Dear Rose Park,
A few weeks ago I went to visit Jack and Carlene Hartman at Holland Hospital. Carlene was having some routine tests, but I thought I’d sit with Jack in the lobby to keep in company while he waited over three hours for the tests to occur. I’ve always enjoyed chatting with Jack; the Tuesday crew of guys call him an encyclopedia of knowledge, and they aren’t wrong. Even better, Jack deeply loves the Lord and deeply believes in the power of prayer.
Before I left the hospital, I offered to pray with Jack in the lobby. We prayed for Carlene and we prayed for Rose Park, but after I said ‘amen’ Jack kept praying. He prayed for me. He prayed that God would bless my family. He prayed that God would bless my studies. He prayed that God would strengthen me as I lead Rose Park. In that moment I was reminded yet again of the power of prayer; more often than not I’m praying for someone else, but to experience someone praying for me was a true blessing.
This coming Sunday we’re going to ring the church bell to honor all those who passed away in 2022 from our Rose Park family and we’re going to light candles to honor all those who joined our Rose Park family in 2022. One way we can honor them and give thanks for them is through prayer. Prayer is an ongoing conversation with God that we are graciously invited into; the first thing God does in creation is speak and by praying we are joining in a conversation that has been going on for thousands of years.
As a community of people, prayer is foundational for our relationship with God. This is why each and every Sunday we practice ‘the prayers of the people’ in our liturgy where we lift up our community, nation, and world to God in prayer. It’s my hope that Sunday mornings are not your only experience in prayer throughout the week, but instead you are joining in the conversation all week long.
The Apostle Paul begins each of his New Testament letters with greetings and prayers of thanksgiving reminding the church that he talks to God about them and gives thanks for them as often as he can. This is all to say, as we begin another calendar year might you take it upon yourself to not only engage in the conversation of prayer more regularly, but specifically might you set the intention of praying for one another.
Grace & Peace,
