Watch the Service
Daily prayer keeps us connected to Jesus
Today Pastor Kelvin and JoAnne reminded us how crucial prayer is for enabling us to keep close to God. Jesus used an illustration from the vineyards around Palestine and spoke of his followers as branches staying connected to the vine. After explaining Jesus’ illustration, the Jones’ fleshed out five practical suggestions for a vital prayer life.
- Set times and places.
- Use resources that help you.
- Spend time in worship and thanksgiving.
- Take time for listening.
- Help someone else.
Marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Pastor Kelvin honored Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the beginning of his message on prayer by reading a prayer of Dr. King’s that is so relevant that one would think it was written last week. We share it here as well.
Most gracious and all wise God, before whose face the generations rise and fall; Thou in whom we live, and move and have our being. We thank thee for all of thy good and gracious gifts, for life and for health; for food and for raiment; for the beauties of nature and human nature. We come before thee painfully aware of our inadequacies and shortcomings. We realize that we stand surrounded with the mountains of love and we deliberately dwell in the valley of hate. We stand amid the forces of truth and deliberately lie. We are forever offered the high road and yet we choose to travel the low road. For these sins, O God, forgive. Break the spell of that which blinds our minds. Purify our hearts that we may see thee. Oh God, in these turbulent days when fear and doubt are mounting high, give us broad visions, penetrating eyes, and power of endurance help us to work with renewed vigor for a warless world, for a better distribution of wealth and for a brother/sisterhood that transcends race or color. In the name and spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.