Invitation to Prayer

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Epiphany (Again)

“Gracious God, giver of love and peace, you call us to live together as one family: Give us grace to learn your ways, that all people may have the necessities of life and no one must struggle to survive; in the name of the Source, the Word, and the Spirit. Amen.”

Collects for the Church Year, by the Reverend Elizabeth Rankin Geitz

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

Greetings, Faces of Children Prayer Partner,

We are about to move into the fourth week after Epiphany and Ash Wednesday will be here soon — February 22, to be exact. Hard to believe we’ll begin the season of Lent in a little over four weeks. Didn’t we just celebrate Christmas?

Ever since I was a child, I’ve found this time in the church year—the time between Christmas and Easter—a bit puzzling. First we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, and then 15 weeks later, his death and resurrection. That’s hardly four months between the two major observances on the Christian calendar. I’m sure there are perfectly good reasons for this and if I asked my seminary-educated friends, they’d explain it to me (hopefully in terms I might understand).

Yet it still feels too soon to move into another season of the church. The Christmas decorations haven’t been put away for very long and now we’re pulling out Easter ones? As a little girl, I interpreted this time frame in a more literal way. I wondered when Jesus had time to grow up, hang out with his family, learn about the carpentry business, teach the disciples, or perform miracles if he was only a few months old. (Yes, I was a precocious child—my poor parents!)

Perhaps I should push my puzzlement aside about this perplexing period between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday—this interval called Ordinary Time* on the Christian calendar—and spend it living out the Epiphany prayer above. Perhaps, in this in-between time, I might be better off focusing on the Giver of love and peace, the One who calls us to live together as one family. At least I think that’s where the Holy Spirit is leading me. What are your reflections on or thoughts about this between-church-seasons time?

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, the Midland Faces of Children prayer group will meet at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland, to pray for the children of our community and world. Lunch ($5) and fellowship will follow. I hope you will be able to join us.

If you have requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to me at at claufer@facesofchildren.net, or give me a call. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer for the children of our world.

Christ’s peace and joy to you and yours,

Chris