The Citizen, 1995-02-08, Page 20By Rev. Randy Banks
Walton-Bluevale Pastoral Charge
Polling firms spend and make big
money discovering and telling us
what we should already know
about ourselves.
I remember some 20 years ago
recording my weekly TV viewing
for the Bureau of Broadcast
Measurement for which I received
the princely remuneration of $1. A
few years ago, I was asked, in a
phone poll, a series of questions
regarding my beverage
consumption likes, dislikes, and
habits.
No inquisitor, however, has ever
asked who I would vote for if an
election were held today; whether I
purchase lottery tickets; or whether
I own a computer and, if so, who
uses it the most. And certainly,
neither Decima, no Gallup, nor
Angus Reid have ever phoned to
ask me: "Do you pray'?"
I remember the nightly ritual in
my days of childhood innocence of
reciting: "Now I lay me down to
sleep..." The part about the
possibility of dying before I awoke
caused me to feel somewhat
uneasy. It was my custom in the
'God bless' section to include the
name of an old man down the road
who was a market gardener by day,
but who moonlighted as a
moonshiner.
I suppose that these were the first
intercessory prayers to which I
gave utterance. I hope that they
were to some avail for that troubled
old soul.
The gospels reveal that Jesus
frequently prayed - especially at
decisive moments such as the night
of his betrayal. He taught his
disciples to pray in the now not so
familiar words of The Lord's
Prayer.
The apostle Paul recognized that
the Spirit must "help us in our
weakness...for we do not know
how to pray as we ought." (Ram.
8:26). We might excuse our
prayerless (prayer-challenged?)
lives as owing to a lack of time.
Other rationalizations might
include: not knowing the right
words to use, not being sure of the
correct posture, and not believing
that there is even a God to hear and
answer our prayers.
It may be that we repeat a table
grace at supper which is a good
starting point for a more
comprehensive prayer programme.
However, prayer tends to be limited
to moments of adversity,
uncertainty and danger. It is then
that we want God to intervene and
save. We often find ourselves
rebuking God for not doing so, in
our estimation.
When our lives are rolling
merrily along, we are inclined to
boast: "My power and the might of
my own hand have gotten me this
wealth." (Dent. 8:17).
Prayer is multifaceted. It can take
the forms of: praising God for his
goodness and majesty, confessing
our sins and asking God's
forgiveness, making intercession on
behalf of others who are in some
kind of need, supplications to God
for help in our own personal
distress, and, most importantly,
thanksgiving to God both in joy
and sorrow, tragedy and triumph.
Paul urged the members of one
of his Christian communities to
"pray without ceasing" and "to give
thanks in all circumstances." (I
Thess. 5: 17, 18). We have truly
learned to pray when most of our
prayers are thanksgivings instead of
complaints or request for help.
I know from personal experience
that, unless we make a conscious
and concerted effort to engage in
the discipline of daily prayer, or
meditations, it will not happen and
a deep spiritual void will be created
in our lives. Just as it is beneficial
to each day hug your child, check
the pressure in the car tires, to eat
some vegetables, and to floss your
teeth, so it is to pray.
Praying is connection and
conversation with God. Jesus
recommends that "whenever you
pray, go into your room, and shut
your door, and pray to your Father
who is in secret... and do not heap
up empty phrases." (Matt. 6:6,7)
It is worth bearing in mind that
God has already discerned our
thoughts and needs: "Even before a
word is on my tongue, 0 Lord, you
know it completely." (Psalm 139:4)
Our verbalizing of our thoughts,
desires, and needs in our prayers is
to own and acknowledge them
before God and to be honest with
ourselves.
Praying or meditation is within
reach of us all. But, if you are
having difficulty getting started,
here is, free of charge, a prayer that
you can clip and paste in your
Bible and use at the close of your
day. There is no copyright
infringement with this one as it ha ,-
been around since its first
publication in a Gregorian prayer
book of the 8th century:
0 God of peace who has
taught us that in returning
and rest we shall be saved and
in quietness and confidence
shall be our strength, by the
power of your Spirit, lift me, I
pray, to your presence, where
I may be still and know that
you are God. Amen.
Raising the campaign flag
The flag for the Heart and Stroke Foundation Heart Month campaign was raised Thursday at
the Huron County Courthouse in Goderich. Taking part in the ceremony were (left to right) Dr.
Maarten Eickhout, Medical Officer of Health; Vickie Harkness, area secretary for the
Foundation, Kittie MacGregor, president of the Huron Chapter, Bruce Machan, Huron County
Warden; and Steve Smith, area co-ordinator for Huron and Perth Counties.
Foundation seeks support
One Godcrich shop owner has
pledged 10 per cent of his store's
February sales to the Heart and
Stroke foundation and he encour-
ages other businesses to help out as
well.
Mr. Michael Maurer, owner of
Pegasus Used Book and Tack
Shop, says he wanted to do some-
thing tangible for the important
research. "The dedication shown by
everybody who canvasses in Febru-
ary is incredible."
Last year, Huron County raised
40 per cent of their funds during
the February door-to-door cam-
paign, topping their goal when
$145,302 was reached.
A volunteer-driven community
organization, the Heart and Stroke
foundation relics on the business
community for support research to
fight premature deaths and disabili-
ty caused by heart disease and
stroke.
The Huron Chapter, located at 39
West Street, 2nd Floor, Goderich,
may be contacted by calling 524-
4440.
ONTARIO LA MARCHE
MARCH DES DIX SOUS
OF DIMES DE [ONTARIO
Independence for Adults with Physical Disabilities
/4/Avf gop MENNONITE Hearn?
BRUSSELS
needs You!
Sunday, February 12 - Singing Tune Up 9:15 a.m.
9:30 a.m. WORSHIP SERVICE
10:30 a.m. Sunday School For All Ages
Fellowship Meal To Follow
Pastor
Tom Warner
887-6388
Elder
Elwin Garinad
IF 887-9017
(F,veryone
We(come!
FELLOWSHIP
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Tim Purvis, Interim Moderator
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
We welcome you to come and worship with us.
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259
Manse 887-9313
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
"Finding True Happiness"
Church School - Nursery
9:30 a.m. - Ethel Morning Worship
Church School
"Unto the hills around do I lift up my longing eyes
Everyone Welcome
PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1995.
From the Minister's Study
Pastor says praying creates connection with God
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
You are vc ;ome this Sunday
February 12 - Epiphany 6
Morning Prayer BCP
Ms Nancy Northgrave, Lay Pastor
Trinity, Blyth
St. John's, Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE AUBURN 526-7515
Sunday 10 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11 a.m. - Morning Service
8 p.m. - Evening Service
Wednesday 8 p.m. - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 p.m. - Youth - Pastor Bob Lewis, 526-7441
You are Welcome at
the
BLYTH CHURCH OF GOD
9:45 a.m. - Sunday School for Children and Adults
11 - 12:15 - Morning Worship
Bible Studies - Wednesday 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Phone 523-4590 McConnell St., Blyth
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH--523-9233
Sunday 10:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Rev. Adrian A. Van Geest
The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20"
Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday
Faith 20 5:30 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V.
4[f 'Visitors Welc-erne' Wheelchair accessible