Author: revpaulcalkin

This next Sunday is All Saints Sunday, and many congregations, as we do, remember those who have made their journey to the presence of God since last All Saints Sunday.  

This week, there is also Halloween, or All Hallows Eve.  And All Saints Day is on November 1, and some traditions have special services on that day.  In addition, many cultures celebrate the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) November 2 each year, and that festival is a time to remember and celebrate those who have died. 

This is a time of the year when we think more about what happens when we die, when we honor the tradition of remembering our loved ones who have died.  We wonder, we think, and might even experience some sense of presence in our lives from those who have preceded us.  

Today, consider the traditions passed down to you, no matter how trivial, and give thanks for those who passed these moments down to you.  

If you are unable to see the graphics in this email, you can find the devotional, along with other previous ones, on the church’s website: https://mayfairheightsumc.org.

Or follow this link to go directly to the devotional page:  https://mayfairheightsumc.org/devotional-graphics/

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Here are the Prayers Of The People from 

Mayfair Heights Worship for October 27, 2024

Prayers Of The People

Gracious God, Creator of all that is, we lift our prayers to you.

Loving God, have mercy: 

On all who are suffering, 

On all who are grieving,

On all who are troubled,

On all who are looking for a new place and a new life.

God of mercy, 

Hear our prayers.

Loving God, have mercy:

On all who have made a mess of their lives,

On all who help clean up those messes,

On all who are making new plans which they never planned,

On all who are struggling to be kind,

God of mercy, 

Hear our prayers.

Loving God, have mercy:

On all who are overwhelmed, 

On all who are trying to release resentment and anger,

On all who are trying to forgive,

On all who seek a life of love, peace, and grace.

God of mercy,

Hear our prayers.

Loving God, have mercy:

On all who are walking beside those in need,

On all who advocate, who intervene, who love,

On all who seek justice for everyone, 

On all who seek mercy and forgiveness,

On all of us.  

God of mercy,

Hear our prayers. Amen.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

From grateful.org:

— WORD FOR THE DAY —The trick, it seems, is to be able to hold both things very close – the gratitude and the misery – and then, with a semblance of faith, to let them fly.

ELIZABETH AQUINO

Peace Be With You. – Paul

On Monday this week, I had a doctor’s appointment.  I’m getting more accustomed to having more and more of these.  

This appointment was one of the first of the day, and I had tried to get dressed as quietly as possible so that Jeni could continue to sleep.  This is not my best strength, but I did better this time.  

This appointment was with a doctor that I have only seen twice.  So we are just kind of getting to know each other a bit. 

While I thought this was just a check in to follow up on the skin cancer she had removed, she clearly had more in mind.  Several more pre-cancerous places were frozen to stop the process.  And she spent a long time examining my back, my skin, especially on my head.  I realized that this was rapidly becoming a long-term relationship.

So, I finished the appointment, paid my co-pay, and set out to do other things with the day.  

Early that afternoon, we had a handyperson come in to give us an estimate on a small job.  This is a person I/we have never met before.  She spent time talking to us, taking notes and pictures. 

Then that evening, I went to Bell Choir practice.  There are a couple of folks who play with us whom I don’t know that well, but most of them are pretty familiar folks.  

After all that had gone on that day, as I was getting ready for bed, I noticed something a bit odd.  In my attempt to keep quiet while getting dressed, I had put on two different shoes.  Different in shape, color, and texture.  I had been wearing these all day long.  

So, some observations.  Not too many people care if you wear mismatched shoes. The truth is that it doesn’t matter at all.  Who one is does not depend on whether clothing or shoes match.  

Today, let all the expectations you have for yourself and others slide a bit.  Give yourself a break, and give others a break.  Jesus said it this way: “I tell you this — do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.  For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. (Luke 12:22-23) 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

I have great respect for the past. If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going. I have respect for the past, but I’m a person of the moment. I’m here, and I do my best to be completely centered at the place I’m at, then I go forward to the next place.

Maya Angelou (Brainy Quote)

Peace Be With You. – Paul

You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.

Maya Angelou (Brainy Quote)

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Here are the Prayers Of The People

From Mayfair Heights Worship 

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Prayers Of The People 

Gracious God, Creator of all that is, we lift our prayers to you. 

We pray for help.

Help for family and friends.

Some are carrying burdens too great for them to carry alone. So we join with them today to share those burdens.

God, in your love,

Hear our prayers. 

We pray for our responses.

Because we are not always kind to those we love the most.

So we pray that gracious words, uplifting words, loving words, Will be on our lips as well as in our hearts.

God, in your love,

Hear our prayers. 

We pray for help from others.

Those who work with, stand with, the ill and the needy,

With the unloveable and the forgotten.

Some have been struggling so long that it is the only life they know. Assist us that we may be loving, generous, helpful.

God, in your love,

Hear our prayers. 

Keep our minds and our words away from judgment and advice.

Remind us that we are not perfect.

Remind us that there is quite enough criticism and negativity in this world. May we all stay far away from these.

God, in your love,

Hear our prayers. 

Gracious One, please be as clear as you can be about how we can be helpful to others. God, in your love,

Hear our prayers. Amen. 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

If someone has offended you, insulted you, or disappointed you, let it go!

If you are remembering all the ways you have been hurt or forgotten, let it go!

Ask yourself: What good does it do for me to hold on to this? 

• Iyanla Vanzant (through Mindful Christianity)

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Devotional – October 17, 2024

From Aldous Huxley, English writer and philosopher (1894-1963):

It’s dark because you are trying too hard.  

Lightly, child, lightly.

Learn to do everything lightly.

Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply.

Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.

So throw away your baggage and go forward. 

There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair.

That’s why you must walk so lightly.  

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Peace Be With You. – Paul