40 Days of Prayer: Children throughout the world

Children throughout the world:

It really doesn’t matter what country a child is living in right now, this virus is affecting everyone’s daily life. For children it can be a time of fear and disorientation, as well as a time where a sense of community has been torn away. What adults around them are saying and doing can either build up a sense of security or a sense fear. Kids have been pulled from schedules, friends, and family and many will lose loved ones without the chance to say goodbye.
 
Children are resilient; past generations have shown that they can adapt more quickly than adults. We are also in a time where the psychology of children is more understood and accepted. May we as adults be living conduits to help the children of the world adapt and grow during this time.
 
Pray for the hearts and minds of children. Pray that, no matter where they are, they may feel connected to someone and something bigger. Pray that they can grow during this time and that their spirits will be uplifted and nurtured.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. 

Proverbs 22:6 NIV

40 Days of Prayer: Those with no faith

Those with no faith:

Throughout our journeys as believers we meet nonbelievers every day.  As followers of Christ we are to treat them with the love and kindness of Christ, knowing they too were formed in the very image of God. And, knowing that they may be in a place where our Christian faith may be more than they want to hear, we pray and we live our lives so that others may see that there is something different in those who follow Christ. Can you imagine being lost without hope during these days?

As Christians we must not be afraid to open our mouths and share the gospel. People will not know about Christ just by how we live our lives. It is important that we proclaim the good news. I know sometimes we don’t know how to start or we become concerned with whether or not the person listens or starts to dislike me. 

We need to be God’s workers on earth and help bring people to the truth. We are sent out into the world to proclaim the good news and tell our friends and neighbors of this saving grace. A grace that gives us purpose, saves us, and gives us true hope. Don’t be shy. Sometimes God tells us to go tell that friend, co-worker, classmate, etc. about my son and we think 'I don’t know how'. Do not fear, God is already there and he will help you. The hardest part is getting the first word out, but once you do it will be easy.

What does the Bible say?

Pray for the seekers, for those who feel lost and afraid. For those who have been hurt by “the church” or “followers of Christ” who harm people with false truths. Pray that we may be the true light and true followers of Jesus so that they may see the everlasting hope that we find in Jesus Christ. 

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Mark 16:15-16
 

And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

Philemon 1:6 ESV

40 Days of Prayer: Mini-Easter

Mini-Easter:

I was raised in the Episcopal Church and every year on Ash Wednesday we would put away our “Alleluias” during the time of lent. In an Episcopal service alleluias are a celebration. I’ve always loved the word; it’s a word of rejoicing, a word of excitement as we entered Easter. On Easter Sunday we would practically scream them together.
 
This year has been anything but just another Lent and, if you are anything like me, you entered with ideas of self-denial and deeper introspection, but this will surely be a Lent you never forget.  
 
Many of us have been left with way too much time for self-introspection- it’s been a time where we are at least anxious, if not worried. But what a time we have been given1 A time to put others before ourselves, to lift one another up in prayer, to pray over the whole world, and to look for and to lift up Alleluias! So I ask you, family, church of Second Presbyterian, where are your Alleluias? Where are you lifting up and  rejoicing at this time? Are you seeking them, are you praying for them?
 
Let’s pray together for Alleluias in the quiet parts of our day, in the moments where children’s school work is overtaking us, when loneliness is creeping in, in the middle of the night when we wonder about the future, when we talk on the phone to our grandchildren, or simply sit down with a cup of tea… where are your Alleluias right now?
 
Please join me in praying for daily Alleluias and when you see them and when you find them, send them to me and let us, as a church, celebrate with you!

40 Days of Prayer: Worldwide hunger

Worldwide hunger:

• 45% of all child deaths worldwide are from causes related to undernutrition (World Health Organization, 2018).

• Approximately 842 million people suffer from hunger worldwide. That’s almost 12% of the world’s population of 7.1 billion people.

• Ninety-eight percent of those who suffer from hunger live in developing countries. 553 million live in the Asian and Pacific regions, while 227 million live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Latin America and the Caribbean account for 47 million.

Hunger is one of the world’s leading causes of death. In Haiti women bake mud into cookie shapes to help ease the pain of stomach cramps.  When we talk about world hunger the focus is often solely on developing countries and we forget about the very people living directly around us. Parts of our own counties fall well below the poverty line and suffer from lack of food.

Pray for those who are hungry, pray that those who have the power and resource to reach these people may join together to end childhood hunger. Pray for those who will go to bed tonight hungry and those who feel overlooked. Pray that they may find hope.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 
 

Matthew 25:34-40 NIV

Redeem the time

Find FAITH5 family discipleship resources to do at home here

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, March 29, 2020

Dear Friends in Christ – 

Here we are at Week 2 of our mandate to keep safe distance, Week 1 of Spring, and Week 5 of Lent. Of what? Oh, Lent – that mandated time to reflect on those things within each of us that block our best service to the realm of God. Those things that hold us back from our inheritance as Jesus’ own. It seems so distant, but there are still so many other issues too, like food, jobs, illnesses unrelated to COVID19, and the viability of small businesses.

In the Sermon Series on "One Anothering”, we looked at the rightness of embracing the reality of life, the "is"-ness of life, the necessity to build up each other and God’s church. Last week we went off the path and looked at the fact that each day is under God’s purview – the festival and the funeral. 

This Sunday we’ll engage the Lectionary narrative – the raising of Lazarus. And we‘ll heed Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians in the 5th chapter – "Redeem the time …”.  Make the most of this time, even in the time of COVID19. 

Invite a friend, someone across the country whom you haven’t seen, it seems, forever. Engage God’s word and savor God’s favor even in these times –

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Stay home, stay healthy and let’s flatten the curve! Sermon videos will be posted online for 10:30 a.m. on Sundays as we worship together from home.

40 Days of Prayer: Pastors and church staff

Pastors and church staff:

Wow, what a time to be a pastor! Everything every pastor has ever read or studied about is being a part of the lives of your congregation. If I was to list all the books I have read over the last 23 years about being a pastor none, not one ever talked about not being able to be among your flock. It’s a new time and a new age. When I first started at Second we had conversations about what church looks like in 2019, with no idea what might be coming in 2020. Church is changing, the mission field is changing.  
 
Pray for the pastor and church staff who are finding new ways to tend to our flock. Pray for wisdom and guidance in such a different time. Pray for the Lord's will to be done in all that we do.

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Acts 20:28 NIV

40 Days of Prayer: Our Neighbors

Our neighbors:

Suddenly our neighbors are our close community. If we haven’t had a chance to get to know them yet, then we may be slowly learning the people around us and their needs. It seems so strange, just 50 years ago you would have known all those living around you, but with technology and lack of face to face time we barely know those who are just next door. Often we only know when something is wrong when first responders are on the scene.

When we begin to emerge from our isolation, I pray that we take the time to get to know those living around us. While we hope that something like this never happens again, getting to know those directly around us makes the journey easier- in both good and difficult times.
 
Pray for you neighbors; they are tired, stressed, lonely and afraid. We still have no idea how long this quarantine may take and many of our neighbors don’t know where their next paycheck will come from. Pray for peace in their houses, peace on our streets, and peace in our neighborhoods.

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30-31 NIV

40 Days of Prayer: Shaw Center

Shaw Center:

The Shaw Center is a vital piece of the East Side of Charleston.  They provide all kinds of programs free to the community to help working and single parents to push their kids to be the best they can be.  The entire staff works tirelessly to impact the youth of Charleston.  The following is taken from their page and it’s a small part of what they do:

After-school Program Adult supervision will be provided after school including homework help, games, crafts, and sports. After school is available Monday-Friday from 2:30pm-5:30pm for ages 12 and under.  

Carolina Studios/ Music Education : Through the use of specialized equipment, high-quality microphones in the studios isolation booths, you will be able to edit, produce and burn your own CD.  Classes will be held Monday through Friday from 3 to 7pm for ages 12 to 18. This is a free program.

Homework Help: Free homework assistance Monday-Friday for children ages 5-18. Ages 5-12: 2:45pm-3:45pmAges 13-18: 4:30pm-5:15pm

Volunteers are needed to assist children with Homework Help! For more information, call (843) 577-4860. We have several people who go over weekly to help with homework, is this something you might be willing to help with? 

Pray for the leaders at the Shaw Center as well as all the volunteers.  Pray for the children who come every day, that they gain strength in who they are and the knowledge that they are all vital parts of our community.

Repeat [God’s commands] again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

Deuteronomy 6:7 NIV

40 Days of Prayer: First Responders

First Responders:

Fire, Police, EMS and dispatchers work tirelessly to keep our tri-county area running.  They do the jobs no one should have to do and see things that no one should ever have to see.  They work day and night keeping us safe, saving our lives and our property, keeping a dutiful eye so that we may rest in peace.  The PTSD and suicide rates are growing annually and first responders are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.  And while dispatchers are not likely to die in the line of duty they share in the high rate of suicide, since they take calls that are life and each day and seldom are they able to release the daily stress in healthy ways.

Pray especially during this time for those who are working full shifts and are unable to self-quarantine.  Pray for their families, pray for peace in the homes so that when they do return home they may find rest.  Pray that they may find the courage and strength of God in all they do and that, similarly, they seek helpful ways to not carry the stress for each incident. 

Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. 

Matthew 5:8 NIV

'And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:39-40 ESV

40 Days of Prayer: Mayor of North Charleston

Mayor of North Charleston:

Keith Summey has been the Mayor of North Charleston for 14 years.  The city has seen drastic change over those years. While North Charleston once thrived because of the Navy base, the citizens have had to come together and find new ways to grow and sustain the city. North Charleston is the third largest city in the state; it’s one of the state’s major industrial centers and the state’s top city in gross retail sales. It is a city of blue collar workers, many who are taking a major hit in these times.
 
Pray for Mayor Summey and his wife, Deborah. Pray for wisdom in the coming weeks. Pray for their family, as they are all in leadership around our city and county. Pray that as he continues to lead, the Lord will continue to direct him.
 

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Romans 13:1 NIV

40 Days of Prayer: Mini-Easter

Mini-Easter:

We come again to another “mini-Easter” in our Lenten season. This season has taken on a whole new meaning during a time of anxiety, fear, and the general sense of the known. I can only imagine that this may be how the disciples felt on Holy Saturday. They didn’t know the outcome. They had been scattered and I’m sure they felt alone and scared. But we know how the story ends… it ends on Easter morning with the resurrection of a King. We may not know yet how this coronavirus story is going to end, but we do have a book that tells us that as the followers of Jesus Christ we will claim the victory of death, victory over illness. For now we feel separated, not able to come together as the body of Christ, but we know that this is not the end. We will gather again and we will continue our calling as members of the body at Second Pres together. It’s not over… it has a happy ending.

May we celebrate today the new things the Lord is doing and is going to do through us as the body of Christ on the Eastside of Charleston. Pray… speak to the Lord, praise the Lord for all He has done and all that is to come! He wants to hear your concerns, He wants to hear your fears and He wants to give you peace and joy. 
 

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David. I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” Lord, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: “What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Psalm 30:1-12 NIV

40 Days of Prayer: Mayor of Charleston

Mayor of Charleston:

Mayor John Tecklenberg just won his second election as mayor of the City of Charleston. The city itself comes with a lot of responsibilities. It is one of the top destinations for people all over the states and internationally; the city relies on tourism. It is also a large port city which brings in products from all around the world. It’s a city with a dwindling crime rate due to the hard work of the mayor’s office. Now Mayor Tecklenberg has the duty to serve and protect his people during a worldwide pandemic. This was set to be a year of celebration as we mark 350 years as a city, but Charleston is a city that has historically risen out of the ashes and, despite the weeks ahead of us, together, with good leadership, we will do so again.

Pray for the Mayor and His wife, Sandy. Pray for strength and courage during these times. Pray that he will continue to seek the wisdom of our heavenly father as he moves forward making key decisions for the Holy City.
 

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Romans 13:1 NIV

This Day

Find FAITH5 family discipleship resources to do at home here

Support Walk for Water

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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, March 22, 2020

Dear Friends in Christ – 

There was a wedding last week. I got to welcome everyone - guests, wedding party, mom and dad and bride and groom by saying, “God is love and those who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them. This is the day the Lord has made -- Let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

It’s easy when This day that the Lord has made is a wedding day, or a holiday, or Easter Sunday, or super-sale Saturday, vacation days or the first day of Spring Break, but what about the other days? You see, This is the day includes all the days – divorce days, final exam days, surgery days and tax days – quarantine, social distancing, uncertain, coronavirus days. We have some days a-comin’.

This is the moment we lean into scripture, into each other and the arms of our God who promises to redeem even us!

Join me this Sunday at worship time, 10:30 a.m. online at www.2ndpc.org for a chat– a few words of encouragement and hope as we face these times together in a new format. We’ll continue to find ways to be church in this time of trial.  

In sober anticipation –

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Stay home, stay healthy and let’s flatten the curve! Sermon videos will be posted online for 10:30 a.m. on Sundays as we worship together from home.

FAITH5

Families,

Years ago I was introduced to Dr. Rich Melheim, who as a neurologist, put together the FAITH5, a wonderful program of keeping Christ in the center of your family. My family has been deeply blessed by the practices and it can take as little or as much time as you wish. Please take a second to watch the intro video and be on the lookout for more info soon as a resource to support and encourage you through this time of at-home family discipleship!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

The FAITH5 steps:
• SHARE your highs and lows
• READ a Bible verse or story
• TALK about how the Bible reading might relate to your highs and lows
• PRAY for one another's highs and lows
• BLESS one another

40 Days of Prayer: CofC Students

Students at College of Charleston:

Every fall thousands of students descend upon the city of Charleston. Many come from religious backgrounds and immediately search out a church while many more fall away from their faith or never had a faith to begin with. Our city is called “The Holy City” because of the many churches within the confines of the peninsula. College students generally are seeking knowledge, seeking purpose, seeking identity, what an opportunity to help them find it in all in Jesus.

Pray for the students; pray that the Lord will pour His blessings upon them. Pray that those who are seeking will be drawn to people and places that help them on their journey. Pray that Second Presbyterian may find a way to reach out to the students. Pray for students around our nation as they are taken out of their living and learning spaces and put into a new system of learning.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 NIV