Grace Meth Ladies Night
Jan 98
Vachel with A V.. WLDS … Charlie Menese
I grew up in Perry. Presbyterian. Weren’t allowed to talk to Methodists on Sunday.
Tonight has been a result of two surprises….
- Bob Large… can’t… “Uh.. it’ s been announced..” Second surprise… Just spoke to Lutherans across town. Julie Hood e-mail. Two congregations.. a workshop session.. a complete surprise to me. Better get somebody bigger than me to get Lutherans talking to each other. So Before my speech… a short seminar in finding common ground
Ok… a little compatibility test Things we have in common: (See if you’re more compatible than the Lutherans were) HOLD UP YOUR HAND.. IF ---Take one long step before bed. ---cover up everything but a hole to breathe ---panic of wake up and find one bare foot sticking out. ---used to stay overnight and wakeup wondering where you are? ---Lose your Christianity completely when someone calls you a super to sell you something over the phone. ---When the pastor gives a three-point sermon, secretly check your watch as he finishes #1 and heads toward #2, then multiply by three? ---Has at least one hymn you cannot stand? Julie: be honest. What is it? (Our organist: A Mighty Fortress.. She calls it, “A Mighty Fortress Has Extra Beats”) ---Get tired of Christmas carols before the season’s over? ---(close your eyes) Bell choir drives you right up the wall. (Don’t worry.. people say the same about my bagpipes)
I’ve never had a very intellectual faith. My grandma had two simple rules: Be nice and pray.
I have no degree to preach so I’ll just talk. About being nice and praying.
Only one story about being nice. The puppy story.
Now that I’ve made everyone mad, let me talk about prayer.
Billy Graham
Daniel Priest.. Zebco 22
Marty-Kenny
A church that prays for each other is the most precious gift God can give us. Little Joehl girl.
Mothers in Touch.. every Thursday.. lifts up each teacher individually. Each has adopted a teacher.
Let me tell you a wonderful story about prayer. Fidel Cashero
No church programs will ever have the power and effect of a church which prays for each other.
Our little community of Arenzville. 90% Lutheran, several Methodists, some Catholics and 4 Presbyterians. Many unsuccessful attempts over the years to come together… --- men’s breakfasts.. folded quickly --- joint sunrise service … rained out.. never tried it again. --- baccalaureate.. finally excluded clergy altogether.. now: kids But something very wonderful and very small happened two years ago. Some Methodist had the nerve to put a Lutheran on the prayer chain. And then another.. and another.. intersect in several places.. . something’s happening…
I once asked my grandma how to pray. She said: One simple rule.. Just ask yourself who you’re trying to please. In other words, ask your self, Who am I trying to please? If it’s God, the words will come out just right. Some of you may have heard me tell this story before, but it proves my point so well, and I really enjoy telling it. HINEY THE MULE. Very simply.. you pray to please God… .
The highest points of my life have been when praying. ----Children at Green Pastures, praying the first heart-felt prayer of their life. ----Holding Bob Large’s big hands behind the New Salem stage.. rain coming, sold-out crowd, and mud dobblers buzzing our necks. ----Praying with my nephews around a campfire just after they’d accepted Christ as their savior. ---- I’d done my first play at Triopia.. nervous wreck… Got home, call: “Well, You’re pretty proud of yourself.” I avoided this woman for years. Asked to play piano at Methodist church… The organist? Her! Now we hold hands and pray together every Sunday.
The strength of Grace Methodist lies not in it’s attendance or offerings or it’s programs… It lies in the sincerity of its prayer.
And my prayers are with you. Thanks.