Spiritual Nourishment Sept 3

September 3, 2020 

Hello, church! With in-person worship services resuming on 9/13, we would like to know if you are planning to attend (or which other worship options you’re participating in). Please take the short amount of time it takes to fill out this survey 

 I share here my prayer for the week: 

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our heart; for as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

 Peace, 

Chess 

 Carl Spain Center 

In 1960, Carl Spain spoke at the Abilene Christian University Lectureship, delivering a speech titled Modern Challenges to Christian Moralsdirectly challenging the policy excluding African Americans from attending the university. He was criticized and ostracized by many for the rest of his life, but his legacy and mission have endured. Recently, an institute devoted to the topic of race relations within the churches of Christ was created and dedicated to Carl Spain, the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual ActionTheir mission states: “The Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action was created to honor the legacy of Carl Spain by conducting research on the historical and contemporary role of race and racism in the church and its Christian institutions. The Center heavily emphasizes spiritual formation by utilizing prayer, solitude, biblical meditation, and silence as methods to address racism that is often “spiritualized” in the hearts of Christians.” Their website has gathered helpful resources, videos, and events for any who wish to participate. It is a wonderful, budding resource that I highly recommend you check out – and sign-up for their newsletter, too. 

 Family Activities 

This week’s fruit of the spirit focus is love.  It can mean a lot of different things, but the most important is recognizing God’s love for us.  Hope you and your family enjoy some of these activities.  There is also a memory game to print out and play on all of the fruits. 

 

As you prepare for this Sunday’s worship 

Included here are the scriptures, reflection questions, and prayers that are thematically matched to our Sunday worship outline. 

 Scriptures: Exod 12:1-14; Ps 149; Matt 18:15-20; Rom 13:8-14 

 Questions for Reflection: 

How do you reconcile a God who would “strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals” (Exod. 12:12) with a God who would die for the sins of the entire world?  

 Morning Prayer:  

O God of this and every morning, as I begin this day, call my name; as I step into this day, guide my feet; as I live this day, care for those I love; as I learn this day, teach me your ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 Evening Prayer:  

God of stars and planets, the setting sun ends this day for us as it rises on a new day for others.  For us and for them, be light in every darkness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.