This Sunday, July 28th at 10 a.m., Pastor Cheryl’s sermon titled, "The Perfect Prayer" is based on scripture Luke 11:1-13, to be read by Terri Forsten. It is the story of one of the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray, his beautiful response and then instruction about persevering in prayer. We will explore a variety of expressions of that perfect prayer using different words and concepts, how to persevere in prayer in a society full of distractions and how to develop a fulfilling prayer life. Praise music will begin at 9:50 provided by Electric Praise, directed by Alan Schulte and Lindley Kinerk will be our guest organist. The Children’s Time will lift up that same theme through the example of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, after which the children will be invited to a one room Sunday School led by Ben Venator. We are a Reconciling Congregation located at 79 Clinton Street and our facilities are handicap accessible. Pastor Cheryl also leads a weekly service Saturdays at 4 p.m. in the air conditioned chapel and a conversational Breakfast Church Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on the same topic. All are welcome! 

The Lord’s Prayer

11 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father,^[a] hallowed be your name.
    Your kingdom come.^[b]
3     Give us each day our daily bread.^[c]
4     And forgive us our sins,
        for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
    And do not bring us to the time of trial.”^[d]

Perseverance in Prayer

⁵ And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

⁹ “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹ Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for^[e] a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit^[f] to those who ask him!”

Monday Morning Quarterback

with weekly devotion

Bible Study Questions to continue studying the scripture from this week’s service at home. If you need a Bible, Pastor Cheryl will be pleased to provide one to you.
 Read Luke 11:1-13 (in as many versions of the Bible as you can find)

1. You may find some of the words in the version you read different than what is printed as our traditional version in the hymnal at page 895: Debtors or trespassers; Thy or your; In earth or on earth. You probably have a version that is familiar to your ear and dear to your heart. Examine the other words and contemplate how they can enrich your understanding of this precious prayer.
2. This perfect prayer taught by our Lord, Jesus Christ includes five elements to teach us how to pray in personal circumstances. Take a moment to write a prayer for yourself using these elements which are identified below along with the corresponding portion of the Lord’s Prayer and an example:
3. Adoration – Our Father who art in heaven – Gracious and Loving God.
4. Consecration – Your Kingdom come, Your will be done – Give us grace for today.
5. Supplication – Give us today our daily bread – Heal my worried heart.
6. Intercession – Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors – Forgive me for being angry at my spouse. I will forgive him for leaving his socks lying around.
7. Protection – Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil – Give me peace and confidence to resist evil thoughts and actions.

 Devotion: Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

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Church Growth 101

In the book of Acts, after the fire and tongues, after the 3000 joined the church, there is a beautiful passage that reads,
“Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47 NRSV
Acts describes the birth of the church and sets forth this formula for how it grows and thrives, sometimes sub-titled, “Life Among Believers.” Spending much time together at church, sharing meals at home joyfully and generously, praising God, taking care of each other—those all sound like things we do or should be doing, right? Absolutely!
John Wesley subscribed to this methodology. Wesley inspired a system of societies, class meetings and bands which provided instruction, small group sharing, accountability and fellowship. There are many expressions of small groups in today's church culture including the very popular simple church. Visiting the Bupyeong church in Korea in 2016 I was astonished and delighted to learn that in addition to several opportunities for regular Sunday morning worship within their 10,000 member church, they ate together (in many cafeterias within the complex) and then spent the afternoon meeting in small groups!
Wesley UMC-Concord has a number of small groups. We have groups of individuals that meet together for worship, praising God, praying, learning, leading and fellowship. We have choir, EP, Breakfast church, NESTs (Nurture, Enrichment, Service and Transformation), UMW, men’s groups, Sunday School classes, Prayer Messengers, Bible and book studies, committees, boards and more.
The point is that opportunities for us to 1) be in relationship with each other and 2) strengthen our relationship with God by cultivating our understanding of God in community, grows the church. It grows the church by strengthening and maturing us as disciples and it grows the number of people involved in church by providing opportunities to be active and included.

Are you involved in a small group? What are the characteristics of that group? How does it contribute to your spiritual growth and well-being? Does it make you glad and generous of heart? Does it praise God and inspire the goodwill of all the people? Once you’ve reflected on those questions, consider who you know that might also benefit from such gladness, generosity and goodwill and invite them to join you! It’s a great way to spread the good news of God’s love for all. If you don’t currently belong to a small group and would like to, please let Pastor Cheryl know and we’ll explore the possibilities together!

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Join us in Wesley's parking lot at 9:45 this Sunday, July 28th when we will commission and bless our Youth Mission Trip participants for the good work in God's name that they will be doing at Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop Maine through Saturday August 3rd. They'll be doing mission work in the area with leaders from the camp like construction work, building handicap ramps, stairs and the like. Please keep our youth and their leaders in your prayers and join us as we bless their journey!

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On Sunday, August 4th, our worship time will be dedicated to a healing service. There are too many times in life when we don't face our pain and anguish--when we don't share it with others and it festers and turns into anger or guarding. God yearns for us to be whole--for us to be lavished in love. Through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God demonstrates presence with us, even during our darkest times. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, God demonstrates comfort for our aching hearts. 
Have you experienced loss? The five stages of grief delineated by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance provide a helpful framework to know that we are not alone. It is important to realize that we all experience these stages differently: in different orders, to different degrees, and perhaps repeating some. 

Major life changes, even good ones, can sometimes generate a sense of loss. Things like moving, getting married or divorced, having a child, starting a new job or losing a loved one all mean that something has changed--that certain aspects of our life have been lost and some new paradigm is beginning. The pastoral change that this church has experienced is one such change. The loss of our beloved Program Director, Misty Griffith and her family is another. The discovery of a significant budget deficit and steps taken to address it are another. 

So many of us are experiencing intense feelings around these things that it feels like a good time for a healing service. On August 4th, we'll talk about God's role in our healing, about the biblical promise of healing, about some of Jesus' most wonderful healings and about our own healing as individuals and as a church body. This service will include a time for us to share our own experiences of healing and an opportunity for apologies and forgiveness. We will also offer healing prayer at the rail and anointing with oil during Communion.

In preparation for this service, please give some thought to what you might be grieving and what stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression or acceptance you are currently experiencing or have already experienced. If this introspection brings up intense feelings for you, please feel free to contact me to pray with you and help work through them.

Blessings,
Pastor Cheryl

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Wesley will be hosting Family Promise August 11-18. Please sign up in narthex to volunteer for this very important ministry in the life of Wesley church.

Welcome our New Bookkeeper, Safiya Wazir  

You may see a new face in the office in the coming days. Please join us in welcoming Safiya Wazir! Safiya will be working as our bookkeeper ten hours each week after training in our Church Windows bookkeeping program with Treasurer Dawn Haynes. Safiya resides in Concord with her young family. She has a Degree in Business Administration and currently serves as a State Representative, Vice Chair of the Head Start Policy Council and member of the Community Action Program Board. Safiya has attended Wesley's programs in the past and is proud to be affiliated with us in our inclusive practices. We are delighted that she will be working with us.