A Devotion for Churches and Pastors…
…For the Week of Appointment Making | The Nashville Area of The United Methodist Church
INVOCATION
Incline your ear, O God, and hear me. Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; Save your servant who trusts in you, O God. Teach us, O Holy One, that through all our days we might be found faithful and in that faithfulness, our souls might find rest in You. Amen.
Read PSALM 62
Hebrews 12:1-2: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and let us run the race with perseverance, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
READING FOR REFLECTION
Spirituality is about seeing. It’s not about earning or achieving. It’s about relationship rather than results or requirements. Once you see, the rest follows. You don’t need to push the river, because you are in it. The life is lived within, and we learn how to say yes to that life.
- from Everything Belongs by Richard Rhor
Giving need not be confined to money or material gifts, but I would like more people to give their hands to serve and their hearts to love – to recognize the poor in their own homes, towns, and countries, and to reach out to them with love and compassion.
- from My Life With the Poor Mother Teresa
SILENT MEDITATION AND PERSONAL PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CONFERENCE
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Breathe on me breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what thou dost love,
And do what thou wouldst do.
- Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)
HYMN PSALM 62
My soul finds rest in God alone, the rock of my salvation.
A fortress strong against my foes, and I will not be shaken,
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse, and lies like arrows pierce me,
I’ll fix my heart on righteousness, I’ll look to Him who hears me.
O praise Him hallelujah, my delight and my reward,
Everlasting, never failing, my Redeemer, my God.
BENEDICTION
He came singing love, He lived singing love, He died singing love. He rose in silence. If the song is to continue, we must do the singing.
- adaptation from a poem by Vin Walkup
Posted on April 8, 2013, in Bishop's Blog. Bookmark the permalink. 11 Comments.
May I suggest this is A Devotion for the Churches and Pastors…and the Laity…
Thank you for this wonderful devotional that has filled me to overflowing with God’s love…
It is only when I am filled to overflowing with God’s love, that I am truly able to share God’s love with others…
The laity are praying for God’s blessing of discernment for you, your cabinets.
Thank you for helping keep us focused on seeing and relationship. Praying for the cabinets this week as you discern, pray, and seek God’s guidance in the appointment of pastors. May God’s love and grace abound!!
Holding you all in prayer today – prayers for wisdom, guidance, energy and patience with one another. May God’s presence be palpable in your midst.
What beautiful leadership! Thank you. This is truly a new way of experiencing appointment making. It feels like a gift of blessing.
Bishop,
May the grace of our Lord sustain you, the all encompassing love of the Father surround you, and the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with holy boldness!
Pastor Phil
Lord hear our prayers for Bishop McAlilly and the cabinet. Lord I pray they
hear Your voice guiding them through this process. Lord we claim through Your Word, that You know the plans you have for all involved and the plans are not to harm but to give hope and a future. May all of us be willing to go where You send us and remind us that You go with us. Help us to trust You more. In the powerful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
I always lift my Bishop and The Cabinets up at this time of year and I share this with my charge and ask them to pray along with me for all of you. I can only imagine the responsibility you and The Cabinets have on your shoulders, your minds and your hearts.
I pray that you all are able to communicate honestly and with love to each other and to the churches and pastors of the Nashville Area during this time following the Holy Spirit’s lead in this work. My the Spirit of God lead us as the Church of Jesus Christ into the future with a fresh way of being the Church and may God give us the words to say and the deeds to do that will be a reflection of his will so that we may together reach out to a hurting world in his Holy Name…AMEN!
Thank you! You are all surrounded in prayer – with complete trust that because you are open to the leading of the Spirit, all decisions will be fruitful for God’s purposes. God is faithful. All will be well.
May you feel God’s presence as you make these critical decisions for His Kingdom.
Thank you for providing the kind of leadership environment needed for appointment making.
Lord Jesus, in this time of transition, joy, concern and opportunity, bless Bishop McAlilly and each District Superintendent as they seek to serve your Church. Remind us Lord, clergy and laity why you have called each of us to serve you in this season. Amen.
Gerry