Piloting Faith: Would it make a difference if you knew that you were not alone?

A Word for the Day...

If you are going through a season of change in your life, would it make a difference if you knew that you were not alone?

This is the promise of Advent. We all go through times of wandering in the wilderness. We all struggle and doubt and suffer and question. The season of Advent reminds us is that through it all we are never alone. God is with us.

Keep the faith.

- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

Prayer for the Week

God of kindness and courage,

Thank you for the hunger that is God-given. You created us to work, to play, to love, to give, to dream, to desire.

Provide for our daily necessities–you are the very bread of life–and help us to open ourselves to receive what you're holding out to us, even now.

Nourish us in every way. With your gift of fortitude, steady our walk and re-energize our determination. Help us to fix our gaze on what matters first and most.

Finally, be with us when it feels like we were those we love are descending into hell - when abandonment, devastation, or death looms. You've walked that path - you know our pain and fear.

Help all your people to stand with those who hunger for justice. Show us how to champion and even to become your provision in their lives.

You have promised that all who hunger will be filled. What a mystery! What a hope! Thank you, gracious God, that you are the bread of life, given freely to everyone. Today we open our deepest self to receive your blessing.

Amen.

(adapted from The Prayer Wheel by Patton Dodd, Jana Riess and David Van Biema)