Prayer for Today, Wednesday, April 30

O Divine Presence,

At times the complexities of the faith journey numb us. We seek a spiritual connection with You, one that sustains, comforts and empowers us. We also seek to understand You using our ability to reason and reflect. There are dominant voices that suggest the spiritual life is strictly emotional and is apart from reason. There are others who affirm that faith is a matter of intellectual assent to a series of doctrines. Forgive us, Loving God, when we are reduced to an either/or position. Help us realize our relation to You is a matter of heart and mind. Emotional responses to Your grace, without reason and critical reflection, are merely fluff. Thinking, discussing and debating issues of faith without a “warming of the heart” lead us to a cold, lifeless certainty where there is no transforming sense of awe or mystery. May we stand before You, O God, as the complete ones we were created to be. May we allow moments of ecstasy and moments of reason as we praise and honor You. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

Gene Burkett’s funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. tomorrow, in our sanctuary. Please note the change of venue

 

Suzy Cunningham’s brother, Steve Meyer from San Antonio, died. His services will be here in Enid.

 

Chad Yniguez is having knee replacement surgery today at the VA Hospital in OKC.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Suzi Powell’s great-granddaughter, and the family of Ruth Weston.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

Congratulations to Aria Justice for winning a state cosmetology competition.

 

Tri-State is underway. We will have a number of children and youth in our building today, Thursday, and Friday.

 

CHANGE. CHANGE. CHANGE. There will be an important Deacons meeting TONIGHT at 7:00 P.M. for all deacons and Elders serving in May. This will be in lieu of the Pastor’s Cabinet.  

 

Congratulations to our newly elected Deacons and Elders.

 

Thanks, again, to Gene Heitfeld for his continued work videoing our 10:15 sanctuary service and updating our website. Go to www.centralenid.org to see the current updates, including the Maundy Thursday Living Lord’s Supper Service.

 

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

 

All Day            Tri-State

1:00 P.M.        Emmaus Reunion Group - men 

5:30 P.M.                    WWNF begins with a meal

6:00 P.M.       VBS Planning meeting

7:00 P.M.                    IMPORTANT DEACONS MEETING

 

PSALM FOR TODAY

Psalm 34

 

²My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

³O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

⁴I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

⁵Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.

⁶This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.

⁷The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

⁸O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.

⁹O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want.

 

Grace and peace,

 

John McLemore

 

 

 

Prayer for Today, Tuesday, April 29

Magnificent Creator God,

The celebration of the empty tomb has passed and we are renewed. Spring is leading us to summer and we are expectant. Bless us on this journey, O Lord. Forgive our iniquities and our limited vision. May the clarity we receive from Your love and Christ’s passion embolden us to proclaim and live the Good News. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

Gene Burkett died Sunday morning. His funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, May 1, in our sanctuary. Please note the change of venue

 

Suzy Cunningham’s brother, Steve Meyer from San Antonio, died last night. His services will be here in Enid.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Suzi Powell’s great-granddaughter, and the family of Ruth Weston.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

Tri-State begins tomorrow. We will have a number of children and youth in our building Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

 

CHANGE. CHANGE. CHANGE. There will be an important Deacons meeting WEDNESDAY at 7:00 P.M. for all deacons and Elders serving in May. This will be in lieu of the Pastor’s Cabinet.  

 

Congratulations to our newly elected Deacons and Elders.

 

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

 

9:00 A.M.                   TOPS

Noon                           Noon Bible Study

5:00 P.M.        Golf League

5:15 P.M.         Emmaus Reunion Group - women

6:00 P.M.        Spanish Church

 

PSALM FOR TODAY

 

Psalm 93

 

¹The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved;

²your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

⁵Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.

 

Grace and peace,

 

John McLemore

 

 

Prayer for Today, Monday, April 28

Loving and Gracious God,

The beauty of springtime affirms Your presence in all creation. The power of Easter affirms Your love for all the world. As we walk though these next days and weeks may Your Holy Spirit enhance our journey. We seek to be  immersed in the depths of Your love and rise as new creations in Christ. This is our prayer in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

Gene Burkett died yesterday morning. His memorial service will be at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, May 1, at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Suzi Powell’s great-granddaughter, and the family of Ruth Weston.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

CHANGE. CHANGE. CHANGE. There will be an important Deacons meeting next WEDNESDAY at 7:00 P.M. for all deacons and Elders serving in May. This will be in lieu of the Pastor’s Cabinet.  

 

Congratulations to our newly elected Deacons and Elders.

 

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

 

9:30 A.M.       Staff Meeting in the conference room

11:00 A.M.      Youth Ministers’ Meeting in the conference room

Noon               Noon Prayer Service in the chapel

5:00 P.M.        Spanish Church

7:00 P.M.        Boy Scouts

 

PSALM FOR TODAY

 

Psalm 2

¹Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?

²The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying,

³“Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.”

⁴He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.

⁵Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,

⁶“I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”

⁷I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have begotten you.

⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

⁹You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

 

Grace and peace,

 

John McLemore

 

Prayer for Today, Sunday, April 27

Gracious God,

This is the day You have made and we rejoice. The first Sunday after Easter reminds us that every Sunday is a day to celebrate resurrection. We open our hearts to the Spirit of the Risen Lord this day. May we too confess, as did Thomas, “My Lord and my God”. Forgive us when, in our haste or because of habit, we choose not to worship you. Forgive us when we think our religious life can be faithful without participation in the community of believers. Come to us now, we pray. Bless our lives, our hearts and our spirits. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

MISSION CAMP FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON TODAY at 11:30 A.M. Plan to stay and hear more about mission camp and the various volunteer opportunities

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Suzi Powell’s great-granddaughter, and the family of Ruth Weston.

 

Gene Burkett’s dementia is advanced and non-reversible. He is now under hospice care. Gene and Naomi Burkett need love and care.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

There will be an important Deacons meeting next TUESDAY at 7:00 P.M.

 

There will be congregational meetings today in all three services to elect new Deacons and Elders.

 

Grace and peace,

John McLemore

 

 

Prayer for Today, Saturday, April 26

O Lord our Lord,

We know that the life of faith is a journey. What a wonderful and amazing journey it is. You know us from birth and walk alongside us as we take new steps. You are present in our baptism, our growing, our questioning, our learning, even our doubting. You call us to serve others along the way, to share life and love, to nurture and support those we know and even the stranger in our midst. It is a grand adventure and we give You thanks, O Lord. We also know there are times when we are afraid and we forget You are there. There are times when the path is dark and we rely solely on our own judgment, making wrong turns and straying. Forgive us, we pray. Bring us back to You, O God. Illumine our way. Embrace us in palpable ways. Draw us once again into this amazing journey of life and faith. We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord, AMEN.

______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

The memorial service for Ruth Weston is today at 11:00 A.M. in the sanctuary.

 

Some may remember Jay Gunning, a former member who passed away in Norman. His service will be May 2^nd at McFarlin UMC in Norman.

 

Please pray for Suzi Powell’s five year old great-granddaughter who is having kidney issues and is seeing specialists.

 

Charlene Fields, Retha Cady’s sister, who is in rehab at St. Mary’s

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, and Jill Muegee.

 

Gene Burkett’s dementia is advanced and non-reversible. Gene and Naomi Burkett need love and care.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

There will be an important Deacons meeting next week. Listen closely for the details tomorrow.

 

There will be congregational meetings tomorrow to elect new Deacons and Elders.

 

MISSION CAMP FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON TOMORROW at 11:30 A.M. Plan to stay and hear more about mission camp and the various volunteer opportunities.

 

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

 

11:00 A.M.      Ruth Weston Memorial Service

Noon               Weston Funeral Luncheon

 

PSALM FOR TODAY

 

Psalm 118

 

¹O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!

¹⁴The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

¹⁵There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;

¹⁶the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”

¹⁷I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.

¹⁸The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.

¹⁹Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

²⁰This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

²¹I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

 

Grace and peace,

John McLemore

 

Prayer for Today, Friday, April 25

O God of the Past, Present and Future,

You have a history with us and it is one of continued reaching out, making covenants, forgiving and redeeming. We are unworthy, O Lord, yet You continue to desire a relationship with Your human family. Forgive us when we allow race, ideology, class or even religion to separate us from one another and ultimately from You. We live in a world with too much violence and it is not the world You desire. May our hearts desire peace. May we be agents of love and forgiveness. We know that You are able to do far more abundantly than all we could ever ask or think by Your power that is at work within us. Use us, O Lord, so that Your kingdom my come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name, AMEN.

______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

The memorial service for Ruth Weston will be tomorrow at 11:00 A.M. in the sanctuary.

 

Some may remember Jay Gunning, a former member who passed away in Norman. His service will be May 2^nd at McFarlin UMC in Norman.

 

Please pray for Suzi Powell’s five year old great-granddaughter who is having kidney issues and is seeing specialists.

 

Charlene Fields, Retha Cady’s sister, who is in rehab at St. Mary’s

 

Mary Johnson and Mickie Giberson are recovering at home from surgeries.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, and Jill Muegee.

 

Gene Burkett’s dementia is advanced and non-reversible. Gene and Naomi Burkett need love and care.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

I am taking this week off, but will be available in case of an emergency.

 

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

 

Regular office hours

 

PSALM FOR TODAY

 

Psalm 118

 

¹O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!

²Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

⁴Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

²²The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

²³This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

²⁶Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.

²⁷The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.

 

Grace and peace,

John McLemore

 

Prayer for Today, Thursday, April 24

O Lord of Life and Love,

We are now post-Easter people. We know the story. Help us, Dear God, to live the story. Forgive us when we do not do our part. Forgive us when we reduce the faith to a series of beliefs. Your love and grace precede everything, but it is our decision to open our hearts to You. You are there, but only we can swing wide the door to our souls. Come to us, we pray. We yearn to experience You and to love You. Our hearts are open. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.

______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

Please pray for Suzi Powell’s five year old great-granddaughter who is having kidney issues and is seeing specialists.

 

Charlene Fields, Retha Cady’s sister, was attached by dogs near her home. She is in rehab at St. Mary’s

 

Mary Johnson and Mickie Giberson are recovering at home from surgeries.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Gene Burkett, and Naomi Burkett.

 

The memorial service for Ruth Weston will be Saturday at 11:00 A.M. in the sanctuary.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

I am told the internet at the church is down delaying the distribution of the Church Visitor and other emails.

 

I am taking this week off, but will be available in case of an emergency.

 

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

 

10:00 A.M.      Mary Ruth Cooper’s Bible Study

6:00 P.M.                   Emmaus Gathering

6:00 P.M.                   Spanish Church meets in the chapel

 

PSALM FOR TODAY

 

Psalm 8

 

²Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.

⁵Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.

⁶You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,

⁷all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

⁸the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

Grace and peace,

John McLemore

 

 

 

 

Prayer for Today, Wednesday, April 23

O Lord,

There are times in our lives when we are angry at You, even question You. In the Christian instruction we have received from family, church, even the culture, it has been suggested that we are never to doubt You or be angry with You. Forgive our shortsightedness, Loving God. If we are truly in relationship with You then we understand You are bigger than our doubts, fears and anger. Your love is greater than any questions we may have. Your grace far exceeds our sin. Often our questions and anger come from life experiences, personal and corporate, that cause us hurt or pain. Forgive us, Creator God, when we blame You. Help us to understand that You are always there with us, even in our doubts. We know this through the resurrection of Jesus who became the Christ and we pray in his name. AMEN.

_______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

Please pray for Suzi Powell’s five year old great-granddaughter who is having kidney issues and is seeing specialists.

 

Charlene Fields, Retha Cady’s sister, was attached by dogs near her home. She is in rehab at St. Mary’s

 

Mary Johnson is home following her heart surgery and doing remarkably well.

 

Mickie Giberson is recovering from surgery at home.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Gene Burkett, and Naomi Burkett.

 

The memorial service for Ruth Weston will be Saturday at 11:00 A.M. in the sanctuary.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

We had a number of youth and adults from Central participate in the “Guys and Dolls” production at Enid High School. They did a great job. See Laurie Bushman’s photo at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201657476184783&set=np.116032757.1412779013&type=1

 

I am taking this week off, but will be available in case of an emergency.

 

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

 

9:00 A.M.       TOPS

1:00 P.M.        Emmaus Reunion Group – men

5:30 P.M.        WWNF Activities

 

PSALM FOR TODAY

 

Psalm 105

 

¹O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.

²Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.

³Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

⁴Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.

⁶O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

⁷He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

⁸He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

⁹the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,

 

Grace and peace,

John McLemore

 

 

 

Prayer for Today, Tuesday, April 22

O Divine Presence,

 

We reflect on our celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Our hearts were filled with joy and hope as we witnessed the rededication of  Dean Bomholt and the baptisms of Hunter Evans, Camdon Smith, Sage Arnold, Emily Arnold, Ethan Lipsett,  Koby Cowherd, and Lexi Coup. Please surround them with your love and grace, O Lord. Now it is up to us to live into the life of Your reign on earth. Pour out Your spirit on us, we pray. May we be bold, courageous, and faithful in our witness to the new life that comes to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whose name we pray, AMEN.

_______    

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

Please pray for Suzi Powell’s five year old great-granddaughter who is having kidney issues and is seeing specialists.

 

Charlene Fields, Retha Cady’s sister, was attached by dogs near her home. There is an article in today’s paper.

 

Mary Johnson is home following her heart surgery.

 

Mickie Giberson is recovering from surgery at home.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mettee are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Gene Burkett, and Naomi Burkett.

 

The memorial service for Ruth Weston will be Saturday at 11:00 A.M. in the sanctuary.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

I am taking this week off, but will be available in case of an emergency.

 

SCHEDULE FOR TODAY

 

Noon               Noon Bible Study

3:15 P.M.         Greenbrier Service

5:00 P.M.        Girl Scouts

5:00 P.M.        Golf League

5:15 P.M.         Emmaus Reunion Group – women

6:00 P.M.       Spanish Church in the chapel

7:00 P.M.        Quilt Central

 

PSALM FOR TODAY

 

Psalm 33

 

⁴For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

⁵He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

¹⁸Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

¹⁹to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield.

²²Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

 

Grace and peace,

John McLemore

 

 

Prayer for Today, Monday, April 21

Magnificent Creator God,

The celebration of the empty tomb has passed and we are renewed. Spring is leading us to summer and we are expectant. Bless us on this journey, O Lord. Forgive our iniquities and our limited vision. May the clarity we receive from Your love and Christ’s passion embolden us to proclaim and live the Good News. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

_____

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

Mary Johnson is home following her heart surgery.

 

Mickie Giberson is recovering from surgery at home.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mette are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Gene Burkett, and Naomi Burkett.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

We had a wonderful Easter at Central!

 

I am taking this week off, but will be available in case of an emergency.

 

 

Grace and peace,

John McLemore

 

 

Prayer for Today, EASTER, April 20

O God of New Life and Hope,

We come to You on this Easter day praising Your name and thanking You for the beauty, power and mystery of resurrection. We stand before the empty tomb and our hearts leap because we know Your love embraces us now and through all eternity. Bless the Church and our church today as Christian gather to celebrate new life and hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

______

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

Mary Johnson is recovering from successful heart surgery.

 

Mickie Giberson is recovering from surgery.

 

Nick Patrizi and Sally Mette are in the Bass Pavilion.

 

Continue to lift up Liz Beaty, Garret Hamm, Jill Muegee, Gene Burkett, and Naomi Burkett.

 

Please pray for these family and friends.

 

TODAY we will meet at the church at 6:00 A.M. and leave at 6:15 A.M. for our EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE at the home of Roger and LaDonna Graves.

 

There will be an 8:00 A.M. chapel Easter Service, a 9:00 A.M. Easter Breakfast, and a 10:15 combined Easter Sanctuary Service. INVITE YOUR FRIENDS. ALL ARE WELCOME.

 

CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

 

Grace and peace,

John McLemore