Nativity Newsletter

PLEDGE CARDS AVAILABLE AT SALT & LIGHT

Pledge cards are available in the parlor at the Salt & Light Building. You can pick them up during the week or on Sunday.

Last fall around this time, we were blessed to have a women's retreat with the Rev. Jennifer Holder. It centered around Anne Lamott's Book - Help Thanks Wow - the three essential prayers. We were reminded that so often we pray when we don't know what else to do. Usually because we ourselves or someone we care about has a physical or emotional ailment, we've gotten ourselves into a mess and don't know how to get out of it, or something else that has us feeling desperate. Then, sometimes when the crisis is over we remember to say Thanks which we know we should say even when we haven't asked for help. Finally, when we give it to God and things beyond our wildest "prayers" take place - our prayer is WOW! Thanks, God. You heard me after all.

For the last few days I have been thinking about prayer. Growing up Baptist, I often had to pray out loud - make it up - that kind of prayer. As a family, we would go through stages of praying as a family. Oftentimes, it would be during or after a revival. I didn't like that because inevitably my mom would start crying when we prayed those made-up prayers. I was fine if we just said a quick blessing and no tears. As a mother, I tried to teach my son to pray by naming those things he was thankful for. As a precocious three year old, he loved the band and the orchestra. Without fail, we would go through the entire band of thank you God for --- the trombone, thank you God for the tuba, thank you God for piccolo, etc. One night when he was in bed and we were falling asleep, he sat up quickly and said oh, I forgot, thank you God for the big bassoon and the big base drum. Of course, I laughed!

In thinking about my prayer life as a Daughter of the King, I started thinking about the forms that prayer has taken during my life. I was so glad when I discovered the prayers in The Book of Common Prayer. There are prayers for all kinds of conditions of man. My favorite is and has been for years is Prayer 59. For Quiet Confidence O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you've never explored the available prayers in The Book of Common Prayer, I invite you to do so. You can access the entire book online.

Those Who Serve: Sunday, October 25 - Morning Prayer

Leader: James McCormick

Music: Brenda

Altar Guild: Margaret Love

Lectors: Brenda/Jack

Offering: Vivienne/Isaac

MC POD: Vince

Lessons:

Leviticus 19:1-2,15-18

Psalm 1

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Matthew 22:34-46

Announcements:

If you are interested in making a budget request for 2027, please get in touch with Robbie Fisher or Eddie Wood. The committee is meeting Wednesday, October 28th at 10:30. It would be great to have your pledges in by this time.

Inquirers' Class - this Sunday, October 25th - Salt & Light or at home on Zoom from 2-3pm. If you have not heard from Kathy Shoalmire and are interested in participating, please contact her at (662) 801-6695.