My Food Pantry Prayers

Every Thursday afternoon I go downstairs to the food pantry at the church and have a time of prayer with the volunteers minutes before the pantry opens.  As I do so, it reminds me that the pantry is indeed a ministry  in itself. I pray in recognition that the pantry is a God-given opportunity to reach out to people, to be Jesus hands and feet to those in our neighboring communities.

Here are usually the points in my prayer.

1.  Thank God for the volunteers (usually seven to eight people show up to help each week)
2.  Thank God for the food that has arrived during the week from local grocery stores or from donations by individuals.
3.  Pray for the clients who come that they not only will be nourished by the food they receive, but also experience God's love by coming to the pantry.
4.  Pray for the clients to be strengthened in their daily lives and be able to cope with the many issues that they must be facing, that go beyond their need for food.

As I have greeted the clients arriving and have had some time to chat with them, some of them have revealed their need for personal prayer.  I am able to offer up their concerns to God.

Yes, the act of praying keeps me firmly rooted in this being a ministry.

[Elsie's Food Pantry is a joint ministry of Savior Divine Lutheran Church and Moraine Valley Community Church]

The Comfort of Many Prayers

Recently, my mother entered respite care.  Hopefully, it will only be a short duration.  I have been praying for her in my daily prayers.  Her name is also lifted up on Sundays in my church.

This past week, someone I know mentioned that her church has also been praying for my mother.  This made me stop and think of the many prayers being offered up on behalf of her.  The church at large comes into play.

In addition to these prayers, there are the prayers by Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is one who intercedes to God the Father for us.  The Holy Spirit prays as well in sighs too deep for us to comprehend.

It's quite a feeling to know how the community of the church and also the divine being of God all play a role in the concern for one individual.  It makes me feel that we are never alone in this world, even in our greatest time of need.

While Praying - Anything Can Happen

A couple of Sundays ago, I had preached on the story of Peter having a special vision that resulted in him going to the home of Cornelius where his family heard the good news and were baptized. (Acts 11)

Here's what really struck me about this story...

Cornelius was praying and all of a sudden an angel appears before him.  The angel instructs him to send a messenger to Peter and ask him to come.  (Acts 10:30-32)

Then, we have Peter who is praying in Joppa and while praying he has a vision.  It's one of a large sheet filled with animals coming down from heaven.  Peter is told to eat the animals even though they are unclean.  The long story short -- is that Peter would end up at the home of Cornelius because God's word is now being extended to the Gentiles.

What blew me away was what happened to both Peter and Cornelius while praying.  I don't know if anything as dramatic as what they experienced would happen to us, but it does make me see something about praying and connecting to God.  I believe we never know what God can do. Maybe a special thought will enter your mind.  Maybe the phone will ring with news you have been waiting to hear.  So, how is it with your praying?  Do you believe that in connecting with God, God wants to intervene in your life?