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Prayers,Politics,PeacePrayerVigil

Friday,November4th—Sunday,November6th,2016 Withthe2016PresidentialElectiononlydaysaway,ourcommunityhasfounditselfinanenvironmentoftensionandanxiety.Manypeoplefindthemselvesconflictedoverhowtovote,andwhethertovoteforaperson,aparty,ortheissuesthemselves.Thisweekend,letusunitetogetherinprayerasweseekGod’swisdominhowtoproceedbothbeforeandaftertheelection.LetusrememberthatweultimatelyfollowaleaderevenhigherthanthePresidentoftheUnitedStates…ultimatelywefollowJesus.Letuspraytogetherforourcountry,ourfutureleaders,andourunityasanation,butletusalsofindcomfortinknowingthatwefollowaSaviorwhodefiesallpoliticalpartiesandoffersusabetterwayoflifethroughdiscipleship. Rev.JulieSchendelFridayAfternoon

“Imetthoseofoursocietywhohadvotesintheensuingelection,and

advisedthem,

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1.Tovote,withoutfeeorreward,forthepersontheyjudgedmostworthy,

2.Tospeaknoevilofthepersontheyvotedagainst,and3.Totakecaretheirspiritswerenotsharpenedagainstthosethatvoted

ontheotherside.” —JohnWesley,October6,1774ThisquotefromJohnWesley’spersonaljournalsumsupourgoalofapproachingthePresidentialelectionwithdiscernment,respect,andunity.

Discernment:Voteforthepersonyoujudgemostworthy.Respect:Speaknoeviloftheopposingcandidate.Unity:Seektounifyyourownspiritwiththosewhoseviewsaredifferentthanyourown,andensurewecanmoveforwardtogether.ThisweekendweareseekingtoalignourmindswiththatofChrist,

andperhapsevenJohnWesley,todiscernhowbesttovoteforthenextleaderofourcountry,respectwhateverdecisionismade,andunifyourheartswithoneanotheraswefacewhateverthefuturemayhold.Inthesedaysbeforetheelection,everyoneseemstowaverbetweenhopeandfear:hopethatthereisstillachanceforthe“right”outcometooccur,fearthatourcountrywillbeweakenedorheadedfortroubleiftheoppositecomestrue.ThisisthetimetoturnoureyesuponJesus,andthewordsofthatfamiliarhymncometomind…

Osoul,areyouwearyandtroubled?Nolightinthedarknessyousee?

There’salightforalookattheSavior,Andlifemoreabundantandfree.

TurnyoureyesuponJesus,

Lookfullinhiswonderfulface,Andthethingsoftheearthwillgrowstrangelydim,

Inthelightofhisgloryandgrace.

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Prayer:LovingGod,letusrestintheassurancethatwecanfinddiscernmentinourdecisionsandpeaceabouttheactionswearetaking.Letusgivethanksthatwearenotaloneinourhopeorourfear,andinsteadfindguidancefromyouinallthatwedo.Remindusthatyouarethelightthatshinesinthedarkness,andthedarknesscannotovercomeit.Amen.FridayNight

Discernmentisoneofthose“churchy”words.Wedon’toftenhearitinthesecularworld,andinsteadreserveitformattersthatrelatetoourreligiousandspirituallives.Insteadofsayingwe’remakingadecision,orweighingouroptions,weusediscernmentasawaytogiveweightandimportancetotheprocessofhowwechoose.Yetthisworddeservesthatsignificance,becauseitisthoughttobedonewithanelementbeyondourownunderstandinganddecision-making.DiscernmentinvolvestheHolySpirit,seekingdirectionfromGodasameansofunderstandingourroleasdisciplesofJesusbypursuingaholypath.

HenryNouwendescribeddiscernmentas:“aspiritualunderstandingandanexperientialknowledgeofhowGodisactiveindailylifethatisacquiredthroughdisciplinedspiritualpractice.DiscernmentisfaithfullivingandlisteningtoGod’sloveanddirectionsothatwecanfulfillourindividualcallingandsharedmission.”1

Aswefacethecomingelection,letusturntoGodtodiscernnotonlyhowweshouldvote,butalsohowwecanbeanexampleofChristintheworldbyreflectingcompassion,patience,empathy,andrespectwiththosewhomweagreeanddisagree.LetusallowtheHolySpirittoguideouractionsandourwordsinawaythatispleasingtoGod.Prayer:AlmightyGod,inaworldofchangeyouplacedeternityinourheartsandgaveuspowertodiscerngoodfromevil.Grantussincerity,thatwemaypersistentlyseekthethingsthatendure,refusingthosewhichperish,andthat,amidthingsvanishinganddeceptive,wemayseethetruthsteadily,followthelightfaithfully,andgroweverricherinthat1HenriNouwen.Discernment:ReadingtheSignsofDailyLife,p.3.

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lovewhichisthelifeofallpeople;throughJesusChristourSavior.Amen.2SaturdayEarlyMorning “Donotbeconformedtothisworld,butbetransformedbytherenewingofyourminds,sothatyoumaydiscernwhatisthewillofGod—whatisgoodandacceptableandperfect.ForbythegracegiventomeIsaytoeveryoneamongyounottothinkofyourselfmorehighlythanyououghttothink,buttothinkwithsoberjudgment,eachaccordingtothemeasureoffaiththatGodhasassigned.”

Romans12:2-3 Paultellsusnottobeconformedtothisworld,todiscernthewillofGodsothatwemightdiscoverwhatisgoodandacceptableandperfect.IknowwhenitcomestoelectingthenextPresident,itfeelsasifnoneofourchoicesaregoodandacceptableandperfect.Yetwearestillencouragedtoexerciseourfreedomtovote,afreedomthatmanybeforeusfoughtlongandhardsothatwemighthaveasayinwholeadsourcountry.Sointimesofuncertainty,weturntoGodtoaskforwisdomandclarity,todiscernthewillofGod.Prayer:CreatorGod,youhaveformedusinyourimageandgivenusknowledge.Yetyoushapedusfromthedustandgaveushumility.Letusfindthecarefulbalancebetweenthosetwosothatwemightserveyouwithsoberjudgment.Youhavegivenusfaithtotrustinyouaswemakedecisionsthatshapeourworldandthosewholeadit.Leadusnowasweprayforourleadersandchooseourpathintothefuture.Amen.SaturdayLateMorning Overthepastcoupleofmonths,IhavebeenvisitingseveraldifferentSundaySchoolclassestosharethestoryofmycalltoministryandthejourneythateventuallyledmetoPeachtreeRdUMC.IfoundmyselfusingtheworddiscernseveraltimesasItalkedaboutanswering2TheUnitedMethodistBookofWorship,#510.

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thecalltoministry,choosingaseminary,decidingwhetherornottobecomeafosterparent.

Someoftheclassespickeduponthatword,andaskedmewhatmymethodofdiscernmentlookedlike.Iwasalittletakenabackbythatquestionandsaid,“Youmean,youwantathreestepprocessofhowtodiscernamajordecision?”Withhopeintheireyes,theyeagerlynoddedasiftosay,“Yes,please,that’dbegreat.”Ithoughtaboutitforaminute.Whilethereisnoeasythree-stepprocesstofinddivineassuranceaboutadecision,Ididnoticeseveralrepeatedbehaviorsmostofmydecisionshadincommon.

First,Ieducatemyself.WhenIwasconsideringordination,IaskedeveryoneIcouldthinkoftheiropinion,theprosandcons,thebiggestchallengesandthegreatestrewardsofordainedministry,andwhatallwasinvolvedintheprocess.Iaskedthosewhoservedinministryandchosenottogetordainedhowtheirexperiencewasdifferent,andwhatlimitationsorfreedomstheyfoundtakingadifferentroute.

IspoketopeopleIthoughtwouldagreewithmeandaskedthoseIknewwoulddisagree.IwantedtogatherasmuchinformationfromallpossiblescenariosasIthoughtthroughmyoptions.Itmayhavebeeneasier,atfirst,toaskonlythosewhoIknewfeltthesamewayIdid.Butbylisteningtotheopposingsidesaswell,Iwasbetterabletomakeamoreinformeddecisionbasedonaplethoraofknowledgeinsteadofanemotionalinstinct.AndIfeelthatbalancedwisdomservedmewell.

Anothercommonthemethathasbeencrucialtomydiscernmenthasalwaysbeenprayer.Ipraythrougheverystepoftheprocess.Ipraybeforemakingadecisionandcontinueafteritismade.IaskGodforwisdomandthentrytostopaskingortalking,andfinallylistenforGod’sresponse.

Intheend,Ilookforadecisionthatwillbringmepeace.IfIamnotatpeacewithwhatIhavedecided,IcontinuetheprocessofdiscernmentuntilIfeelsomethinghaschanged.Sometimesitjusttakestime.Sometimesitrequiresmoreresearchormoreprayer.SometimesIsimplymakeadecisionandtrustthatGodwillbewithmethroughitnomatterwhat.

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Prayer:Godofwisdom,allowusamomenttoreflectonallyouhavetaughtus,sothatwemightmakedecisionsthatarepleasingtoyou.Allowustohearyourvoiceinawaythatgivesusassuranceandpeace.Giveusthestrengthtobeyourhandsandfeetinthisworldsothatwemightseekjusticeforallofyourchildrenandworktogethertowardrespectandunity.Amen.SaturdayAfternoon “FortheLord’ssakeaccepttheauthorityofeveryhumaninstitution,whetheroftheemperorassupreme,orofgovernors,assentbyhimtopunishthosewhodowrongandtopraisethosewhodoright.ForitisGod’swillthatbydoingrightyoushouldsilencetheignoranceofthefoolish.AsservantsofGod,liveasfreepeople,yetdonotuseyourfreedomasapretextforevil.Honoreveryone.Lovethefamilyofbelievers.FearGod.Honortheemperor.”

1Peter2:13-17 It’shardtothinkofrespectingapoliticalleaderwithwhomyoudonotagree.Yetwhen“our”candidatewins,weexpectforthemtherespectofthosewhovoteddifferently.Believeitornot,wedon’talwayshavetoagreewithsomeonetorespecthimorher.AsservantsofGodwearecalledtoahigherstandardofliving:toliveasfreepeople,yetnottousethatfreedomforevil.PartofourbaptismalvowsintheUnitedMethodistChurchincludethesequestions:Doyourenouncethespiritualforcesofwickedness,rejecttheevilpowersoftheworld,andrepentofyoursin?DoyouacceptthefreedomandpowerGodgivesyoutoresistevil,injustice,andoppressioninwhateverforms

theypresentthemselves? Wearecalledtoturnawayfromevil.Similarly,wearecalledtoseekjustice,lovemercy,andwalkhumblywithourGod,justasthescriptureinMicah6:8suggests.Whenwefollowthesescriptures,andpledgeouragreementtoourbaptismalvows,wearepromisingtoberespectfultooneanotherbyusingthefreedomGodhasgivenusinaway

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thathonorsGod.Thereisnohonorintreatingoneanotherwithhatredorcontempt.Wedonotshowrespectwhenweallowourangertospewoutontootherswhothinkdifferentlythanwedo. Reading1Peterinaslightlydifferentlanguage,wehearthesewordsfromTheMessage:“ExerciseyourfreedombyservingGod,notbybreakingtherules.Treateveryoneyoumeetwithdignity.Loveyourspiritualfamily.RevereGod.Respectthegovernment.”Dignity.Love.Reverence.Respect.Letustreateveryoneinthismanner,justasGodhastaughtus.Prayer:LordAlmighty,wehumbleourselvesbeforeyouasyourfaithfulservants.Wegivethanksforthefreedomyouhavegivenusasyourfollowers,andseektousethatfreedominwaysthathonorandglorifyyourname.Helpustotreatoneanotherwiththesamerespectanddignitythatwehopetobetreatedwithourselves.Amen. SaturdayNight

OneofmyfavoritechildhoodbookswasWheretheWildThingsArebyMauriceSendak.It’sastoryaboutawildlittleboynamedMaxwhohasavividimagination.Onenight,aftermuchroughplayandrunning

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aboutthehouse,Max’smothersendshimtobedwithoutsupperfordisrespectfulbehavior.Angryandupsetinhisbedroom,hewishestogosomewherehe’llbelovedbestofall.Thenhisimaginationtakesflight,andamysteriousforestbeginstogrowaroundhim,andhesailsofftoafarawaylandwheretheWildThingsare.TherehebecomesthekingoftheWildThingsandthey“letthewildrumpusstart!”Eventhoughherulesinthisnewworld,andcandowhateverhewants,eventuallyMaxgetshomesickandsailsbacktohisownroom.Therehefindswaitingforhimhissupper,stillhot. Thebeautifulpartofthisstoryistheunconditionallovethemothershows.EventhoughMaxdisrespectedher,shestilltakescareofhisneedsaboveallelse.Didhelearnanythingabouttheconsequencesofbeingdisrespectful?Maybe.Maybenot.Didherealizethataboveallelse,heisalwaysloved?Ithinkso. Perhapstherearetimeswewouldliketoimagineaworldwherewealwaysgetourownway,wherewearelovedbestofall,andwherewecanmakeupwhateverruleswelike.Yetifeveryonelivedbythismeans,wewouldhavemuchworsethanawildrumpus.Wewouldhavechaos.Whenwedon’tgetourway,it’shardtoberespectful.However,ifwelearnanythingfromthemotherinthisstory,it’sthatsometimes,evenwhenothersdon’tbehavethewaywewantthemto,wecanstillshowforgivenessandlove.Always.

“Iftheyrespectyou,respectthem.Iftheydisrespectyou,stillrespectthem.Donotallowtheactionsofotherstodecreaseyourgoodmanners,becauseyourepresentyourself,notothers.”3Prayer:LovingGod,wegivethanksthatyouloveusevenwhenweareundeserving.Wegivethanksthatyourforgivenessandgracearenotdependentonouractions.Teachushowtoberespectfulofoneanotherevenourowninstinctsmakeusstray.Helpustofollowyourexamplesothatwemightbemoreloving,slowtoanger,andgenerouswithourrespect.Amen. 3MohammadZeyara

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SundayEarlyMorning

PeopleliketoarguewhetherJesuswouldbeaRepublicanoraDemocrat.Fortunately,hesetanexampleofbeingsomethinggreaterthaneitherpoliticalparty,oftenturningthegovernmentupsidedown.Jesustaughtthatourultimateallegianceisnottoapersonvotedintooffice,buttoourCreator.Wehavetheabilitytochoosewhomwefollow,andwhomwemakeourSavior.

“Letusnotseektherepublicananswerorthedemocraticanswer,buttherightanswer.Letusnotseektofixtheblameforthepast.Letusaccept

ourownresponsibilityforthefuture.”JohnF.Kennedy

Prayer:LambofGod,inaworldthatseemssodivisive,weseektofindunitywithourbrothersandsistersinChrist.Remindusthatyourkingdomwasnotofthisworld,butonethatinvitesustogreaterthings.Helpustoputasideblame,hurtfeelings,distrust,andfear.Giveusstrengthasweputourfaithinyouandyourkingdom.Amen.

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SundayLateMorning

Sometimesitfeelsasifthereisnorightanswer.Inaseasonwhereourcountryfeelsanxiousanddivided,onewouldthinkthepeaceablesolutionwouldbetoseekunity.Onesuchcompanysoughttouniteusalltogetheroversomethingassimpleascoffee.Starbucksrecentlyreleasedanew,limitededitiongreencup.Onitwerepicturesof132differentpeopledrawnwithasingleline. NBCNewsreportedthefollowingstatementStarbucksreleasedabouttheirnewcup:

"Duringadivisivetimeinourcountry,Starbuckswantedtocreateasymbolofunityasareminderofoursharedvalues,andtheneedtobegoodtoeachother,"saidHowardSchultz,thecoffeegiant'schairman

andCEO.

ThecupwasdesignedbyartistShogoOtawhosketchedhundredsoffigures—fromfarmerstobaristas—embracinginonecontinuousline.Otasaidhehopedthedesignwouldserveasasymbolfor"stitching

peopletogetherasaunitedcommunity."

Despitetheattempttounifyus,thisgreencupquicklygainedcritiquefrompeopleaccusingStarbucksofhavingabiasedagenda.Whatevergoodwillwasattemptedsoongavewaytocomplaintsandmoreanger.Weliveinaworldwheresomepeoplewillfindanyreason

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tofight.Aspeopleoffaith,letusriseabovetheneedtolookfortroubleandseekinsteadtobepeacemakers.

“Bearwithoneanotherand,ifanyonehasacomplaintagainstanother,forgiveeachother;justastheLordhasforgivenyou,soyoualsomustforgive.Aboveall,clotheyourselveswithlove,whichbindseverythingtogetherinperfectharmony.”

Colossians3:13-14

Prayer:God,wearesotiredofbeingangry.Wedon’thavemuchfightleftinus.Helpustofindthepeace.Helpustoletgoofourresentmentandbitternessandworktowardunityinstead.Wewanttobelievethatitispossibletoforgiveothersaseasilyasyouforgiveus.Wewanttobedrawntogetherinperfectharmonysothatwemightloveoneanothermoreeasily.DearGod,letitbeso,andletitbeginwithus.Amen.SundayAfternoon WhenIwasinseminaryIservedinmyfirstjobasayouthminister.Thatfirstsummerwetooktheyouthtoaweeklongmissiontripinthemountains.Theretheyinformedmethatitwas“tradition”toplaypranksoneachotherthroughouttheweek,andsharedallkindsofstoriesofthesillyandplayfulpranksthathadbeenpulledinyearspast.Thisallsoundedlikeahorribleideatome,butknewifItriedtobanpranks,theymightpullthemanyway,andthingscouldgetoutofcontrol.SoIagreed,withafewrules.Prankscouldnothurtorembarrassanybody.Prankscouldnotharmanybody’sproperty.Prankshadtobedonebeforelightsoutwiththesupervisionofanadult.Aslongaseveryonefollowedtheserules,whatcouldgowrong…right? Throughouttheweekeveryoneplayedalongandhadafewgoodlaughs,andweevenmadealotofprogressonourworksites,gettingalongbeautifully,untilthelastnight.AfteralongweekofconstructionworkIwasenjoyingrelaxingafewextramomentsatthedinnertable,untiloneoftheyouthcametomeinhysterics.AllIunderstoodwassomethingaboutboysandcrickets.Ifollowedheruptothegirl’sroomsandfoundallofmygirlsscreaming,crying,andfightingwiththeboys.

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Theguys,includingthemalechaperones,hadpurchasedover300livescricketsandreleasedthemintoeachofthegirl’srooms…intheirsuitcases,underthebedsheets,intheirsnackcontainers.Cricketswereeverywhere.Itwaschaos. Fastforwardthroughthecatchingofthecrickets,theapologizingtothemissiondirectors,andtheseparationofthegirls,theguys,andthecounselors.Theonlywaytogetthroughthisdebaclewastogathertogetherandtalktooneanother.Wespentthebetterpartofthenightallowingeachsidetosharetheirsideofthestory…theguysinsistingtheyfollowedalltherules(infact,theydid),thegirlslamentingtheirembarrassmentandickfactor,thecounselorsfeelingremorseforme,yetstillfindingitallfunny.Eachgroupwasallowedtotalk,uninterrupted,untiltheyfelttheyhadbeenheard.Bytheendofthenight,eachgroupapologizedforgoingtoofar,overreacting,notthinkingthingsthrough.Issuesthathadnothingtodowithcricketsgotbroughtintotheconversation,andwedealtwiththoseinturn.Itwaslikethecricketincidenthadreleasedeveryillfeelinganyonehadexperiencedforyears,andbroughtitalltothetable.EvenIgotaccusedofafewthings,andlikeanygoodleadermust,Itookresponsibilityformyfaultsandapologized. Afterthatnight,everyoneleftwithhugsandsmiles,andthehealingbegan.Ouryouthgroupgrewstrongerfromthattrip,becausewelearnedhowtolistentooneanother.Weknewthatourgroupwasmadeupofmanydifferentpersonalitieswithvariousopinionsandfavoritesandannoyances.Yetwelearnedhowtoembraceoneanother.Welearnedhowtotalktooneanother,andhowtobeawareofourshortcomings.Mostimportantly,welearnedhowtoforgiveandmoston.Prayer:EverlastingGod,sometimesinlifewewishtherewasamediatortobalanceoutadebateandmakeitfair.Eventhen,wewanttoblamethemediatorifthingsaren’tgoingourway.Helpustolearntofightfair,toreallyhearoneanotherandacknowledgethatweseethingsdifferently.Remindusthatdisagreementisok,sothatwecanlearntomoveontogether,unified,andstrengthenedwithoneanother.Drawustogetherasyourpeoplesowemaystandunited.Amen.Sundaynight

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NomatterwhathappensNovember8th,thesunwillstillriseWednesdaymorning.JesuswillstillbeourLordandSavior,andwewillstillbeapeopleunitedtogetherinChrist.Letusrememberthatthereismorethatunitesusthandividesus.Prayer:

WalterBrueggemann’s“PostElectionDay”Prayer:YoucreatorGodwhohasorderedusinfamiliesandcommunities,inclansandtribes,instatesandnations.YoucreatorGodwhoenactyourgovernanceinwaysovertandinwayshidden.Youexerciseyourwillforpeaceandjusticeandforfreedom.Wegiveyouthanksforthepeaceableorderofournationandforthechanceofchoosing—allthemanipulativemoneynotwithstanding.Wepraynowfornewgovernancethatyourwillandpurposemayprevail,thatourleadersmayhaveasenseofjusticeandgoodness,thatweascitizensmaycareaboutthepublicfaceofyour

purpose.WeprayinthenameofJesuswhowasexecutedbytheauthorities.4

Amen.

4WalterBrueggemann.PrayersforaPrivilegedPeople,p.149.