Deus Misereatur

  (The following was what I wrote to my congregation today - 9 August 2023) Yesterday in my morning Bible reading, I was in John 14. I ended up spending some time pondering v.27. Our Lord was giving final words to his disciples not too many hours before he was arrested, tried, and crucified. He had just promised that they would receive the paraklete , the helper/counselor/comforter (v.25-26), and then said:   “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid .”   “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you . ” Normally we hear the word “peace” and think that means the absence of conflict. But as is clear in John 13-17, and the fact our Lord is about to be arrested, tried and slaughtered, that can’t be the case. Conflict will continue all around God’s people, and sometimes it will be aimed at God’s people. That’s what makes our Lord’s words here so important. He leaves us wi

  Lord God the Almighty, who delights in executing lovingkindness, justice and righteous throughout the earth, we pray for the Church and our world: For all of those who are oppressed, enslaved, abused, tormented by the cruelties of others, forced into bondage, shackled to destructive addictions, or held captive be thugs and drug cartels, we pray: Lord have mercy on them . For those who are being truly persecuted for the Christian Faith around the world, in the Middle East, Asia, and numerous other places, we pray: Christ have mercy on them . For those who are working in the name of Christ to alleviate poverty, famine, plague, and injustices of every kind, we pray: Lord have mercy on them and grant them success in their endeavors. For your Church throughout the world, this congregation, Williams Memorial Nazarene Church, Crossings Community Church, Bethel Congregational and Mayflower, we pray. By your Holy Spirit and Holy Scriptures, defend us all from error, lead us into all truth, g