From the Pulpit
Letter from the pulpit ( heart of the church ; people and building ) We have it on Good authority that prayer releases God ’ s power
“ Believe me : I am in my Father and my Father is in me . If you can ’ t believe that , believe what you see — these works . The person who trusts me will not only do what I ’ m doing but even greater things , because I , on my way to the Father , am giving you the same work to do that I ’ ve been doing . You can count on it . From now on , whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing , I ’ ll do it . That ’ s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son . I mean it . Whatever you request in this way , I ’ ll do .
John 14:11-14 The Message
Jesus always prayed , not just when He was about to do something but ALWAYS . His life was a prayer for humanity ( the Lord ’ s prayer ), His death was a prayer ( father forgive them …) and His resurrection is a prayer every time we pray the Eucharist . And , as your priest in charge I join Him in prayer in everything I do or plan to do .
I was looking back at the magazines published with my letters in them . July 2015 was the first . In it I encouraged you all in prayer and sent a prayer for you all to pray each day . It prepared the ground for us all to work together to grow God ’ s love around the church , in ourselves , in the congregation and in the community . I sit here wondering if any of you still pray it , or has the momentum of a prayer from a new priest diminished with time ?
That first year was amazing wasn ’ t it ? 😊 New prayers , new people , new projects , new baptism , new confirmations . August ‘ 15 to August ’ 16 , saw growth . I had boundless energy and enthusiasm , plus you were all encouraging and turned out to volunteer when needed . Thank you . Prayers were said by you , and they were answered . Thanks be to God .
The next year was not so amazing for church growth . My personal and priestly prayer was directed to Ashley and my family , and with any energy left I prayed for St Oswald ’ s . It was a huge prayer load to carry and almost impossible , and so before I had to ask the bishop to be released from duties I wrote in my journal .
“‘ did Jesus have this awful dilemma at any point in His 3 years as Rabbi ? Or was the choice he gave to the man in the crowd : " Follow Me , and let the dead bury their own dead ." Matthew 8:22 . the answer ?”
I was assured by + Gregor that my husband was as much entitled to my prayer and time as my church . Phew ! I learnt that the answer to my question is that I am called by Him yes , but I am only human , and what applied to Jesus will not always apply to us .
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