Prayer for Today, Saturday, January 21

Creating God,

We view the world through eyes of faith and see Your presence all around us. The beauty of nature is overwhelming. The mystery of life fills us with awe and we give You thanks. Forgive us, Loving God, when we take the gifts of nature for granted. May we take holy pauses in the course of this day to reflect and celebrate all the gifts of Your creation. This is our prayer in Jesus’ name. AMEN

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Bert Sims is still at St. Mary's Hospital. June Frei was hoping to be released yesterday evening, but is likely still in the hospital. Bertie Krausse was being dismissed late yesterday afternoon.

Please pray for all of our friends who are hospitalized, recovering at home, and in nursing homes.

Neta Smith will have surgery Monday morning. Please pray for Neta.

Kay Allison’s mother is gravely ill in Lubbock, Texas. Kay has gone to be with her. Please pray for Kay's mother, Colleen Freeman.

Don't forget your assignment. Please write a one paragraph response to the question “Why am I a Christian?”, and another paragraph response to the question, “Why am I a part of Central Christian Church?”. You can hand your written responses to me or e-mail them to me at johnm@centralenid.org.

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

All day                        Lions Club District Conference

5:30 PM                     Saturday Service of Communion in the chapel

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY

Isaiah 5:8-23 (RSV)   (link wasn’t working this morning)

8 Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room, and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land. 9 The LORD of hosts has sworn in my hearing: "Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant. 10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah." 11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening till wine inflames them! 12 They have lyre and harp, timbrel and flute and wine at their feasts; but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands. 13 Therefore my people go into exile for want of knowledge; their honored men are dying of hunger, and their multitude is parched with thirst. 14 Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude go down, her throng and he who exults in her. 15 Man is bowed down, and men are brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are humbled. 16 But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness. 17 Then shall the lambs graze as in their pasture, fatlings and kids shall feed among the ruins. 18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, 19 who say: "Let him make haste, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!" 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!

Grace and peace,

John McLemore