Wednesday, February 5, Childcare at Leawood, West, Overland Park will not be open during morning due to local public school systems announcing late arrival schedules. All church buildings will operate on regular schedule. However, at Leawood, West and Overland Park, programs requiring childcare will not be held prior to noon Wednesday.
On Sunday, February 9, we’re moving our regular 5 pm worship service to 4 pm so everyone can get home in time to watch the Chiefs play in the Super Bowl.
Romans 8:28 (CEB)
We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NRSV)
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:3-4 (NRSV)
We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
Today’s prayer tip written by Jessica Lovell, the Pastoral Intern at Resurrection Overland Park and also pursuing an M.Div. at Saint Paul School of Theology. She is a Certified Candidate for Ministry in the Great Plains Conference and often provides pulpit supply to churches in the conference. Jessica lives in Lenexa with her 3 children: Sydney, Sierra and Aiden.
Almighty and Everlasting God, we come to you today to give thanks for all you have given to us. Lord God Almighty, we praise you for who you are and what you have done. You are the healer, bring healing in this place. Lord, we are excited to move into this summer full of hope. We give you thanks for creation, the beautiful creatures of the world, the green grass, the cool breeze, and beautiful trees. Sometimes, we forget as we hurry through our life to stop and thank you for all the beauty you have created.
You are the provider. Increase our trust in you. You are the God who is with us. You are the God of Peace, bring comfort in our chaos. You promised us that where two or three are gathered in your name, you are there with us.
Lord, we give you thanks and praise for creating maternal figures in our lives. We are comforted by their grace, their profound ability to love us to deeply, their commitment to our lives and their guidance. Remind these incredible people that they are unconditionally loved as they raise up new generations and care for older generations as well. Inspire us to encourage our mommas and all those who feel like a comforting presence to us. Mommas hold up our world and are among some of the first to take on any task that is needed. Thank you for creating them with a servant’s heart. We also ask that you be with those for whom Mother’s Day is difficult for various reasons. Be with them, comfort them and guide them through this day.
God, we are imperfect, so we ask that you forgive us when we fail to live lives that reflect your love. Forgive us the many times when we take for granted all you have done for us. Forgive us for not being kind, being too harsh with one another and not living into the grace you give us. Renew us, inspire us, and protect us, O Lord. We lift up the marginalized, those who go without food and shelter. Comfort them, Lord. Remind us that we are your hands and feet.
Let us all continue to show radical grace to one another. Transform us, through your Spirit, and empower us to serve you, this day, and each day. Amen.