September 13, 2009

A Call for Prayer, Civility and Community

Tuesday morning began with the heavy scent of: “OK everybody, summer’s over. Back to work, back to school. No more holidays until Thanksgiving.” Yikes, that’s 80 days!!”

The pace in and around Ashland quickens. The Shepherd’s Center begins a new season Tuesday morning, September 15. If you are 50 plus, come and check out some new programs and enjoy a great meal and lunchtime speaker.

The Adult Choir, our new hand bell choir, the Music, Art and Drama (MAD) for children began Wednesday, and our Praise Band and Ashland Lights begin Sunday afternoon. See our web page calendar (ashlandumc.com) for the times.

Departing for Red Bird Mission 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning will be 16 Ashland members, where they will work on 2 houses in the Appalachia section of Kentucky.

On Tuesday, President Obama spoke to a class of elementary school children. Despite the hoopla surrounding his visit, like former President Reagan and George H.W. Bush before him, our president spoke to the children on the importance of staying in school and sticking with things even things don’t always go the way you want them to.

Some of the venom I heard on some talk radio programs concerning this visit was frightening and discouraging. Venting is one thing, but venom is another.

Our children learn by watching their parents and the adults around them. If we cannot talk with civility about health care issues, war, and our neighbors around us……

The past year has been a most difficult one for our nation. Challenges are great. We need prayer, we need civility and we need community.

During the time of George W. Bush’s presidency, a group of people who love America began praying for the President. That continues today. I invite you to regularly check this web page: presidentialprayerteam.org

Prayer is a wonderful form of energy whereby we are changed and the world is changed little by little. Let us be a conscious part of God’s ongoing goodness.

That goodness started for me last Sunday morning in a community. Two of our young children gave me a hug; one before and one during the service. Another of our children, after receiving the bread and the wine for Communion, turned back around, looked up at me and said, “Thanks.”

I love the community called Ashland. And I look forward to seeing you here on Sunday morning. The Path begins at 8:45 a.m. and Traditional Worship at 11 a.m.