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Every laugh you’ve ever had is still echoing somewhere. 

Every hug you’ve given is still alive in someone’s chest. 

Nothing beautiful really leaves. 

It just keeps rippling.

• From thetinyjoyproject 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

A teacher comes, they say, when you are ready. And if you ignore its presence, it will speak to you more loudly. But you have to be quiet to hear. – Robin Wall Kimmerer – grateful.orgWord of the Day

Peace Be With You. – Paul

This morning, Jeni and I saw the first hummingbirds of the season at the feeders Jeni has placed on the patio.  Not only are they a welcome sight, they are a reminder of the continuing cycle of nature, of a system that operates quite well entirely without our human assistance.  

And even now there is a palpable shift in the seasons beginning to occur.  We have seen it in higher temperatures, the subtle shifts toward longer summers and even colder winters.  We might want to deny these changes, but they are there regardless of our opinions.  

Part of our human task is to be attentive to, cooperative with, the environment, to be stewards of the very essence of life itself.  Just as we are thoughtful about what we spend our financial resources on, we are also obligated to be thoughtful of our choices of the vehicles we drive, the plastics we use, and the paper we use once and then throw away.  

These may seem like small things, but the presence of the hummingbirds reminds me that small things indeed have great influence.  

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Here are the Prayers Of The People from Sunday, August 17, 2025

Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church

Prayers Of The People 

Let us pray for the expressions of God’s love in the world, now and always.

Creator of earth, sea, and sky, kindle the fire of your Spirit within us that we may be bold to heal and nurture the earth, and pour your blessing upon all who work for the good of the planet.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer.

Breath of life, receive our thanks for the beauty of our local habitat and all who dwell in it, and grant us the wisdom and will to conserve it.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer.

Source of life, heal and redeem the wounds of your creation, and visit the places and people who suffer from our indifference, neglect, and greed.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer.

Lover of all you have made, we thank you for the wondrous diversity of your creatures, and we pray for their well-being.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer.

Author of the book of nature, receive our gratitude for places of restoration and healing, and continue to bless those places that feed our lives and spirits.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer.

Wise Creator, whose works are full of mystery, give us wonder and appreciation for your creatures with whom we find ourselves in conflict.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer.

Giver of all good gifts, awaken us daily to our dependence upon your bounty, and make us always thankful for the abundance of your blessings.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer.

Divine Physician, heal our communities, especially situations where neglect, greed, or violence inflict suffering upon people and other creatures.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer.

Comforter of all the earth, sustain the people of this congregation and of others who de- sire or need your presence and help.

God, Giver of life,

Hear our prayer. Amen. 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

From Winnie the Pooh (a wonderful theologian, I might add!)

“Some days,” said Pooh, “I don’t quite feel like myself. My body’s tired and my heart feels heavy, and even getting out of bed feels like a very big adventure.

But then I remember — it’s okay to be slow. It’s okay to hurt. And it’s even okay to be a little sad sometimes.

Because being brave doesn’t always mean doing something big. Sometimes, it just means being yourself… even when it’s hard.

Hope,” Pooh whispered, “is the little hum that keeps playing quietly when everything else feels still. And I think that’s worth listening to.”

Peace Be With You. – Paul

In a world of noise, confusion and conflict, it is necessary that there is a place of inner silence and peace; not the peace of mere relaxation but the peace of inner clarity and love.  

– Thomas Merton

From grateful.org Word Of The Day

Peace Be With You. – Paul

“Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.”~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Those who choose, 

even on a small scale, 

to love in the midst of hatred 

and fear are the people 

who offer true hope 

to our world. 

• Henri Nouwen

Peace Be With You. – Paul

Here are the Prayers of the People from Sunday, August 10, 2025

We are observing The Season Of Creation from now through the end of August.

Prayers Of The People

Before our existence your Spirit hovered over the waters, and so we affirm 

Our world belongs to God. 

You created life and breath, light and dark, land and sea, every sight, every sound. 

Our world belongs to God. 

You declared creation good. Our stewardship desires to reflect your grace. 

Our world belongs to God. 

Forgive us when think only of our immediate needs,

for we seek to heal our relationship with you and with all creation.

Our world belongs to God.

Keep us in harmony with all that is beautiful and good,

so that we may help restore the earth.

Our world belongs to God.

Teach us again to live in sync with your creation. May your Spirit move in the hearts of leaders, giving courage in the face of climate crisis. May your Spirit move in the voices of youth who call on us to consider future generations. May your Spirit lift the conscience of the church to do what is right.

May our actions bear witness that

Our world belongs to God. Amen. 

Peace Be With You. – Paul

From Rev. Dr. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli:

“When you are able to stay connected to the love of God who holds you, calls you by name, forgives you, and empowers you to shine, you will be better equipped to act in the world with sacred resistance.

Because you will know firsthand what sacred resistance is really about: it’s about love, love that looks upon each person with a desire for their well-being, love that looks upon human community with a desire for healing and peace with justice, love that looks into all creation with a desire for mending and reverence, love that is compassionate and merciful, love that is stubborn and sacrificial.

This is how God loves the world. This is how God loves you. This is how God created you to love.

“You are the light of the world,” Jesus says. As long as you take those words seriously, even when you feel dimmed by weariness and worn down with grief, God’s love will continue to shine, lighting the way not only for you to keep going, but also for others to see you and to follow.”

– GEGC from “Sacred Resistance”

Peace Be With You. – Paul