Commending all for whom (and what) we pray

On Wednesday night, one of my fellow worshipers spoke of his wife praying for strength. He said that perhaps she should stop praying for strength because God then keeps giving her situations in which to use that strength. Maybe she should pray for peace instead.

I don't believe that is how God works.

But, I wonder if I should stop praying for strength....and perhaps wisdom as well.

I'm not going to stop praying for strength and wisdom in my work, but it does make me recognize that sometimes those are the two qualities for which I pray the most. I don't pray for lightheartedness or a restful time for myself. I don't pray to have a light work week or a full social calendar.

I'm realizing...regardless of how one believes prayer works...that I would like to be more well-rounded in my prayers for myself. Prayers for others tend to be holistic. Prayers myself tend to focus on work.

So, today I'm going to pray that my time at the orchard is invigorating and dry (rain is in the forcast) and that the brewery birthday party is joyous and energizing. Amen.

A Visit From Mom

My easy going mom has been visiting. Her visits are always good for me. We eat well but not too much, I usually end up learning something, and we walk (outside or in a museum or at some other entertainment venue).

It's nice to have someone - the person from whom I probably learned the most about attending church - to recognize the same idiosyncrasies of my congregation as I do. Like the incredibly long sharing of the peace, or the fact that a couple people carry their hymnals with them to coffee hour (because after that they are heading home...and since they sponsored the hymnals they believe they should be able to bring them home and bring them to worship each Sunday).

It's also nice to not talk about church and to hear about experiences that she is having and has had. To change certain assumptions I've had. To get her take on current events and life in general. To get hugs from my mama.

It wasn't technically vacation, but it felt a bit like it.

Unexpected Visitors

I've had a number of surprise visitors in worship recently. Last Sunday members of the congregation in which I grew up popped in. (Unfortunately it was one of the rare Sundays in which I wasn't preaching...but that just means they'll have to come again.)

This Sunday a dear friend...who told me that he warned me earlier in the week, but I don't recall it.

Next Sunday...well, I suppose that's not unexpected, but a visitor nonetheless - my mom.

But, today there was one potential unexpected visitor that did not show up - and I'm a bit relieved.

Today we held a pet blessing in the afternoon. This is an annual tradition held near the commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct 4th). We read some scripture, say some prayers, I bless each animal (I think we had about 12 dogs and one picture of a cat present this afternoon). Some congregations are brave enough to hold this pet blessing during the regular Sunday morning worship - with the pets sitting through the service. I am not that brave - and I'm not sure some of the animals would have made it either.

Just prior to the regular morning service the organist told me that his good friend was thinking about bringing her dog to the service....the regular morning service. She wasn't able to make the afternoon blessing and wanted her pup to be blessed. He (the organist) mentioned that I would know if the dog arrived.

Well, neither the dog nor its owner showed up. But, I did bless the dog that may be the ring bearer for the couple I am marrying in another year.

From Their Mouths to God's Ears

I got the giggles yesterday during worship. I was sitting closer to the congregation because we had a guest preacher who was going to preach from the aisle instead of the pulpit (and if I was in my usual spot I would have had to turn around the entire time to see him).

I wrote here about the chance-taking of chanting the psalm, well, today the attempts at praising the Lord with chanting were a bit reversed. It has been traditional for our congregation to speak the psalm, responsively...and so many of those who avoid singing the hymns are chanting the psalm. Yesterday the leader did a wonderful job (it's something he just started working on last spring and it's so fun to see him get better and bolder). But the congregation responding was completely off key and out of tempo. Because I was sitting closer, I got an even louder experience of it.

It was just so charming. Voices raised earnestly with joy, and some trepidation. And, I bet to God it was beautiful.