Author Archives: RRowan

Devotional

How Can These Things Be?

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A Community of Love    John 3: 1-13

Prayer for the Day:
God, help us to see and appreciate your miraculous works. We live in a world of technology and reason and get lost in endless data and facts. Help us to be willing to get lost in the unknown and find, feel, and follow your guidance. Envelop us with your love. Amen.

Question for reflection:
How can we open ourselves to events that may not seem ‘logical’ to us?

~ Catherine Gong, Coordinator of 2012 Workcamp Ministry

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.


Devotional

Adopted Into God’s Family

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A Community of Love     Ephesians 1: 3-14
He destined us for adoption as his children . . . (Eph. 1:5a).

Prayer for the Day:
God of all hope, we thank you for every spiritual blessing. We dwell in the mystery and love of you adopting us. Bless our sharing with others the joy we know. Amen.

Question for reflection:
Knowing you are adopted, how will you view God and yourself differently?

~ Stan Dueck, Director for Transforming Practices

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

Thank God!

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A Community of Love   Psalm 107

Prayer for the Day:
Thanks, O God, for your steadfast love. Because of you we have known mercy and hope. Your saving grace, your healing presence, and self-giving love are more than we can imagine. Loving God, we seek the better way you have shown us in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Question for reflection:
How do our neighbors see in us the Jesus who does not condemn, but the Jesus who desires to reconcile all?

~ Stan Dueck, Director for Transforming Practices

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

Wide Open to the World

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A Community of Love   Mark 11: 15-19

Prayer for the Day:
Loving God we enter your temple because it is your place. We confess that sometimes we act as if your house is our place. At times our actions deny your love and deform the transforming activity of Spirit. We truly seek forgiveness. O reconciling Christ, may it be our passion to provide sacred space and extend love to all people of the world! Amen.

Question for reflection:
In what ways is my congregation good news to the whole community or a chaplaincy ministry to its members? What are the implications for me?

~ Stan Dueck, Director for Transforming Practices

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.

Devotional

Opening Doors

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A Community of Love   2 Chronicles 29: 1-11, 16-19

Prayer for the Day:
To you, O God, we sing your praises and present our prayers. Pour out your Spirit on your people that we may follow a vision you set before us. God, keep our hope centered in Jesus Christ. Grant us peace and strength in our lives so others may partake in the vision of love and joy you offer to all. Amen.

Question for reflection:
In what new ways have others found your congregation to be safe and sacred space?

~ Stan Dueck, Director for Transforming Practices

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.


Devotional

Self-Care is a Spiritual Discipline

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A Community of Love   1 Corinthians 3: 10-23

Prayer for the Day:
O eternal God, often we have not seriously taken your promise to dwell within our hearts and be with us in every facet of our lives. God, you deliver us from our devices that hold us captive to experience healing and love. We are God’s temple even while under construction. Faithful God, you furnish the material for our growth. With your ever-present Spirit extend our ministry beyond what our eyes see and our hearts may embrace. Amen.

Question for reflection:
What implication(s) does it have for me that I am a part of God’s sacred temple and have received a gift of the Spirit?

~ Stan Dueck, Director for Transforming Practices

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.


Devotional

That’s Just Foolishness!

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A Community of Love  1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Prayer for the Day:
O God, the source of life. You care for us from birth and bless our lives. We spend our energy seeking to become important and powerful in the eyes of the world. Mysterious and compelling God, whose ways spun our values upside-down, you change seeming foolishness and weakness into wisdom and strength. O God, our life is appraised by strength, power and possessions, but as followers of Jesus, life is measured by what we share—your seeds of truth, compassion and resources that make possible works of love. Amen.

Question for reflection:
1 Corinthians 1:18 can be a challenge to how we think.  What sources of information did you rely on recently resulting in a personal or vocational decision? What information or observations shaped your assumptions and conclusions shaping your decision?

~ Stan Dueck, Director for Transforming Practices

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.


Devotional

It’s Good To Be Here

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A Community of Love  Mark 9: 2-8

Prayer for the Day:
We think we cannot handle troubles, Lord, because we tend to see them in the wrong light. It’s totally different when we filter things through your perspective. Guide us with your counsel, keep our hearts sensitive to your voice, and grant us refuge, for it is good to be near you (Psalm 73:26-28). Lord, when we seek you, please help us find you.  Amen.

Question for reflection:
In what creative ways can you discover God’s perspective?

~ Randi Rowan, Program Assistant, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.


Devotional

Back to Egypt?

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A Community of Love    Acts 7:30-40

Prayer for the Day:
The wilderness is a great place to be enrolled in the school of trust.  Many times though, Lord, I feel I need to be in control – and be in charge of my security.  Please help me to trust Your path and not lean on my own understanding. You made me, and will be at the helm to carry, sustain and rescue me (Is. 46:4). When the floor of my life shudders below, remind me of your good care.

Question for reflection:
Regarding yourself, what do you worry about most?  What part of your life could benefit from a Declaration of Dependence?

~ Randi Rowan, Program Assistant, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.


Devotional

Chosen and Precious

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A Community of Love   1Peter 2: 4-10

Prayer for the Day:
Thank you, Lord, that my heart and my feelings matter to you.  They always have . . . but now it’s beginning to sink in. It’s one thing to believe it in your head – quite another to discover this is true.  Thank you that I can invite you into the midst of any upsetting situation and you quiet me with your presence and affirm our relationship together.  Remind me that I am loved and accepted even when I’m upset. Your comfort allows me to see things from Your perspective and not the pain-clouded perceptions of my distress. I am overwhelmed by your goodness!

Question for reflection:
Have there been times when you felt that God disregarded your pain and your struggles? How did you feel?  What is God calling you to do in difficult situations?

~ Randi Rowan, Program Assistant, Congregational Life Ministries

Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is offering these simple prayers and questions in connection to this year’s Lent devotional written by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. (Available from Brethren Press) Join us as we look and listen for the coming of the Word through the reading of scripture, Cheryl’s reflections, times of prayer, and conversations on this blog.