WCC NEWS: Prayer life of Bishop Mary Ann Swenson has deep roots

From an early age, Bishop Mary Ann Swenson has tapped into the power of prayer. Bishop Mary Ann Swenson as a child, on a typical Sunday morning in Mississippi. Photo: personal archive of Mary Ann Swenson 31 January 2022 In fact, as far back as she remembers, prayer has been deeply a part of her life. “As a child, I prayed long and frequently,” said Swenson. Photos from her childhood depict her reading scripture at her kindergarten commencement—and again at a commencement in sixth grade.  “Sometimes when I prayed long at the dinner table, my cousins would tease me and say it was just for show,” Swenson recalled. “My parents prayed with me by the bed when I was very young.” She loved when her father prayed with her. “As I got older I would read the Bible, memorize scripture, and pray before sleep,” she said. “And, of course, I was very active in church my whole life.” Even as a child, her prayers were not bargains with God. “Rather, they were ‘Dear God, show me what you want me to do,’ ” she said. “And I put my dolls on the couch and preached to them.” Her dolls were an attentive audience as Swenson unfolded a TV tray, opened a Bible on it, and practiced her earliest sermons.  “Naturally, I would pray hardest in times of difficulty,” she said. “But primarily my prayers have always been ones of thanksgiving.” Sharing her sense of gratitude Swenson, who currently serves as the vice moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee, says her heart is full of gratitude for God’s blessings in creation. As a leader, it’s a gratitude she helps others cultivate as well.  Behind the scenes at the WCC, Swenson serves as the chaplain for the WCC Leadership of the Central Committee, and often uplifts the fellowship —particularly during the past two difficult years—with prayers and what seems to be a never-ending supply of hope. Does Swenson get the equivalent of writer’s block in her prayer life—a sort of “prayer block?”  Not often, she said. When she wants to go deeper in prayer, she reads the stories and prayers from others for inspiration. Early on, as a student, she began reading the prayers of others—and shecontinues that practice today. Swenson has traveled around the world both through her work with the WCC and through her leadership role in the United Methodist Church. Along the way, she comes across prayers that resonate with her—and those are the ones she often shares with others. But, she reflected, she doesn’t pray the same way publicly that she does privately.  “Last Sunday I offered the pastoral prayer in our worship service at Hollywood United Methodist Church,” she said. “I am often called upon for that.  It requires me to think about how praying aloud for a community is different from praying alone in a quiet place." As an ecumenical officer a few years ago, Swenson attended the British Methodist Conference four years in a row. “They would annually publish prayers of the people in the conference and, one year, the booklet was titled ‘Hope and Light.’ ”   She often refers to “Hope and Light” when preparing prayers for the WCC and other venues.  “I also read from the Moravian Daily Prayers and Armenian prayer books and the Book of Common Prayer from the Anglican/Episcopal communion,” Swenson said. “I used to study the saints and read their prayers.” Swenson finds herself grateful for the volumes of resources she has collected over the years. “And the amazing thing is, that the resources sustain me in the difficult times and I hope they are helpful to others,” she said.  A prayer to share Swenson shared the following prayer, a combination from a variety of sources, she said, including prayers she has read, and her own ideas as well. “Never are they purely mine,” she said. “I draw on the wisdom of others and absorb whatever touches me deeply.” Loving God, Good Teacher,  Help us to hear Your clear call in our lives. Come quietly and still our noisy boisterous stormy selves; come with power and cast out those spirits that divide us and torment us with fears and contradictions, come with grace and exalt our dreams and deeds with knowledge of Your ever present companionship. For the desert places in which we walk, the streets we roam, the paths we cross,  Guide our feet, take us to place where You would go, give us words that You would use, and grant us inner strength so that we might confront our times with clear and un-evasive mind. Come now spirit of integrity, of tenderness, judgment, dance, touch our speechlessness, kindle our longing, reach into our silence, embrace us with your compassion.   We thank you for Your Presence, for giving a human touch to grace. We only ask that we will know You with us through every minute of every day and every week of every year through all the years of all our lives.  Amen. See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

PC(USA) joins call for peace in Ukraine

Presbyterian Church signs onto statement by a dozen denominations and faith-based organizations

by Rich Copley | Presbyterian News Service

The Ukrainian Capital of Kyiv. (Photo by Eugene via Unsplash)

LEXINGTON, Kentucky — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is joining a dozen fellow faith-based organizations, including several other mainline denominations, in calling for peace in a simmering conflict involving Russia and Ukraine.

Concerns have risen in recent weeks that Russia is on the verge of invading Ukraine, once part of the Soviet Union, as it has amassed 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. Russia has denied any such intentions, but also laid out a series of demands the United States and Western allies have firmly rejected.

“Both Russia and the United States are contributing to the escalation of tensions, and both need to consider who will bear the brunt of war, who will bear the grievous consequences,” said Catherine Gordon, Representative for International Issues in the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness. “All sides, the United States, Russia and Ukraine, bear the responsibility for preventing war and it’s the utmost priority to prevent the suffering of innocent people. We must prioritize patient good-faith diplomacy.”

A statement from the groups — including the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, and the United Church of Christ — was posted on the website of the Friends Committee on National Legislation and will be sent to all members of the U.S. Congress and the White House. Here is the full text of the statement:

STATEMENT BY FAITH GROUPS ON THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE

As people of faith, we are united in our conviction that we must do all we can to achieve and secure peace when there is the threat of conflict. Political leaders must do everything in their power to protect human lives and prevent war.

We are gravely concerned by Russia’s apparent preparations to conduct a military invasion of, or to otherwise attack or destabilize, Ukraine. We urgently call on all parties, including the United States, to invest in efforts that will prevent violent conflict and to avert actions that will likely lead to grievous and unnecessary human suffering, long-lasting environmental destruction, and widespread economic harm.

To this end, we reject the threats and intimidation that escalate tensions and the likelihood of war. Rather than relying on militaristic approaches, our leaders must invest in efforts to sustain peace and prevent harm to those who would suffer the most from the devastating and long-term impacts of conflict. Only by vigorously pursuing all avenues for peace can we fulfill our sacred duty to respect the equal dignity and worth of every person.

Signatories as of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday:

American Friends Service Committee

Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

National Council of Churches

Religions for Peace USA

Sojourners

The Episcopal Church

The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

United Church of Christ, Justice and Local Church Ministries

Connectional Church School Information for January 30

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Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, January 30 and Sunday, February 6, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Sunday, January 30, 2022 - That the body of Christ in America would fervently pray for our nation and its leaders.
• Monday, January 31, 2022 - That people put the needs of others before their own wants.
• Tuesday, February 01, 2022 - That Russia and Ukraine find a peaceful resolution to their conflict.
• Wednesday, February 02, 2022 - That governments recognize that their nations will be judged based on how they treat the poor and the powerless.
• Thursday, February 03, 2022 - That children be protected from those who are not seeking their best interest
• Friday, February 04, 2022 - That American businesses, unions and government officials would be ethical in all tax reporting and financial transactions.
• Saturday, February 05, 2022 - That people are sensitive to the vulnerability of their neighbors.
• Sunday, February 06, 2022 - That loving families would be valued and protected by all authorities in this nation.

Call to Prayer for a peaceful solution between the Ukraine and Russia

Call to Prayer for a peaceful solution between the Ukraine and Russia   As people of the Christian faith, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been in partnership with churches in both Ukraine and Russia over the last 30 years - and with churches in the former Soviet Union for many years before that. The resulting dialogue and the mutual engagement have enriched congregations and members across our denomination through conversations over tea and walking together in ministry. For many, the discovery of family in a place where enemies were expected has been profound. The witness of faith that withstood the persecutions of the Soviet Union has been powerful. As tensions developed following the Revolution of Dignity on the Maidan in Kyiv, the annexation of Crimea, and the Russian support of the separatist movement in the Donbas region, we have continued to be engaged with our partners through peacemaking seminars and ongoing informal conversations, trying to listen deeply and understand perspectives. It’s complicated and painful, as families and friends across the border have been divided, unable to find the language of reconciliation. We grieve over the loss of life in the Donbas and are in complete sympathy with our siblings in Ukraine, but we reject the escalating rhetoric that brings the world close to war. We reject the focus on militaristic solutions and call on President Biden and our Congress to pursue, with humility, diplomatic solutions through sustained dialogue in order to de-escalate the situation. A Call to Prayer: As tensions continue to rise, as soldiers on both sides of the conflict prepare, as mothers and fathers pray, let us pray for peace. Let us pray for the governments of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the United States, and the European Union to seek all avenues for a peaceful resolution to the current tensions. And may we soften our own hearts and words in our own communities to de-escalate the tensions that consume our world. Lord, be with us, we pray. Teach us to be your peacemakers. Amen.

Praying for others

CARING FOR COMMUNITY

Ask questions and keep it simple

by Elizabeth Gibbs Zehnder | Presbyterians Today

Getty Images

I have never used the praying hands emoji as much as I have the past two years. I serve as a chaplain in a city trauma center, so I pray a lot. But the COVID pandemic provoked more need for prayer than I have ever felt before; thus, the use of the praying hands emoji increased as the pandemic continued.

As people of faith, when we come to the edge of what we can fix on our own, we draw near to God in prayer. And when we are with someone else amid their suffering, we know to bring them to God in prayer. It’s precisely when the stakes are high that we don’t want to mess up the prayer. It’s natural to worry: What if we say the wrong thing so God won’t read our text or open our snap? What if the prayer doesn’t work and nothing changes?

Mark 2:1–12 makes a great prayer road map. The day began with five friends realizing that Jesus had come to town. One of them was paralyzed; four were able-bodied. All of them agreed that it would be good to get closer to Jesus. So, they conspired to make that happen with four of them carrying the one paralyzed fellow on a mat. Mark is sparse on details, but we get the picture: The whole town showed up to see Jesus, gridlock at the front door, rerouting, perilous scrambling up onto the roof, ripping open a hole and lowering the friend on the mat to place him at the feet of Jesus. And Jesus took it from there.

What we learn is that praying for others is collaborative. At first, we see the collaboration between a person who was paralyzed and the able-bodied friends. And by the end, we see a collaboration between Jesus and the person on the mat. We see the able-bodied friends beginning their prayer for their paralyzed friend with the obvious physical considerations: getting him from point A to point B. Sometimes our prayers are practical like this, too, such as doing the grocery run for our homebound friend or going to a follow-up appointment to listen to the test results.

Unlike a text message loaded with praying hands emojis, praying for others requires actual conversation and permission. We need to clarify what our friend really wants. A basic question like “Would you like to pray together?” is helpful. Maybe they will say, “No, but keep me in your prayers” or “Add me to the prayer list at church” or “Yes please! Let’s pray together!” But first begin by asking for permission and clarifying the prayer need. If you are physically present with someone you are praying for, be mindful of asking if physical touch is welcomed: “Is it OK if we hold hands?” Sometimes people have hidden pain that we won’t know about until we ask.

In the end, the four friends seeking healing for their paralyzed friend brought them all to the feet of Jesus. Prayer for others does that. Remember, though, we take turns in these roles: Some days, we are the ones offering to pray. Other days, we are the people in need of prayer. And some days, we are all the above.

The Rev. Elizabeth Gibbs Zehnder serves as Presbyterian staff chaplain at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she provides spiritual support to patients, their families and the hospital staff.

Worship & Music Early Registration Ends Soon

Early Registration for Worship & Music Ends Soon! 2022 registration is open! Register by January 31 for the best rate. Register Now Conference Dates: Week 1 | June 19-25, 2022 Week 2 | June 26-July 2, 2022 Early registration closes January 31, 2022. On-time registration begins February 1, 2022. This intergenerational conference is for children, youth, adults, pastors, directors, organists, singers, ringers, worship leaders, and church members. All are welcome! The Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) works in cooperation with Montreat Conference Center to offer two identical Worship and Music conferences each summer. Guided by the principles of Reformed worship, conferees explore opportunities for vital worship experiences and enriching the liturgical life of the local church. Register for Housing Week 1 Register for Housing Week 2 Conference Registration To learn more about this conference, please visit the Presbyterian Association of Musicians website.There you will find conference rates, registration information, class descriptions, and the daily schedule.   PLEASE NOTE: Conference registration does not include accommodations. Accommodations are made through Montreat Conference Center. Follow PAM on Facebook Keep up with Montreat!  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ Support Montreat! Give Online Now View as Webpage

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