered that
God does not abandon us in these
times. Not at all!
In Romans 8:26-27, Paul confides
that “...the Holy Spirit helps us in
our weakness. For we don't even
know what we should pray for, nor
how we should pray. But the Holy
Spirit prays for us with groanings
that cannot be expressed in words.
And the Father who knows all hearts
knows what the Spirit is saying, forthe Spirit pleads for us believers inharmony with God’s own will.”
God recognizes that we are weak
and helps us along! We may not
realize it, but God steps in to help us
pray.
For 8 1/2 years, I worked part-time
at a Christian community for people
with developmental handicaps.
Most of that time, I was connected to
a particular household that included
five people with various challenges.
Three out of the five could not speak
– but they communicated. Each one
used gestures and sounds to let us
know what they were thinking andfeeling.One of the most meaningful times
of the day took place after supper.
After we finished eating, we had a
short time for Bible reading and
prayer around the table. Each of us
prayed. Of the three people who
could not speak, one prayed silently.
When she was finished, she gave an
enthusiastic “Amen” and nodded her
head with a smile.
When it was one man’s turn to
pray, we suggested different things
that he might want to pray about:
maybe his parents, a particular
friend from work, or vacation plans
that he was looking forward to. He
usually responded to eachsuggestion with a grin and a “yeah.”If he was especially moved, he might
rub his hands together with
excitement.
Another man would express his
prayer through a series of moans. He
vocalized to God with rhythm and
passion. No one else at the table
knew what he was saying, but that
did not matter. We were not his
audience.
We can pray with confidence,
knowing that the Spirit of God
himself hears and translates the cries
and joys of our heart. God’s love for
us does not depend on our skill with
words!
PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2007.
Service
Pastor Brent Kipfer of Brussels
Mennonite Fellowship was on
hand to deliver a beautiful
sermon at this year’s
Decoration Service at Hope
Chapel in Hullett. Over 20
people came out to remember
and to give generously towards
the upkeep of the cemetery.
Kipfer led the congregation in
prayer and sang several songs
during the outdoor service.
(Shawn Loughlin photo)
Catching satellites
Outer space was the topic of discussion during the outdoor
activities at Vacation Bible School at Knox United Church in
Belgrave last week. After a quick discussion about
satellites, the children were given blankets and encouraged
to work together to launch the satellites (balls) with a
blanket over to another group who would have to work
together to catch the ball in their blanket as a team. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
From the Minister’s Study‘Do you ever find it hard to pray?’
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
519-887-9273
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Sunday, Sept. 2: Job 29
Evangelical Missionary Church
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
at Blyth Public School,
corner of King & Mill
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Tuesdays 7:30 pm -Wingham Small Group
“Portrait of
the Man God
Brags On”
NOTE: LOCATION - SCHOOL
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224
Worship Service 11 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Tom Dunbar
Sunday, September 2
All Welcome
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831
11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca
Sunday, September 2
Outdoor Service
11 am in the manse yard ~ 59 King St., Brussels
Potluck to follow.
Please bring plates, cutlery, potluck dishes, lawn chair,
singing voice for old favourite hymns and a hearty appetite.
In case of rain, worship in the church basement.
Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Service
Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - Adult Bible Study
Something for everyone!
Call the church for current Youth events
HURON CHAPEL
EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 519-526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD
308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590
B l y t h C o m m u n ity Church of God
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
N
,
I
N
D
I
A
N
A
“The Church
is not a building,
it is people
touching people
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
- Christian Education
for all ages
11:00 a.m. - Worship Service
Mid-week Bible Studies
See you
Sunday!