Wesley Church

People Blessing People

Devotional December 1

5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
      my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
      it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

Psalm 71:5-6, NRSV

On Sunday afternoon, I sat down with my children, coloring the first candle of the paper Advent wreath that Miss Deb had given them. The word on that first candle? Hope.

Throughout this week, we’re asking the children of Wesley Church to color their “hope” candles and place them on their paper wreaths. We’re also encouraging them to write a “hope” prayer — a prayer that reflects their hopes in the midst of this wearying season of COVID-tide — and place that prayer inside a special ornament

Yet writing such a prayer isn’t just a task for children, because hopeful prayer isn’t just for children. (Come to think of it, coloring a “hope” candle on an Advent wreath isn’t just for children, either — contact me if you want your own copy!) This week, as I color with my children and help them write their prayers, I’m lifting up my own prayerful hopes. 

What are those hopes? The end of COVID-19, of course. The development of vaccines and therapeutics. Just and equal access to those vaccines and therapeutics. A return not just to “normal”, but to a better normal — one that has learned from the lessons of COVID-tide. These are my hopes today, and I lift them up to the One who (in the psalmist’s words) is my hope. 

I invite you to reflect on your hopes, too. What are you lifting up in hope-filled prayer today? 

Share your prayer requests by:

Together, our Wesley Church Prayer Team will pray for each of your requests. If you would prefer for your prayer request to remain confidential with the pastoral staff, please indicate that in your message.

Blessings,
Pastor Candy

Be people of prayer, friends… and remember:

Our God is bigger than coronavirus. 
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too. 
We are people blessing people. 
We are Wesley Church.   

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