Deus Misereatur

  (This is from my weekly letter to the congregation for 1 April 2021) I was at lunch with someone recently. This person described to me a loss they had: they feel like they lost the clear sense of God’s presence in their lives. But in that discussion this person made a telling observation that I think takes us somewhere important. This person said something like this, “Maybe it’s because we’re not serving like we used to do.” That seems right to me. It’s not that we have to merit and secure God’s presence by our activity, but there is a connection between our assisting others and God’s attending us. This brings me to consider 1 Corinthians 16:15-18 and refreshing service:   “Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they

  O LORD, you are the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy. You dwell in the high and holy place with those who have a contrite and humble spirit, for you revive the spirit of the humble, and revive the heart of the contrite ones (Isaiah 57:15). In the name of Jesus Christ your Son we come humbly, and we pray for this world and the struggles and troubles of many nations. Please govern and bring restoration in the catastrophes brought on through nature and the tragedies brought on by means of human malice. Give aid to the distressed, relief to the weak, food, water and shelter to the waterless and weary, and justice to the victimized. Set the nations and their leaders on a course for peace and lawfulness for all their inhabitants. O Lord, hear our prayer.   Dearest Father , we entreat your caring direction for our own country. We desire our leaders to be people of upright and godly forthrightness in their actions, legislations, judicial decisions and executiv