This, then, is how you should pray:
“….your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)
On August 28th, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to a crowd of over 250,000 civil rights supporters. And from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Reverend King shared his dream of a racially just America with the entire world. And he prophetically called on our nation to realize that dream here and now:
“Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”
Sixty years later, we rightfully remember MLK’s prophetic words that day as one of the greatest speeches in American history. But decades later, it’s worth considering: why is this speech so powerful?
Now certainly, part of why King’s speech was so impactful was his masterful use of rhetoric which melded together American ideals and Biblical allusions. And yet, I believe that the brilliance of King’s speech goes beyond inspiring rhetoric.
Instead, what made his words so powerful was the spiritual force that stood behind them. Because as one hears his speech, one can’t help but sense that King was a prophet calling all of us to pray, hope, and work for a better world.
In many ways, that call to pray and work for a better world what was Jesus was encouraging us to do when He taught us to pray:
“…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
You see, Jesus taught us to believe that God has a vision and dream for a better world, a world in which we embrace God’s loving rule over us, and God’s will is done, and life on earth becomes more like life in heaven.
And as we observe Jesus’ ministry in the gospel, we begin to see what God’s dream for this world is. It’s a world where the good news of God’s love is proclaimed to the poor (Lk. 4:18), and God’s healing love embraces the hurting and the broken (Mt. 11:5), and people come to trust in Jesus for abundant life (Jn. 10:10) as they walk in His way of mercy (Mt. 9: 13).
Saints, in an age of great pessimism, indifference, and apathy, I believe that the prayer:“…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” calls us to have a hopeful and active faith. And to do all that we can to make this world a more beautiful place, in whatever big or small ways we can.
Because like MLK, Jesus has a dream for a better world.
Peace, Pastor Chris
COVID-19: Update of CDC Recommendations
Due to the surge of Delta variant COVID-19 cases, the CDC is now recommending that all vaccinated and unvaccinated persons in areas of high COVID-19 transmission wear masks indoors. Gov. Phil Murphy has also recommended a return to indoor mask-wearing for all people in New Jersey, especially when in large groups. At this time, there has been no change in our church policy, but our leadership team will be meeting to discuss the next steps for our church.
House Meetings to Welcome Pastor Chris
During the summer, we are holding small gatherings to provide an opportunity for members to spend time with Pastor Chris and for him to learn more about the people and ministries of our church. Our next house meetings will be:
Thursday, August 5th at 7 pm at Bruce & Beth LaPenta’s house
Wednesday, August 11th at 7 pm at Bill & Barbara Engisch’s house
Sunday, August 15th at 3 pm at Eric & Becky Brunberg’s house
You can sign up for these meetings in the back of the sanctuary.
Family Promise
We are looking for one volunteer to buy food and another volunteer to deliver food for the week of August 29th to September 5th. Should you purchase the food, you will be given the names and needs of the individual/or family a week in advance. If you are interested in being part of this important outreach ministry, please connect with either Walter Maze or John Newton.
Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour resumes today on Sunday, August 1st, after service. It will include coffee, tea, and bagels and will be kept to just an hour.
Resuming Prayer List
If you have a prayer request, you can fill out a prayer card in the back of the sanctuary or email our Office Manager, Gretchen, at flemingtonumc@yahoo.com. We will be sure to add it to the list!
Staying Connected
You will find every newsletter, worship service, devotional, and additional material posted to our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/FlemingtonUnitedMethodist/
Even if you don’t use Facebook, you can access everything we have there. If you do have a Facebook account, “like” to follow our page and be notified when new things are posted or when videos are about to go live so you don’t miss anything.
Hallowed Be Your Name