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Reflections on Presence

4/27/2015

Multitud I by Miguel Alfaro. Alfaro (b. 1948) is a Cuban born artist residing in Miami, Florida. He started to paint as a child and has been recognized as one of the best landscapers of Cuba since 1971. He has been recognized with numerous awards since.

Where two or more are gathered in my name, I'll be there with them.
~Matthew 18:20

6 Ways to Sunday: Presence
By Wiley Jones

Jesus knew the importance of believers getting together. He said, "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I'll be there with them" (Matthew 18:20).

Our presence at church activities affords us the opportunity to gather with other believers and know that Jesus is there with us as promised.

With our presence we learn how to live as Christian believers as we participate in gatherings that explore God's word - the Bible.

With our presence we sing hymns that remind us of God's love for us. We hear prayers that remind us of our duty to think of and care for others - those less fortunate, as well as our fellow Christian believers who also need our support.

Our presence shows that believers support one another and that we care.

Our presence shows that we support our church and our pastors, and that we want to grow in our faith.

Our presence helps strengthen our faith and is encouraging to others also.

We can strengthen our faith - and help others strengthen theirs by our presence at church regularly.

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Reflections on Prayer

4/20/2015

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6 Ways to Sunday: Prayer
By Mandy Bridges

Prayer was in my life in a strange way when I was growing up. We never really did it when I was at home, but when we went to my dad’s parents’ house a catholic prayer was said before the meal. My grandfather was a devout Catholic. He and my grandmother faithfully went to church every Saturday night. He faithfully prayed for our family before every meal that we shared with them. It was the same prayer that I have heard for 35 years now. After my grandfather passed away, my dad has picked up that prayer tradition and now prays the catholic prayer before the meals at the family gatherings.

I find this strange now because prayer means so much more to me. I started to go to West Point UMC when I was 16 years old. I knew pretty much nothing about church and even less about prayer. I really went there because my new neighbor was becoming my best friend and she had to go. She invited me to go and we would sit in the very back pew and write notes to one another until church was over. She then invited me to youth group. This is where God began to speak to me and change my heart and life forever. I had never felt like this before. I never knew that you could have a relationship with God. I was curious. I wanted to have the joy that I saw in the youth leaders. I began to learn how to pray. It felt so weird at first, like I was talking to the thin air. The more that I learned about God and our relationship the easier it became. Pretty soon before I knew it, I felt like I had a new friend. Then when I was in my early 20’s I took a Disciple Bible Study. Oh wow! My whole relationship developed like nothing I had ever learned before. Not only had God been my friend, He became my Father.

My prayer life has evolved over time. I know that I will continue to grow in this area of my faith. I can go to God in prayer about anything. I have cried out to him in times of deep sorrow when we lost our children, I have sang songs of praise prayers to him when we received Anna. I have prayed a lot in my car and in the bathroom getting ready for work. I have been on my knees in my bedroom and on my face in my bed. I have lifted my arms and hands high in a concert and wrapped those same arms around hurting youth kids. I pray quietly to myself and out loud after every youth meeting. I say one sentence prayers and also have long conversations with God. There is no right or wrong way to pray. There is not a special spot or time to pray. God is with us everywhere and anytime. He wants a relationship with you. The best way to have a healthy relationship is to talk to one another and prayer is the communication between you and God.

Many Blessings,
Mandy Bridges

Listen to Mandy's favorite prayer song:

How and Why do you pray?
Share your thoughts below!

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Reflections on Spiritual Journey

4/13/2015

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My questioning period has come about 60 years later than for most people and continues...

6 Ways to Sunday: My Spiritual Journey
By Betty Ruth Jackson

My spiritual journey began when my parents taught me, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; and if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." Sometime after learning those words, I heard a second verse: "And if I live for other days, I pray the Lord to bless my ways." That was encouraging! One Sunday morning the Baptist minister of our little church offered a chance to respond to the gospel, as part of the Sunday School opening. I went forward (at about age 9) and went home to tell my parents. Their response was, "You are too young and would have to give up too much." And later I reported this to the minister, with a little fear in my heart, and did not become a member, but did continue attending Sunday School.

The MYF at the local Methodist Church had special emphasis on inviting people to their church, when I was a freshman in high school. That turned out to be a new road to travel on my journey. Again, I responded to an altar call at a Youth for Christ meeting (about age 15) and pastors from the meeting called on me at home with my parents present. They encouraged me to become part of a local church. The experiences in this church family, especially the MYF and the mentoring of the pastor's wife, opened the possibility of going to a Christian college.

Taylor University was my "home" for four years, offering some challenges and opportunities, but looking back I do not see myself asking questions about the Bible, my faith and the world that others have talked about in describing their journeys of faith.

A short term (3 years) in Korea began to open up some different pathways to show love for God and others. In Seminary at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, the great message of the gospel, God loves me, became very real. Even here I somehow dodged some of the challenging questions of mature faith. Even Old Testament studies did not raise any doubts.

One of our pastors at Trinity encouraged us to read, "The Bible in a Year." It was arranged with daily readings that included Old Testament, New Testament and a Psalm. It was as if I had never read the Bible before. The shock was great! Did God really tell his people to kill those who lived in the land promised to the Israelites? And about this same time, our Lamplighters Sunday School class began some challenging studies and discussions about the meaning of the Bible, as well as how it was written, and what difference our understanding could make in our witness and living for Christ. My questioning period has come about 60 years later than for most people and continues as the Vision Team and Trinity Church members wrestle with how we can be God's Church in the 21st century.

What has been your faith journey?
Post your comments below!

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Trinity Voices

Reflections on Presence

Reflections on Prayer

Listen to Mandy's favorite prayer song:

How and Why do you pray?
Share your thoughts below!

Reflections on Spiritual Journey

What has been your faith journey?
Post your comments below!

Trinity Voices

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Trinity United Methodist Church
Growing in love and service through relationships with God and community

Trinity Voices

Reflections on Presence

Reflections on Prayer

Listen to Mandy's favorite prayer song:

How and Why do you pray? Share your thoughts below!

Reflections on Spiritual Journey

What has been your faith journey?Post your comments below!

Trinity Voices

Categories

Archives

Trinity United Methodist Church Growing in love and service through relationships with God and community

How and Why do you pray?
Share your thoughts below!

What has been your faith journey?
Post your comments below!

Trinity United Methodist Church
Growing in love and service through relationships with God and community