July 21, 2008

Dear Friends:

One of the great blessings of being the pastor of Christ Church is working with a great staff and knowing that all will go well when I am away on vacation, that a beat will not be missed, that our members most in need will be well cared for and that our mission will advance. So among the things I give thanks for daily is our first rate, committed staff. Not every pastor is so fortunate.

So here is a public thanks to them all from Pastor Fries, who is in charge in my absence, to our sextons Robert and Andrew and everyone in between.

A Few Thoughts on Prayer

In many ways prayer is a puzzlement. We believe that God is all-loving and all-knowing. He desires only that which is best for us and he knows our needs, so why pray? Do our prayers change the unchanging God or do they change us?

Paul urges all of us to "pray without ceasing… for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NRSV). Christ urges us to pray, to knock at God's door, to make our needs known.

Neither Paul nor Jesus is ashamed to pray for they know God the Father to be a god who desires above all things to be in relationship with his children. For them, prayer is an intimate conversation with a loving parent. So in prayer we are open to God's presence in our lives; we listen for the word that God seeks to impart to us, and we lift up our concerns for each other and for creation.
Pastors and Staff
Learn more about those people who daily make Christ Church such a welcoming place.
Wednesdays Alive!
Wednesday evening offers a worship setting entirely different from any other currently at Christ Church.
Social Ministries
Learn about our Shelter, Habitat projects, and more ways you can help others.
Health Ministries
Make time for your spiritual and physical well-being in your daily walk with God.
Christian Education
Learning about the faith begins at age 2 and never truly ends. We have variety of opportunities for people of all ages.
Our Youth
Catch the excitement of youth in 6th to 12th grades as they grow in faith through learning and fellowship.
Have you ever known someone you did not like? Someone close that you interact with at home, at work or at the playground? Try praying for that person that she would be blessed, well and happy. Pray that you might see her strengths and good points. If you sincerely pray these things not once but everyday you well may be surprised how things change and improve in your relationship. Prayer and anger seldom go together in a Christian's heart.

I have known many people years after a divorce who still hold grudges. Who do they hurt? First and foremost themselves. Healing comes through forgiveness and forgiveness frequently comes through sincere prayer when we open ourselves up to the God who has forgiven us so much.

Hymns and hymns styles go in and out of favor. The hymns we tend to love best we frequently sang in childhood.

One of those hymns for the over 50 crowd is "What a Friend We Have In Jesus," written by Joseph Medlicott Scriven in 1855 and sent to his mother in Ireland to comfort her in a time of sorrow.
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry ev'rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit; oh, what needless pain we bear--
all because we do not carry ev'rything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged--take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness--take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In his arms he'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessings,
Pastor Sabatelli
 
701 South Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21230
Church Office: 410-752-7179
Fax: 410-752-7881