Written and read by Linda Vincent and read on Sunday, April 19, 2015.

Good morning Heavenly Father,

We thank you for this beautiful day and the opportunity to worship and serve you.  You have blessed us abundantly and we appreciate the splendor of this earth.  Help us to open our hearts and minds as we study and hear your word.

Be with our congregation.  Bless the pastor and staff as they minister to us and the people of our community.  Help us all to be disciples in reaching out to others.

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

We pray for the new program against child trafficking - that these children will be released into loving homes.  Protect them from the predators that have robbed them of their childhood.  

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

We pray for those who are suffering from illness, especially Melanie Branstad and those we name in our hearts to you now.

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

We pray for those who have lost ones.  Comfort and heal them.  We pray for those who suffer from addiction and mental health that they can meet the challenges that they face.

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

Be with those who are abused and in pain.  Help them to feel your loving arms around them.  Give them the courage and strength to seek counseling and safety.

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

We thank you for the opportunity to pray and talk with you without the fear of persecution.

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

Be with the leaders of our country in the decisions they make.  Bless the men and women who serve in our military.  Protect them and keep them safe.

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

Lord we ask that you will be with our doctors and nurses as they treat the sick and the dying.  Give them the wisdom and the knowledge to heal them and comfort them.

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

We pray especially for the family of Chad and Brady Moreno from our congregation who joined you in heaven 15 years ago.  I remember my sister Karen on her birthday today as she celebrates in heaven with you.

Lord in your mercy, hear our Prayer.

Into your hands gracious Lord we commend all for whom we pray trusting in your mercy through Jesus Christ, our Savior. 

Amen.

Prayers from Sunday, April 26th

Written and read by Laura Moore

With the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray for the church, those in need and all of God’s creation.

Lord, you are the good shepherd and we the church are your flock.  Help us Lord to follow your will and your Word in every walk of life; together serving in your mission to the world and sharing your love with those who cross our path each day.  

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, you know each of us by name.  You know our hearts.  Forgive us Lord for our selfishness and thank you for showing us what is good.  Help us to act justly; to stand up and become advocates for the oppressed:  for the poor, the orphaned, the enslaved and those without the voice to fight for themselves.  

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, we have done nothing to deserve your mercy, yet you give it freely.  Help us Lord to be merciful to others.  O faithful shepherd keep watch over the sick, the lonely and those who are suffering.  Today we pray especially for the victims of the Nepal earthquake and those coming to their aid; the family of Sally Evangelisti whose father passed away this past week; the 8^th grade confirmands who are on their retreat this weekend.  Help us to take comfort in the knowledge that you know each and every sorrow.  Bring us your comfort and cover us with your peace.  

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As we go out through these doors today and fall into the daily routines of our lives, help us to walk humbly with you Lord.  Strengthen our families, bless our community and help us to shed your light into this world that you created. 

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all who we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.  And we all say together, Amen.

Prayers from Sunday, April 19th

As we continue to come to the Lord in prayer with the words from members of St. Andrews the following prayers were used this past Sunday.

Written by Valerie Andersen

With the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God’s Creation.

O Christ, born of the Father before all ages, you took upon yourself our humanity and you rose for us:  we worship and glorify you.

Hear us, Lord of glory;  For your mercy is great.

Son of God, Source of life, we invoke your goodness upon us and upon the entire human family.

Hear us, Lord of glory;  For your mercy is great.

Give us grace to lose our sinful selves and be transformed to your will so that all may know we are your disciples.  Help us to live by your life and walk as children of light in the joy of Easter.

Hear us, Lord of glory;  For your mercy is great.

Increase the faith of your Church; draw it into one great company of disciples, bearing faithful witness to your love, grace, and resurrection wherever you may send us.

Hear us, Lord of glory;  For your mercy is great.

Holy One, you do not distance yourself from the pain of your people but willingly carry our afflictions. Comfort all who are burdened.  Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing help and engrave in their hearts your words of eternal life.

Hear us, Lord of glory;  For your mercy is great.

Strengthen those who are weak in faith, and reveal yourself to doubting hearts.

Hear us, Lord of glory;  For your mercy is great.

Give strength to the sick and rest to the weary, support the elderly, soothe the suffering, comfort the afflicted and reassure the dying by your saving presence.  We pray especially for …

Hear us, Lord of glory;  For your mercy is great.

Risen Christ, through the Gospel your voice makes itself heard softly.  You tell us:  “Why worry?  Only one thing is necessary, a heart attentive to my words and to the Holy Spirit.”  Bless us with listening hearts.

Hear us, Lord of glory;  For your mercy is great.

Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Amen.

Is it Good News to you?

Good News

by Pastor Dan Deuel

Is it Good News to you?  I’m talking about the Gospel, the message of Christ’s work in the world to bring life, even eternal life, to all who believe.  We will experience another Holy Week at the beginning of April, the week that retells the story of all stories.  The week that communicates the source and foundation of the Christian faith.  

But is it Good News to you?  Is it making a difference?  Changing your life?  Worth sharing?  One of the criticisms of the Christian church is that people start there because they recognize they are a sinner in need of a Savior, but after a while everyone acts like they don’t need any help and have it all together (effectively driving off other sinners in need of a Savior).  It’s not Good News if the message sounds like a constitution for a club, with various rules and regulations and dues that must be observed and followed. . . or else!  

My friends, the Gospel is Good News.  The Gospel is described in dozens of ways throughout Scripture, all giving Good News to those in need.  Consider the following:  

For those tired and weary, for those busy and stressed, for those burdened with unrealistic expectations. . . Jesus calls to come to Him to find rest, for His burden is easy and His yoke is light (Matthew 11:28-30).  

To those who feel they don’t belong, who are drifting in this world, who don’t know whose family they belong to. . . God’s word tells us we are citizens of heaven, that He has adopted us as His children, and that He will make all things new (Phil. 3:20, Rev 21:1-5).

You were abused.  You’ve been betrayed by those who should have loved and protected you. . . Yet God has loved you with an everlasting love.  Jesus has borne your griefs, carried your sorrows, and by His wounds you are healed (Isaiah 53:3-5, Jeremiah 31:3).

You feel worthless.  The criticisms, rejections, and messages you’ve heard over and over are that you have no value, you can’t contribute to the world . . . but you have infinite value, for you were bought with a price-the life of the Son of God!  The Holy Spirit dwells within you to live and love and give and bless (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Nothing satisfies.  You thought money or position or power or fame or certain relationships would fill the void inside.  You heard you could find contentment in having the right stuff or being with the right people. . . To you Jesus offers living water that quenches every thirst.  He offers the bread of life that forever sustains both body and soul (Matt 4:4, John 4:10-14, 6:48).

You’ve slept around again, are struggling with lust or porn or affairs of the mind, drinking from a well that isn’t yours, missing God’s beauty for this part of your life.  You feel used, shame, ironically lonely. . . Christ has promised to wash you and present you to himself as radiant and beautiful (Ephesians 5:25-32).

The guilt is crushing you.  You’ve forgiven yourself 1,000 times and still you can’t let it go.  You’re 100 times harder on yourself than your worst critic. . . God declares there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.  Nada.  Zero.  Zilch.  (Romans 8:1)

There’s more.  Lot’s more, my friends.  It’s Good News and it doesn’t stop being good.  Rejoice on Easter with us in this Good News, for He has overcome all things, and we with Him (1 John 5:1-4).  

May You Be Filled with Good New this Easter.

Prayers for Worship - April 12

Prayers for Worship on Sunday, April 12

written by Harriet Doyle

Good Morning Lord,

This is the day that you have made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Thank you Lord for this day.  You have created a beautiful world for us and we thank you for that---for the newness and freshness of spring flowers and the flowering of the trees.  We also give you thanks for the blessings of Easter, your resurrection and the sure promise of forgiveness and eternal life.  We pray that the Holy Spirit will keep this message in our hearts and minds.  And because of you blessing us, help us to be a blessing to others. 

Lord, hear our prayer,

For your mercy is great.

Thank you Lord for each person here today.  We ask that through the words we hear today, the hymns, the prayers, and the sacrament of Holy Communion, each of us will be renewed to the purpose you have for us.  We are so thankful that we can freely worship here today.   Thank you for those who bravely protect our country and the freedoms that we enjoy.  And we pray for those around the world who are persecuted, even tortured and killed when they declare you as their Savior.  Lord be with them, strengthen them and forgive those who do evil against them.  Change the hearts of those who do harm.

Lord, hear our prayer,

For your mercy is great.

Lord we pray for those who are ill and those who care for them—family, friends, doctors, nurses, and care givers.   Give hope to those who are suffering from depression and other mental health problems.  Help each of us to understand the depths of their struggle and to share the hope we find in your strength and promise.  It seems easier to understand when someone has a physical health problem but much harder to understand mental health problems and addiction issues.  As you showed compassion to many, help us to follow your example of showing compassion.  In each of our own special circumstances, help us to walk with those who need our understanding and love, always sharing your message of hope and grace.  Give your angels charge over them.  Tend to the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, and comfort the afflicted.  Be with all of those we now name in our hearts--Comfort them, and keep them steadfast in  their faith. 

Lord, hear our prayer,

For your mercy is great.

Lord, we pray for our city.  Stockton is a special city filled with many who are willing and able to reach out to others.  Bless their efforts.  We pray for those who are struggling with fear, homelessness, gangs, hunger, and despair that they will come to hear about you. We pray for those who protect our city and for the chaplains who comfort and sustain those who are touched by crime.

Lord, hear our prayer,

For your mercy is great.

And Lord we give thanks for each person here today.  Bless our congregation and each person who freely gives of their time and talents to serve others.  You have shown us how Lord to serve and we ask that as you continually walk with us, we will do and say what is pleasing to you.  Talking with you through prayer is precious.  Encourage and inspire us to pray often, not just in times of need but to thank and praise you throughout every day.

Lord, hear our prayer,

For your mercy is great.

We ask all of this in your Holy name.   Amen

A Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving

As our people explore prayer in 2015 we have had several share their own prayers in worship.  These prayers were written and led by Valerie Andersen.  May they be a source of prayer and connection to God for you as well.

A prayer from St. Francis’ Canticle of the Sun, Psalm 8 and Romans 8

Most high, all powerful and all good Lord!

All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.

To You, alone, Most High, do they belong.

You have blessed us with the sun, which brings us day, radiant in its splendor.

You have blessed us with the moon and the stars, to brighten and guide the night. 

For these blessings, we thank and praise You, O God.

We are not worthy to pronounce Your name yet You have made us but a little lower than the angels.  You have blessed us with the Earth, its vast beauty and resources, all its living things, entrusting us with its care and stewardship.

You have blessed us with fire, cheerful, warm and powerful.

You have blessed us with wind and air, clouds and storms, all the weather.

You have blessed us with water, humble, precious, and pure.

For these blessings, we thank and praise You, O God.

Precious Jesus, You came to this world, modeling true grace and mercy.  You showed that nothing separates us from Your love.   You have blessed us with the charge to share that love and care for all people.

Through those who endure sickness and trial;

Through whose who forgive for love of You;

Happy are those who serve and endure in peace, for by You, Most High, they will be crowned.

For these blessings, we thank and praise You, O God.

Be praised, my Lord, through Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape.  This second death can do no harm for we have been set free.   Already dead to sin, we have been adopted and redeemed.  We live by and through the glory and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

For these blessings, we thank and praise You, O God.

With humility and joy, we give you all praise, thanks, honor and blessing.  Amen.

Serving in my Hometown

written by Holly Andersen

      I grew up in Stockton.  I went to school in Stockton Unified through high school, attempted to play many sports, took music lessons for a whole host of instruments and attended St. Andrew's Lutheran Church since birth.  I was blessed to have a loving, supportive immediate family, extended family in town/near by, and a circle of friends and friend's parents who served as mentors for me as I grew up.  I had people who poured into my life, who showed me love, loyalty, and put up with my opinionated, stubborn self. After high school I left California to attend Valparaiso University in Indiana with the aim of working in a church.  From Indiana I ventured to the Pacific Northwest and worked both at an outdoor ministry camp and later as a Music Director for a congregation in Lacey, Washington.  After seven years away from living in Stockton full time I returned to serve in my home congregation.  

   The streets and many faces were familiar and yet, many streets, places, and faces were new.  I found myself in a congregation where the mission of God, His desire to reconcile and restore all of creation to himself, was most important.  I also found myself in a congregation where people were longing to understand how they could possibly live out that mission in their own lives; a classic case of "We understand that there is a mission and that we are part of it" paired with" but we aren't sure what that means for our own daily lives or don't know how to live in out where we are at right now".
   
   Strangely enough I found myself in a similar position.  Working for a congregation can sometimes make it difficult to have time to really get involved outside of that congregation and it's ministries.  As a staff member I realized that not everyone could be involved in everything going on at St. Andrew's and so it was important for the people of St. Andrew's to know how to live out their faith in Christ both when they were surrounded by other believers serving the community together (think The Park Ministry, Good Shepherd, MOPS, TeenMOPS/POPS, etc.) but also when they were out "on their own" - at work, at the dinner table, at the gym, at the grocery store, walking down the street, etc. - because that is where living the mission of God in daily life happens.

   It is the second part of that realization, the importance of serving when "on my own" out in the community, that led me to focus on finding a way to get connected to people and places apart from ministries directly related to St. Andrew's.   As I considered where I might want to serve I immediately thought about my interests (pretty much everything) and where I might be best able to use the gifts and talents I have been given by God.  Well, as anyone who is interested in just about everything will tell you, it is hard to decide where you want to get involved when everything seems like an option.  I initially signed up to be a volunteer in the city's Victim Witness program but due to an error on my part ended up not being able to do so - and it wasn't even an "apply again next year" situation, it was a "you're not going to be able to do this ever" kind of situation.  I felt really bad, especially since it was my error that led to that outcome.  I expressed my disappointment to a couple of friends who had been hearing me talk about my desire to get involved in the community in some way.  I felt kind of stuck, not sure where to go next when one of those same friends mentioned that St. Mary's Dining Room was looking for volunteers in their social services department.  I didn't know exactly what that would entail or if I would even be able to help (I knew nothing about what services were available in Stockton or how to get connected to those services) but I still felt I should check it out.

    When I initially met with the Social Services Director I was up front in communicating that I was pretty much in the dark about what social services were available in Stockton and that I wasn't really sure if I was the best person for the position.  She indicated that what was most important was having a willingness to listen and be there for people when they come in and are looking for assistance.  One part of St. Mary's mission is to restore human dignity to those they serve.  Taking the time to listen and to be present with a person when they are going through a difficult situation is one way that we show people that they are valuable, that they are worth our time and energy.  This is true of anyone, whether they are homeless or not.  Having the desire and the ability to listen was more important than knowing about every service available (and there are many); that is something I could learn on the job.  So, I signed up.  Since March of 2013 I have spent Tuesday mornings meeting with clients, both long-term clients, and walk-ins who I may see only once.  In the year and a half I have been serving there I have indeed learned a great deal about what services are available for people who are coming from a variety of different life circumstances.   Of everything that I have learned about San Joaquin County, the city of Stockton, Social Security, WorkNet, homelessness, and St. Mary's Dining Room there is one aspect of serving others that has been invaluable: if I am going to serve anyone I need to listen first and talk second.  

    This might seem obvious (I know that I've heard a saying that reminds us that we have two ears and one mouth so we should be listening twice as much as week speak) but let me explain.  I have never been homeless.  I have good relationships with my family, and friends that I treasure.  I've been blessed with the opportunity to get an education. I have a job.  I am healthy.  I have faith in a God that gives me hope for the restoration of everything around me.  These are what make up the foundation of my life experiences and greatly impact how I look at and see the world around me.  More often than not this is not where the people who I am serving and working with are coming from.  It would be easy to listen to their concerns and give them a response that would, at it's most basic level, communicate, "Just do what I would do and you'll be fine".  It is much easier to speak from our own life experiences, after all they are what we know best, than to really understand someone else's.  What if a client has a chronic illness?  What if they don't have family or friends looking out for them?  What if their family and friends are actually bad influences, who are they to turn to for support and encouragement while they are looking for work/housing/a place to feel valued and loved?  

   I've learned that I need to listen first and talk second because I need to understand who the person is sitting across the room from me and find a way to support them and walk them through making life changing steps that they are able to sustain based on where they are coming from not from where I am coming from.  This kind of listening requires suspending personal judgement - something that is difficult for us all in any and all circumstances in life.  It requires asking different questions and getting to know a person in a different way than we are used to.  Volunteering at St. Mary's has changed my life, in ways that I can see and I am sure in many ways that I have yet begun to fully understand.  It has helped me to see my own position at St. Andrew's and how I live out my own faith differently as well.  

   Too often I have had the sense that I need to know everything about something, or be skilled in order to serve or be of help.  (How often have I used the excuse of not feeling like I know enough to not step out in faith to where God might be guiding me?  Too often).  But through what I have learned at St. Mary's I feel like God has given me just a little glimpse of what it means to trust and follow him.  Back in 2013 it would have been all too easy to say "I don't know anything about the social services in Stockton so I wouldn't be any good at that" and not even make an effort to get more information.  BUT part of living out our faith is learning that we aren't always going to have the answers or necessarily be highly skilled  for something to which God has called us.  AND, in realizing the importance of listening I feel that I've also learned, for me at least, that when I feel really prepared for something or feel like I know all the answers I focus on what I'm doing in a situation rather than what God is doing in that same situation.  I depend on myself rather than on God.  I trust myself rather than placing my trust in God.  

  As I continue to serve at St. Mary's, to grow in my own faith and understanding of who God is shaping me to be, I continue to learn what it means to look first to God, to trust in him working in my life, relationships, and community.  It too requires more listening than talking.    

God's peace to you!