On this 4th Sunday after Pentecost, we hear Jesus utter the words, “Peace! Be Still!” – and wind & waves are reduced to a calm, giving hope to disciples being rocked in their little boat. Sometimes, we can feel tossed around by life’s storms. Yet, the voice of Jesus still rings out, “Peace! Be Still!” – and we find ourselves strengthened with a peace this troubled world cannot provide. We continue our Summer Prayer Emphasis, with greater intentionality to “be still and know that God is God!” Everyone is invited to a 5-minute pre-worship prayer time, at 8:10 & 10:25, as we take time to be refreshed with a greater sense of God’s peace (and if something is heavy on your heart, a pastor can come to you in the pew for a word of prayer). This Sunday, we offer a blessing for our Confirmation Students headed off to camp – as well as prayers of thanksgiving & remembrance for our fathers, grandfathers & others who have played fatherly roles in our lives. We pray for deeper racial reconciliation on this anniversary week of the Mother Emmanuel shooting and weekend of June 19th. We continue our Hope Prayer baskets – and our Hoping-Coping Life Skills survey slips are still available. No matter what storms this week may have held, there is HOPE in our mighty Lord who cares so deeply about each of us. We join in words of Psalm 107, “Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is God – God’s mercy endures forever!”
