November 2021
 



Kierkegaard on Not Worrying

 

In 1847 Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) published in one little book three discourses or studies on Matthew 6.26 about how God feeds us in the way he feeds the birds. I think it’s worth pondering repeatedly:

Be contented with being a human being, with being the humbled one, the created being who can no more support himself than create himself. But if a human being wants to forget God and support himself, then we have worry about making a living. It is certainly praise-worthy and pleasing to God that a person sows and reaps and gathers into barns, that he works in order to obtain food; but if he wants to forget God and thinks he supports himself by his labors, then he has worry about making a living. If the wealthiest man who has ever lived forgets God and thinks he supports himself, he has worry about making a living. Let us not talk foolishly and narrow-mindedly by saying that the wealthy man is free from worry about making a living and the poor man is not. No, only that person is free who is contented with being a human being and thereby understands that the heavenly Father feeds him – and this, of course, the poor can understand just as well as the wealthy (Kierkegaard’s Writings 15:177). 

     So be sure to thank God for whatever you have, taking no credit for any of it, and knowing that whatever it may be, it’s what God thinks is best for you.

 

 Pastor Marshall

(Reprint from The Messenger November 2010)

 




 



PRESIDENT'S REPORT...by Cary Natiello

 

Dear friends of First Lutheran Church,

 

This will be my final president’s report to you before Nelly and I start on our adventure and head south for the winter.

     My thoughts and prayers have been with Pastor Marshall these past few weeks.  At the time of writing this, he remains hospitalized and is still waiting for test results so his providers can come up with optimal treatment options.

     Recently, Jane wrote to the Jonah Bible Study group…

 

Ron is still on the "sick-list" this week and asked me to contact you again. I know he is looking forward to online classes with you again SOON, but he is still hospitalized. The last few days he has been walking the halls and working the crowd! Some things never change...

 

He has been meeting so many Christians during his hospital stay who are complete strangers and have offered him support. He knows that God is watching over him. 

 

     Walking the halls, working the crowd, and meeting so many Christians who are complete strangers….Doesn’t that sound so much like Pastor Marshall!  God certainly works in mysterious ways.

     Janine Douglass, current Vice-President, will assume the president’s duties beginning November 10th, after the November 9th council meeting.  She has also agreed to be nominated for president for the 2022 – 2024 term.  I am thankful to Janine for her gracious willingness to jump in and cover the balance of my president’s term.

     Serving on the council since 2017 has been a blessing and honor for me.  After my wife Cynthia passed away in 2016, I was so lost, and I felt no longer with any purpose.  I prayed for guidance and my prayers were answered by you all allowing me to serve at First Lutheran Church in a meaningful and productive manner on the council.  Thank you all for your support.

     Lastly, a special prayer for Pastor Marshall…

Oh Lord, we pray at this time for your comfort to be with the Ron Marshall & Jane Harty family as they go through this uncertainty with Ron’s health.  Give Ron the strength to remain healthy; Give his doctors the wisdom to determine proper treatment; And give his family your peace.  Through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen 

 

God’s peace be with you all.




 



 

STEWARDSHIP

A Stewardship Sampling

 

Below are excerpts from previous stewardship articles and sermons that I put together to share with you for this month’s stewardship article:

·     Stewardship means using our talents to glorify God.

·     A beginning point in looking for ways to best be good stewards is to listen in prayer and be open to God’s guidance.

·     Search the Bible for answers to stewardship.  Search your hearts for opportunities to grow in your understanding and application of how we can each better commit our talents and gifts to the life of the church.

·     We are the trustees of the time, talents, gifts, treasures and the values of the community we all live in. 

·     “As you, Lord, have lived for others, so may we for others live.” LBW 364.

·     Even though our life is a little rocky right now, we are still required to be responsible stewards of our commitments which would include time, talents and money.

·     Politics aside, as Christians, we are called to be stewards of the earth.

·     I am reminded of the parable of the talents where three workers were given various amounts of talents to care for – two of them used it to increase their value for the owner; the third one buried it where it just got dirty and did not grow.  We are to use what he allotted to us in the best way possible and for his glory.

·     In our congregation we...honor the beauty and majesty of our church building as God’s holy house wherein we do far more than meet together, but primarily behold the awesome splendor of God’s presence.

·     Faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26

·     A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

   Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

 

Cary Natiello, Church Council




 



Saint Nicholas Faire & Auction

Wednesday through Monday, November 24-29th, 2021

6 pm to 9 pm

 

For the second year the Saint Nicholas Faire & Auction will be a Virtual Fundraiser sponsored by First Lutheran Church of West Seattle with all proceeds benefitting the West Seattle Food Bank. 

     We continue to chair this event to honor the memory of Scott’s grandmother Alfhild Schorn, who worked tirelessly during the Depression to feed the hungry that showed up on her doorstep.

     Our goal of $15,000 would surpass prior years and can be obtained with your help.  We ask you to help in two ways.

     First by purchasing items from the Saint Nicholas Faire & Auction Amazon wish list https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/37THT2NYXHT62/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2?_encoding=UTF8&type=wishlist; we then catalog the items and make them available on the Virtual Auction site.

     Secondly we ask you to attend and bid at the Auction on one or all six days.

     We understand that Thanksgiving weekend can be a busy time; but we ask that you think about those who will benefit from the proceeds.  Cash Donations can also be donated on the Auction site, or sent directly to First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, clearly marked for the Saint Nicholas Faire & Auction.

     Once the Auction site is live we will share the link for you to pass on to family & friends, the more bidders, the closer we come to reaching our goal.

     With your help we can meet or beat our goal of $15,000, and help those in need within our neighborhood.

     In Christ we can do all things.

-Scott & Valerie Schorn




 



 

Misconstruing Miracles

By Ronald F. Marshall

 

In his high profile Newsweek article, “Why I Don’t Believe in Miracles,” Professor Philip Hefner of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago since 1967 stumbles and falls.

     In this article which was part of the cover story on miracles, he argues against miracles and in favor of blessings.  Blessings he proposes are to be preferred over miracles because they – unlike miracles – do not contravene the laws of nature.1  Yet in the course of pursuing his startling thesis he is incoherent, inconsistent and even blasphemous.  As a result he not only weakens his case but also seriously misconstrues miracles. 

     Hefner’s article is incoherent because even though he favors blessings because they – unlike miracles – do not violate the laws of nature, he still goes on to say these blessings themselves occur “unexpectedly.”  But how would he know that unless these blessings also violated what David Hume famously called “the common course of nature?”2  For them to be unexpected they would have to go against the ordinary.  Hefner’s blessings would have to push against reality as it usually goes if they were to manifest the unexpected.  So on Hefner’s own account, blessings would need – just like miracles do – what Richard Purtill calls a “contrast idea” in order to be coherent.3  If no expected pattern is violated, then it would be incoherent for Hefner to say blessings occur “unexpectedly.”  So by insisting that blessings occur unexpectedly he renders his argument incoherent. 

     Next his argument is inconsistent.  Hefner in part condemns miracles because they occur unevenly – leaving many who suffer without the help they so desperately long for.  This is because many prayers appear to go unanswered.  This uneven distribution he vilifies as “blasphemous” because it gives God a bad name.  If God helps one he should help all.4  “That’s where the blasphemy comes in,” howls Hefner.  Due to the spotted, selective occurrence of miracles God comes off looking less loving than he actually is.  Due to our belief in miracles God appears arbitrary and cruel. 

     But blessings are no different – even on Hefner’s account!  They too occur sporadically.  Blessings are not uniformly distributed throughout reality.  Feast and famine strike farmer and entrepreneur alike.  So throwing out miracles for blessings does nothing for God’s image.  “Even though we cannot…understand why so much of human life involves sorrow and evil,” Hefner insists we should still “be grateful and render praise” for whatever blessings come our way.  But this is inconsistent.  It is special pleading.  If irregularity strikes down miracles, then it should – if one were to be consistent – strike down blessings as well.  But Hefner abandons

consistency, falls on his own sword and unwittingly flays his argument to pieces. 

     Finally Hefner himself blasphemes when he says he has “no confidence” that his prayers actually “change the course of nature.”  But as Lutherans we are to confess that our prayers are “assuredly heard and granted."  Whoever denies this “grossly dishonors” God!5  Hefner goes where angels fear to tread all because of the common experience of not getting what we pray for.  But there is a better way of handling that disappointment than committing blasphemy. 

     Down through the generations Christians have learned to “be exercised in prayer.”6  This means changing your mind about what you pray for.  Then what we want gives way to what God wants.  Longing and praying for one’s heart’s desires trails off into affirming God’s will instead.  Indeed, “how could the prayer of the children of adoption be centered on the gifts rather than the Giver?”7  So when we pray for the sick we should not pray for healing alone.  We should also add that God’s will be done and that we learn to accept whatever it is.  Our prayers must never go beyond the tax collector’s humble prayer:  God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:12).  This is because in the end we are all beggars.  Wir sind alle Bettler is our only motto.8

     Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) catches this humility wonderfully well in his prayer:  “Lord, teach me the art of patience whilst I am well, and give me the use of it when I am sick.  In that day either lighten my burden or strengthen my back.  Make me, who so often in my health have discovered my weakness presuming on my own strength, to be strong in my sickness when I solely rely on thy assistance.9  The impression Professor Hefner gives in his attack on miracles is that this prayer would make him choke.

      Because this humility is missing from Hefner’s account he stumbles and falls the way he does.  If he had incorporated humility into prayer we would then have been able to see how they are answered over and over again.  By missing this he also drains his account of the following wisdom: “Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask him; for he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer.”10

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Endnotes

______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

1Philip Hefner, “Why I Don’t Believe in Miracles,” Newsweek (May 1, 2000) 61. 

2David Hume, “Of Miracles” (1758), In Defense of Miracles: A Comprehensive Case for God’s Action in History, eds. R. Douglas Geivett and Gary R. Habermas (Downers Grove: Inter Varsity Press, 1997) 33.

3Richard L. Purtill, “Defining Miracles,” In Defense of Miracles, 63.

4So much for Psalm 115:3 which says our “God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases,” and Romans 9:18 which says “God has mercy upon whomever he wills, and he hardens the heart of whomever he wills.”  By excising this raw contingency from divine nature Professor Hefner flattens out God and renders him languid.  All that this leaves us is a useless “prettified God” [Gerhard O. Forde, On Being a Theologian of the Cross, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997) 85.]

5Martin Luther, Large Catechism (1529), III.20, 21, The Book of Concord, eds. Robert Kolb and Timothy J. Wengert, (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2000) 443.

6Catechism of the Catholic Church, Revised Edition, (London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1999) 2737.

7Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2740.

8These last words of Luther’s translate: “We are all beggers.”  On this motto see James M. Kittelson, Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career, (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1986) 297.

9The Oxford Book of Prayer, ed. George Appleton, (New York: Oxford, 1985), (437) 130.

10Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2737.

 

dialog:  A Journal of Theology

Volume 39, Number 4    Winter 2000

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

A Moratorium on Miracle-Talk?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

     ….The words of Psalm 115:3, “God is in the heavens, God does whatever [he] pleases,” do not go down easily.  There are those who are moved by these words rather to deny God than to bow down in worship. 

     This is the experiential and pastoral context in which talk about miracles takes place today.  By referring to miracles, we assert our belief and our hope that the God who sends afflictions upon us will also rescue us.  The article I wrote in the May 1, 2000, issue of Newsweek, to which the Reverend Ronald Marshall responded in this journal (Winter 2000, vol. 39:4), elicited fifty letters.  Most were written by lay people and they expressed the context I have just described – some of them very poignantly.  Six of these letters (5 by Lutherans, 4 by clergy) were in the slashing mode that Marshall adopted; the rest revealed the serious probing of men and women who are struggling on their way, seeking help wherever they can find it. 

     ….Some responses to my original article judged the quality of my faith according to whether or not I accept miracles.  Some, like Marshall, suspect that I have no faith because I question miracles.  Others took my skepticism as a sign that my faith was strong and wholesome.  One letter published by Newsweek (May 8, 2000) wrote that my “vision implies a God acting always and everywhere through natural law rather than fitfully and arbitrarily countermanding natural law.  A professor offering an argument of scientific and theological sophistication in clear, elegant language –

now that’s miraculous!”

     ….There are those who express doubts about miracles to their pastor, priest, or Christian friends, only to be met with the kind of judgmental invective that Marshall hurled at me.  These people expressed gratitude for my article; it actually seemed to strengthen their faith and perhaps even their churchgoing. 

     When I think about miracle-talk, these experiential and pastoral issues seem most important.  Frankly, in light of the ambiguities and misunderstandings involved, I question the usefulness of the idea of miracle.  More often than not, such talk is not a clear witness to the God who rescues.  I suggest a moratorium on such talk. 

     What should we do in a period of moratorium?  Let us promote serious reflection and conversation in our communities about how we see God at work in our lives and what forms that work takes.  Let us be as honest as Scripture about our difficulties and agonies when we reflect on God’s presence in our lives and in our world.  Let us be specific about those things we want to give God thanks and praise for:  I suggested in my article that we might use the term “blessing” to speak of these things.  Let us speak candidly about what things about God bewilder us and what things might prompt us to cry out with Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”, as well as the later verses of that psalm: “God heard when I cried out…. Posterity will serve God; future generations will be told and proclaim God’s deliverance.”

     The Reverend Marshall will probably not consider these comments a worthy response to his piece.  However, I do not see much connection between my original Newsweek article and his response to it.  I encourage readers to retrieve my original article and draw their own conclusions. 

     P.S.  I will gladly send copies of the article to readers who request it (fax: 773-256-0682; e-mail: zcrs@lstc.edu).  Careful readers will note several mis-readings in Marshall’s piece.  For example, I say that blessings are “often” unexpected, not always.  His insistence that “blessing” refers to events that “go against the ordinary” puzzles me.  Consider that most births are without calamity, but we still consider a healthy newborn to be a blessing.  I question Marshall’s tone, as well.  His article represents a far too-frequent attitude in the church and in our society that one ought not simply disagree on occasion with certain opinions, but also destroy the persons who hold them.  When combined with careless analysis, such a stance is dangerous to all concerned, especially in the church. 

–Philip Hefner

dialog:  A Journal of Theology

Volume 40, Number 1    Spring 2001

 

(Reprinted from the January 20, 2019 Sunday bulletin insert)




 



Ephesians 3.10

Monthly Home Bible Study, November 2021, Number 345

The Reverend Ronald F. Marshall

 

Along with our other regular study of Scripture, let us join as a congregation in this home study. We will study alone than talk informally about the assigned verses together as we have opportunity. In this way we can "gather together around the Word" even though physically we will not be getting together (Acts 13.44).

 

We need to support each other in this difficult project. In 1851 Kierkegaard wrote that the Bible is "an extremely dangerous book.... [because] it is an imperious book... – it takes the whole man and may suddenly and radically change... life on a prodigious scale" (For Self-Examination). And in 1967 Thomas Merton wrote that "we all instinctively know that it is dangerous to become involved in the Bible" (Opening the Bible). Indeed this word "kills" us (Hosea 6.5) because we are "a rebellious people" (Isaiah 30.9)! As Lutherans, however, we are still to "abide in the womb of the Word" (Luther's Works 17.93) by constantly "ruminating on the Word" (LW 30.219) so that we may "become like the Word" (LW 29.155) by thinking "in the way Scripture does" (LW 25.261). Before you study, then, pray: "Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen" (quoted in R. F. Marshall, Making A New World: How Lutherans Read the Bible, 2003, p. 12).

 

Week I. Read Ephesians 3.10 noting the word church. What is the church? On this read Ephesians 1.22-23 noting the words his and body. Whose body is this? On this read Ephesians 1.20 noting the word Christ. How did this happen? On this read John 1.14 noting the words Word, became, flesh, dwelt, us, grace, truth, glory, only, Son and Father. Read also Romans 8.3 noting the words sinful and flesh and 1 Peter 2.24 noting the words bore, sins, body and tree and John 19.38-42 noting the three occurrences of the word body and also the words crucified and tomb and Matthew 28.1-9 noting the words hold, feet and worshipped and 1 Corinthians 11.23-32 noting the words bread, my, body, eat, death, unworthy, profaning, discerning, judgment and condemned and John 20.17 noting the line do not hold me and Acts 1.9 noting the line lifted up… out of their sight. So how do these verses explain why the church is Christ Jesus’ body? How does his body compare to ours?

 

Week II. Read again Ephesians 3.10 noting the same word church. What purpose does the church serve? On this read 1 Timothy 3.15 noting the concept bulwark of truth. What is the truth? On this read John 6.68 noting the line words of eternal life. What are these words? On this read also John 3.19 noting the words judgment, light, loved, darkness, light and evil. What is the impression left by this verse? On this read Isaiah 1.6 noting the line from the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness. Read also Luke 13.3 noting the words repent and perish. How does one repent? On this read Psalm 51.17 noting the words broken, contrite, heart, God and despise. Then read Romans 5.8-9 noting the words God, love, yet, sinners, Christ, died, justified, saved, blood and wrath. How does Jesus bloody death do this for us sinners? On this read Galatians 3.13 noting the three occurrences of the word curse and also Colossians 2.13-14 noting the words dead, trespasses, God, alive, forgiven, canceled, bond, against, us, legal, demands, set, aside, nailing and cross. Finally read Romans 3.25, Hebrews 11.1-6 and 2 Peter 1.5-11, noting the many occurrences of the word faith. So what is this truth about sin, salvation and faith that comes from the Lord God Almighty?

 

Week III. Reread Ephesians 3.10 noting the word through. Why does this happen only through the church and not through, for instance, recreation, entertainment, education, art or politics? On this read Ephesians 3.12 noting the word access. Why is this limitation imposed? On this read Colossians 1.20 noting the words reconcile, peace, blood and cross. Access to God is therefore limited to Christ Jesus because he alone has overcome the hostility between God and human beings. But why can’t Jesus’ work of reconciliation be extended to all other modes of access? On this read Luke 3.22 noting the line with you I am well pleased. This says that God has bound himself to Jesus and no one else – so he cannot share his access with others in whom God is not well pleased. How can this be promoted while at the same time avoiding being haughty as Romans 12.16 says?

 

Week IV. Read Ephesians 3.10 one last time noting the term manifold wisdom. What is this wisdom and how does the church promote it? On this read Ephesians 1.17-23 noting the words wisdom, Christ, above, all, authority, power, head and church. Is this manifold wisdom Christ’s rule over all matters in life and faith? If so, how is this practiced in the church? On this read Philippians 3.7-11 noting the words gain, loss, surpassing, worth, refuse, righteousness, not, own, faith, share, sufferings and if. What is the drift of these verses? First, worldly prosperity is not our goal. Next self-effacing humility is. Finally the easy life free of suffering and personal uncertainty is wrongheaded. Do these verses fit in with the hard, narrow way in Matthew 7.14? If so, in what ways?

 




 


Announcements

Sunday Worship ― online at www.flcws.org.  We continue to offer these abbreviated online liturgies weekly for those unable to make it to church on Sunday.  In them we are spending our time apart to accentuate Psalm 46:10 about being silent before God.

HOME COMMUNION:  Holy Communion is available for home use for those who are not able to come to church.  If interested, please call 206-935-6530 or email the office at flcws.fd@gmail.com.

PLEDGE CARDS:  Please plan to return your pledge card as soon as possible or before Monday, the 8th of November.

FOOD BANK COLLECTION suggested donation for November is holiday foods: turkey, gravy, cranberries, stuffing, potatoes and pumpkin. 

COMPASS HOUSING ALLIANCE:  Until the middle of December, we are collecting Christmas gift items for the Compass Center for both men and women.  Some suggested items needed are: Amazon, Target, Fred Meyer and Walmart gift cards in $25 increments; men’s slippers size 9 & above, women’s PJ sets size L-3X, 39 hot/cold thermoses, at least 12 oz., 25 sets of dishware.  Donations can be left at the church office.

100TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK:  The 100th Anniversary Book is available for purchase.  There is a sample book for you to look at if you wish before purchase.  The cost is $26 each, which covers the cost of the printing.  Please make your check out to FLCWS with the designation of 100th Anniversary Book.  The books can be found on the Narthex counter most Sundays, unless they’ve sold out.  More will be on order.  These books can also be ordered through the church office by calling (206) 935-6530.  If the office is closed you can leave a message and we’ll get back with you.  Also, the office email is flcws.fd@gmail.com.

2021 FLOWER CHART:  A few more people signing up for Christmas flowers would be helpful.

Wednesday/THURSDAY Evening Bible ClassES:  All Bible classes have been put on hold until Pastor Marshall is out of hospital and able to resume his schedule.




 



    ALL SAINTS

      Parish Festival

       Sunday, November 7th  

 

10:30 am Holy Eucharist

________________________________

 

CHRIST THE KING:  The season of Pentecost and the Church Year will end with the celebration of the Kingship of Christ at the Sunday morning liturgy on November 21st.  On this day we strengthen the belief that Christ is above all and that every authority is under Him (Eph. 1:21).  We rejoice that the One who is, who was and is to come (Rev. 1:8) is the King and Lord of all! 

 

 

ADVENT I

 

Sunday, November 28th

10:30 am Holy Eucharist

 


Fenis Castle, Aosta, Italy –

courtesy, Dr. Mark Bertness.

 




 



  PARISH PRAYERS 

The Rev. Ronald F. Marshall, Jane Harty and family, Kim Lim, Melanie Johnson, Holly Petersen, The Nancy Lawson Family, Leah and Melissa Baker, Felicia Wells, Marlis Ormiston, Connor Bisticas, Eileen & Dave Nestoss, Kyra Stromberg, Tabitha Anderson, The Rev. Randy Olson, The Rev. Albin Fogelquist, The Rev. Howard Fosser, The Rev. Alan Gardner, The Rev. Allen Bidne, Leslie Hicks, Kari Meier, Yuriko Nishimura, Eric Baxter, Lesa Christiansen, Richard Patishnock, Ty Wick, Anthony Brisbane, Susan Curry, Robert Shull family, Alan Morgan family, Lucy Shearer, Ramona King, Karen Berg, Donna & Grover Mullen and family, Kurt Weigel, Carol Estes, Paul Jensen, Tak On Wong & Chee Li Ma, Hank Schmitt, Mary Ford, Andrea and Hayden Cantu, Dana Gallaher, Jeanne Pantone, Kevan & Jackie Johnson, Trudy Kelly, Eric Peterson, Gary Grape, Larry & Diane Johnson, Wendy & Michael Luttinen, the Olegario Family, Nita Goedert, Mariss Ulmanis, Shirley & Glenn Graham, Karen Granger, Mike Nacewicz, Mike Matsunaga, Bill & Margaret Whithumn, The Robert Shull family, Mary Cardona, and Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church (Clarkesville, GA).

     Pray for our professional Health Care Providers:  Gina Allen, Janine Douglass, David Juhl, Dana Kahn, Dean Riskedahl, Jane Collins and all those suffering from the coronavirus pandemic.

     Pray for our country, for unbelievers, the addicted, the sexually abused and harassed, the homeless, the hungry and the unemployed.

     Pray for the shut-ins that the light of Christ may give them joy:  Gregg & Jeannine Lingle, Bob & Mona Ayer, Joan Olson, Bob Schorn, C.J. Christian, Crystal Tudor, Nora Vanhala, Martin Nygaard.

     Pray for our bishops Elizabeth Eaton and Shelly Bryan Wee, our pastor Ronald Marshall, our choirmaster Dean Hard and our cantor Andrew King, that they may be strengthened in faith, love and the holy office to which they have been called. 

     Pray that God would give us hearts which find joy in service and in celebration of stewardship.  Pray that God would work within you to become a good steward of your time, your talents and finances.  Pray to strengthen the stewardship of our congregation in these same ways.

     Pray for the hungry, ignored, abused, and homeless this November.  Pray for the mercy of God for these people, and for all in Christ's church to see and help those who are in distress.

     Pray for our sister congregation:  El Camino de Emmaus in the Skagit Valley that God may bless and strengthen their ministry.  Also, pray for our parish and its ministry.

     Pray that God will bless you through the lives of the saints:  Saint Andrew, the Apostle.

     Pray for this poor, fallen human race that God would have mercy on us all.

     Pray for this planet, our home, that it and the creatures on it would be saved from destruction.


A Treasury of Prayers

O Lord, blot out, we beseech thee, the transgressions that are against us, for thy goodness and thy glory, and for the sake of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

[For All the Saints II:1248, altered]