Prayer

I have some pretty strong opinions about prayer. It has frustrated and saddened me that over the past few months, prayer has been seen in the media as somehow wimpy, or just a cop-out.  My personal testimony is that I’ve seen and deeply felt the power of prayer too many times in my life to disregard the efficacy of prayer.

Last week our daughter Megan landed in the ER (followed by hospital admission) with serious health concerns not just once, but twice! Thankfully, everything was treatable and she is now doing well. But it would be a major understatement to say it was stressful, and I know that many of you have experienced the weight of that kind of stress in your lives. How do people in that type of situation navigate the path without a community of faith? We had many, many people praying—plus we had a hospital visit from Jayde, cards from people in the parish, numerous offers of help, and Bryn even wrote this blog for me last week! As Christians, we believe that prayer naturally flows into action, and I see that belief lived out over and over.

When we gather around the table at Sellwood Faith Community each week, our “intercessory prayers” (a fancy way

of saying, “prayers for others”) are usually set in the context of this question: “How can we be present for one another this week?”  I believe this question prompts us all, children and adults, to understand prayer as a hands-on, fully participatory activity. It is our way of saying to God, “We are your hands and feet here on earth; put us to work so that we can be your prayerful presence for those in need.” As someone who has lived through a week of both needing and experiencing God’s healing presence, I am deeply grateful for the prayers of this community.

Prayers for healing at Taize Worship

How will you be God’s prayerful presence for others this week?

Rev. Laura