Lord Teach us to Pray
Prayer is a challenge for all of us, but in our current circumstances, we need more than ever to turn our focus to God, who is our strength, and our hope.
As our lives are turned upside down, and our hearts and minds churn with the consequences of COVID-19, perhaps a solid and reassuring starting place for our prayer is to begin with what we do know and can do.
Jesus’ response to the disciples’ cry, “Lord, teach us to pray” was to give them the words and model of the Lord’s Prayer.
So, take a moment. Take a calming breath. And pray what you know.
Pray the familiar words alone or together with others in your home. Pray it over the phone as you connect with wider family and friends. Recite it, read it out, write it down, and reflect on its meaning. It is meaningful, not meaningless. So say what you mean and mean what you pray!
Then try another step, expanding with specific concerns. For example, add your personal petitions after each phrase. Or try modelling your own words on Jesus’ pattern as we see Eugene Petersen has done here in The Message:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
The Lord’s Prayer “can be like a Christmas tree, on which we hang our own “decorations”, our own prayers.
Or it can be like a map: The directions are there, but we must take the trouble to travel, to pray them. (Peter Kreeft, Fundamentals of Faith. Ignatius Press 1988)
Blessings, Karen
Saturday 11 October from 10am to 12noon. Are you considering serving in Christian ministry? Do you want to deepen your Bible knowledge?
Bible College SA has been training people for over 100 years. Now is your time to come for a world class formation that will prepare you for more effective, faithful service of Jesus.
If you missed Open Night, come to our Open Day and chat with our faculty, staff and students about our courses and study options at Bible College SA.
Open Day is a great opportunity to explain to prospective students why they might consider taking a course of study with us, and some of the different aspects of the experience of being a student.
Friends of Lutheran Archives
Thursday 7.30pm,18th September, Lutheran Church, 139 Archer St, North Adelaide
"Enlightened Aboriginal Futures" and "Sandhill Girl".
The Story of Two Books and the Importance of Writing as Kin Speakers: Barry Judd, Katherine Ellinghaus.
LIVESTREAM on FoLA YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/ @friendsoflutheranarchives9644/live
The talk can also be watched at a later date, as can all FoLA meetings.
In 2017, Professor Barry Judd, Deputy Vice Chancellor - Indigenous, University of Melbourne, and Professor Katherine Ellinghaus, Professor of History in the School of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University embarked on a project that explored the work of Pastor F.W. Albrecht and the Finke River Mission.
In particular, they were interested in the story of an education scheme initiated during the 1950s and 1960s that targeted Aboriginal girls (one of whom was Professor Judd’s mother, Lorna Wilson) living on pastoral stations across Central Australia.
Professors Judd and Ellinghaus will talk about how the theme of non-Indigenous and Indigenous people finding ways to work together authentically and productively permeated both the books and the project itself.
Lutheran Care
Thank you so much for the donations this past month.
Items needed for September are -
Cans of Tuna, Women's Deodorant and Coffee.
And we are very low in: Tinned Mixed Vegetable, Peanut Butter, Long Life Milk, Tinned Spaghetti.
Jam, Vegemite, Shampoo and Conditioners.
