Praying with the News: Educational cuts in Cleveland

The Cleveland School board announced massive layoffs and big cuts to the music, art, library and gym classes in Cleveland city schools.  Though our church is located in Independence, we do need to care deeply about the condition of the hub community just a few miles north.  We care because Jesus calls us to care for all children (especially the poor).  We care because we know that children raised without adequate education will be ill prepared to earn a living wage later in life.

In 2008, we as Methodist's declared that our founder "John Wesley was a “unique and remarkable educator (who) gave to the whole Methodist movement . . . a permanent passion for education.  Wesley believed that persons develop their full God-given potential when they educate their mind as well as nurture their spirit;"  Read the full resolution.

Lord- help us find a way to educate all of the children in our midst.  Help us to make decisions that allow them to grow into the people you created them to be.  Forgive us when we place our priorities elsewhere.  Amen.

Praying with the News: A tragic Shooting

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   Praying with the News:

   
   Lord- have mercy on the souls of all who have died. That they were all of one family is such a tragedy. What brokenness we experience in this life. Be with the family of the shooting victims. Let your grace be upon all those who experienced the terrible shooting. Help us to create a more loving world. Amen.

   
   

   Shooting at Cracker Barrel restaurant in Brooklyn leaves three dead, one injured

   www.cleveland.com

   An apparent domestic dispute left three people dead and a child injured Thursday night at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurant in Brooklyn.

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Praying with the News: Whom shall we fear?

There is an old maxim that says that the best pastor preaches with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. I think that that goes for all Christians. We have to engage with the world and seek to draw inspiration from it. Thus, we are going to periodically posts some events- local, national, and internationally here and on the Facebook page and try to think just a bit of how to connect it to our faith. Feel free to comment or post your own news stories as they touch you.


We are in an Easter season in which we testify to a savior who was willing to stand up against the evil forces of the world- even when it cost him his life. The miracle of Easter tells us that death, and indeed allinjustice, is not the last word. The last word is always the mercy and justice envisioned by God. If we really believe this, why does fear pervade our life? 


Regina Brett argues, persuasively, that fear is at the heart of the tragedy of the Trayvon Martin shooting. 

Psalm 27:1 says, 



The Lord is my light and my salvation;
   whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
   of whom shall I be afraid? 


Lord-  Relieve us of our fears.  Allow us to overcome our fears so that we might be freed up to respond in love.  Help us to trust in your grace and mercy.  Amen.

What keeps society afraid? What keeps you afraid?