Relay for Life is a team event that celebrates cancer survivors, and raises funds for the American Cancer Society research, education, prevention, advocacy and patient services. It is an outdoor and overnight fundraising event where teams take turns walking or running around a track. My team, Prince of Peace Episcopal, will be joined by hundreds of others on June 10 – 11 for the Logan County Relay For Life. We are very blessed to be holding a prayer vigil at our campsite throughout the night. Stop by and join us in prayer or leave the name of a loved one who we will pray for during the event.

The Relay starts off with a Survivor’s Walk, where cancer survivors walk the initial lap, symbolizing the courage that survivors and their families display and sustain in their lives. On the opening night, there is a beautiful and touching Luminaria Ceremony that pays tribute to cancer survivors and to loved ones who still live on in our hearts.

How can you help?
You can support me by making a tax-deductible contribution to the American Cancer Society. You may copy and paste the link below into your browser bar to make a contribution on line. No amount is too big or too small. The $5 or $10 you give will add to other $5 or $10 donations and together, we have a huge impact.

Additionally, you may purchase a Luminaria to honor someone fighting cancer or in remembrance of someone who has lost their battle with cancer. You may do this on line also, and we will decorate the bag on your behalf.

During the Luminaria Ceremony, candles are placed in Luminaria bags and will be lit. The votives burn throughout the night and light the path for the walkers. They serve as a reminder of the purpose of Relay for Life.

Relay for Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day, cancer will be eliminated.

For more information on how to support team: Prince of Peace Episcopal and the American Cancer Society, contact our team captain, Susan Emmerling at 303-880-1463, or follow the link below.
Thank you for helping me to support the fight against cancer!

Relay For Life – There IS no finish line until there’s a cure!

Link to ACS website: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=34143&pg=entry

After church I headed to the nursing home as a Eucharistic Visitor. I arrived early and waited for lunch to end. At the front area of the home a large aviary sits with many doves flying from branch to nest and back again. As I sat waiting, residents wheeled up one by one to watch the birds’ activities and listen to them coo. PEACE

A husband and wife wheeled up and waited for family to take them out for Easter Dinner. They sounded excited about going out for a meal. When their family arrived the husband, dressed in his leather vest and cowboy hat, hollered, “Head ‘em up, move ‘em out!” They laughed and the son and daughter wheeled their parents out towards the waiting van. JOYAND LOVE

I ministered the service for Holy Eucharist to a member of our church who is a resident at the nursing home. We talked about Jesus being inside our hearts and felt Him there as we prayed and asked for His help. HOPE, FAITH, LOVE

When I finally got home the aroma of dinner filled the air. The Mexicali Round Steak cooked in the crock pot all day and was ready to set on the table. A Very Berry Rumble pie waited to be taken out of the oven. I am so very fortunate to have a loving family prepare a meal while I am away. LOVE AND KINDNESS

After we finished dinner I stood by the kitchen sink washing the dinner dishes. My husband yelled, “Look! Look at the neighbor’s yard!” Then my daughter said the same, “Wow! Look at the yard across the alley.” I had no idea what was going on, so I left the dishes and slinked my way to the window, worrying that something dreadful awaited me. The trees in the neighbor’s yard were peppered with little black spots. Some patches of yellow shown brightly atop the contrasting black. We were witnessing the migration of the yellow-headed black birds. AWESOME

Dear God,

You are an awesome God! I love You dear Lord, and I praise You. Your love and kindness that You spread throughout our world overwhelms me. As I go through my day, help me to open the eyes of my heart to all around me; to reflect Jesus’ light on all and to bring faith, peace, joy, hope and love to everyone I meet. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

What a day filled with Jesus. As you go out tomorrow, look around you. Make it your mission to find Jesus wherever you go and spread His love from your heart. Then share your encounters with others. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.

Each year the Lenten season presents itself in a different form for me. I have been thinking about how Jesus died for my sins and I pray deeply for forgiveness; and after emptying myself in prayer, I can’t help but feel an excitement bubbling out of me knowing that Christ will come again.

Whenever I look around me I am joyous with the newness that the season brings, and excited with the thought of Easter and Jesus’ resurrection.

Today on the way to work I passed a burnt area of land. Several days ago a field caught fire, and fortunately burnt just a few acres. Left behind was an area of black bare ground. Every day that I drove by, it looked so bleak against the dryness of left over winter. Today I noticed green blades of grass springing up among the black earth and giving new life to the charred soil.

I feel that the bleakness of the charred earth describes what my life would be like if Jesus was not my savior. It is through Him that I find hope where there is a vast barrenness. It is Jesus who I count on when there is no one else to turn to.

I give thanks for the cycle of life and change. With it comes hope; hope of new growth replacing the old. Hope that children living in abusive families will break the cycle. Hope that food will be abundant for the needy. Hope that I will be forgiven for the things I have done and things I have left undone.

Hope that God’s vision will soon be unveiled to us at Prince of Peace. Hope that our church will continue its movement forward in this time of sacrifice and forgiveness.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all the joy and hope that you bring to us through nature, through our families, through our love for you and through Your son Jesus Christ. Forgive us when we get so wrapped up in “life” that we forget that you are our stronghold. Please open our eyes and hearts to Your vision for us, and give us strength and courage to overcome any obstacles that veer us from the path, which leads to You. I pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

With the change of seasons, where do you find hope on this spiritual journey? I am looking forward to hearing from you.

As I read the first question for reflection, the TV went from commercial to the devastating headline in which Japan was hit by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and slammed by a killing tsunami.

The question started with, “Before starting this study, were you aware that there is a global food crisis?

On the TV it showed debris lying skewed all over the town, piled up to the roofs of the few houses that were left standing. The town was flattened and few survivors were reported.

The question was a mute point. All I could think to do was pray.

Please pray with me.
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen. (BCP)
Dear Lord,

So many are in pain right now, through the loss of family and friends, through the loss of homes and provisions, through the devastation of this crisis that has hit Japan, we ask for your mercy and healing for all. Strengthen all to be able to face every challenge that must be faced until full recovery is made, which only you in your mercy can provide.

Bring safety to those in danger; guide the emergency teams, doctors and all of the unknown heroes who are Your hands and feet; give them the wisdom to know what to do; provide them the strength in body, and courage in spirit; grant them patience in pain.

Shelter the homeless, heal the sick and broken, give comfort to those who are in mourning. We entrust all who are dear to us to Your never-failing care and love for this life and the life to come, knowing that You are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for. Let us put our faith in You to ease our hearts and minds. This we pray in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:31-34

One morning before school began; I noticed Christ’s work in the eyes of a young child. She approached me with a big grin and was excited because the cupboards at home were “full of food” and there was plenty to eat. Her mom was finally able to get food stamps.

A friend came to my class after school to talk about a student whom we share instruction. The conversation led itself to worry over our jobs. During this conversation we looked toward God for strength and gave thanks for all that He provides.

Another dear friend has struggled over the past two or three years with many challenges. There was divorce, financial and family health problems; all of which impacted her mentally and physically. Many times we wondered what God’s plan was for her. Just as one struggle ended another would begin. During this time she prayed and we all prayed for her and her family. Then she called the other day to tell of a job which will enable her to put food on the table without worrying where the next will come. A job that she can shine Jesus’ love on those that she encounters. Thanks be to God.

“Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.” Philippians 4:6-7

Dear Heavenly Father,

There are times when I hear about others needs and am so grateful for the provisions that You have provided for me; forgive me when I take those things for granted; help me to see the needs others have and to reach out to help them in the way Jesus has taught us. I am thankful for all that you have provided for me and those around me. I pray for the continued provision of food for my students; for the teachers who are unsure of their futures; and for us to put our faith in You to ease our hearts and minds. I pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Open the eyes of your heart on this spiritual journey, and tell us where have you encountered Christ during these difficult economic times?

Our mission, there were three of us, was to meet a candidate for filling a position as priest. None of us had done this before, so we prepared as our limited experience allowed us and asked the Holy Spirit to guide us.

We had questions to ask and questions on our minds that we wished we could ask (and afterwards thought of all the things that we should have asked or said), but the most interesting question that came out of our discussions was one that the candidate proposed: Why do we need a priest?

Why DO we need a priest? Our reflex answer was so that he/she could minister the Holy Sacraments. That is a big deal to us, but why?

Why do we need a priest? Have you really thought about that? Another obvious answer is that the current leadership is working triple time to make things happen at Prince of Peace, to keep us moving forward and to build a common vision. It is difficult to juggle a full time job, family obligations, pastoral care and running the church. The leadership needs help before they burn out.

Those are the real life concrete answers to the question. I think the candidate was asking a much deeper question when he/she asked this question. Think…what is it that a priest provides for us that we need?

Is it leadership? Is it a partnership? In our prayer triplets we discussed qualities we would like to see in a priest? Thinking back, I can’t remember what we expected a priest to do with those qualities. Is it to shepherd us and keep us moving forward in God’s Kingdom? Is it to help us develop our relationship with God through prayer, worship, and education? Is it to help us build our faith and to reach out and to serve others? Is it to help us share Jesus with friends and community?

I think that what the candidate was getting at was that any priest can provide the Holy Sacraments, but there is so much more to being a priest. And do we need someone to just provide the Holy Sacraments or do we need a priest in his/her entirety? Someone who can lead us, shepherd us and bring us closer to God and not leave anyone behind, but instead move forward with vision and purpose guided by the Holy Spirit.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 14-16

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask of you to look down upon Your wandering sheep and help us to find a good shepherd to take care of us as we seek to shine the light of Jesus on others; Someone who will help us to strengthen our relationship with You and to move forward with a common vision with your light leading the way so that we can be the city on the hill shining Your Glory to all.
I pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

Think about your own situation. Why do YOU need a priest? I am very interested to hear what you have to say, for this indeed is a spiritual journey to walk together in.

For me that was an easy question. The first half to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength may not always be easy, but is by far the easiest. I know that even times when I am mad at God or don’t understand Him; I still love Him. He will always be there for me to turn to and He will never give up on me.

“…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

It is a lot different with friends and neighbors.

“Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone” Thessalonians 5: 13 – 14 NIV

Be patient with everyone. What a challenge! Have you ever come across someone who rubs you the wrong way? As much as you care about them, they irritate you? I heard someone call them sandpaper people. They are difficult to love, but with love they soften and as they rub us we soften too…acceptance without judgment. But it is not easy and can only be done through the Grace of God.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Speak to me loud and clear so I know which way to turn to help the weak and timid. Please forgive me when I am impatient with others, when I am idle and know not what to do. Show me your way. Help me to not be the sandpaper person, but to see others as You see them, loved and chosen. Thank You for loving me and for the gift of loving others through You. I pray this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have you met sandpaper people on this Spiritual Journey? I’m looking forward to hearing your experiences and thoughts.

I don’t know if it was God’s intention to remind me to pray, but that is what it did and I did. It also lifted my heart during a time when it was getting heavy for my friend in need.

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5: 16-18)

Dear Heavenly, Father,

I give thanks for my friend and the relationship we have enjoyed and pray for her healing and comfort that only You can provide for her. Thank-you for the gentle reminders of Your presence. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen

On this Christian spiritual journey, when do you find time to pray? Is it routine? Is it when needed? Or do things around you remind you of God’s work that moves you to pray? I’m looking forward to you sharing your thoughts.

Values make us who we are and I have been thinking about mine. What do I hold in the highest regard?

Naturally I began thinking of Jesus and where I see Christ in my life and how I can serve Him. Then I thought…maybe I need to think of this differently.

When I think of the times that I feel closest to Jesus, it’s not always where I see Him, but where I see Him in me.

In Blog 3 I mentioned a bookmark that I received which had a little mirror and the words “Behold the Face of Jesus.” So I ask myself, “How do I reflect Jesus’ light on others?”

Have you ever felt alone in a crowd? Have you ever hesitated or even avoided someone who is in pain? Have you ever been in a circumstance where you didn’t know what to say or do?

Sometimes, I try avoidance and look the other way. Other times I wait for someone else to do something. Still other times I ask my self, “What does Jesus want me to do?” At that point, it is easier for me to take action. I remind myself, Jesus is with me, and from Him I gain strength and courage.

A friend shared a moment when she felt close to Christ. She told of a time when she felt awkward on a committee that she was asked to be on. After attending a couple of the meetings she felt the Holy Spirit rest on her shoulders and knew she was meant to be there. She felt His very presence in what she was doing.

My mother-in-law passed away a couple of weeks ago and I know that Jesus is carrying me through the grief that I feel. I am not alone. He sat with us when I visited her and spoke to her and prayed with her. Reflecting Jesus’ love from within me gives me strength during this difficult time. My relationship with Jesus is the most valuable thing I can think of right now. It is through my faith in Him that helps me determine the values that I live by and the actions that I take. He is everything to me:

”He’s more than a story
More than words on a page of history
He is the air that I breathe the water I thirst for
And the ground beneath my feet.”

And it is Jesus that encourages me to act…to act in ways that shines His light on others.

As we continue with this Christian journey, tell me, where do you see Jesus and where do you see Jesus in you? I am looking forward to hearing from you.