[This past Sunday, we took a trip down memory lane and showed a 2 minute video of the dedication service of the cornerstone of our present church building which was held in April, 1957. This video was narrated by John Dowler, the grandfather of John Dowler who shared his testimony during worship this past Sunday. It was during that dedication ceremony 61 years ago that the congregation offered the prayer, “O God, baptize us afresh in the life-giving Spirit of Jesus. Amen.” We are invited to say this same prayer each day at 4:57 pm to remind us of that special date in our church history. We handed out these cards (see picture above) after each worship service. More are available. To watch the dedication service video and read John Dowler’s testimony, click here for the sermon which is part of our current “Heart-Healthy” sermon series.]
O God, baptize us afresh in the life-giving spirit of Jesus.
Thank you for the people of this church who sixty-one years ago gathered in front of our newly laid cornerstone and offered this prayer of blessing. Baptize us afresh in the life-giving spirit of Jesus.
Baptize us afresh so that we can have a heart-healthy faith. Baptize us afresh to be the generous and joy-filled people you call us to be. Baptize us afresh so that we can have vital ministries and life transforming relationships. Baptize us afresh as we continue in our four-week journey in having a “Heart-Healthy church.”
Thank you for the extravagant generosity of those who have gone before us to help make our church what it is today; a vibrant and growing congregation. Baptize us afresh that we would continue to provide a strong foundation for future generations. Baptize us afresh, O God.
Help us to have strong relationships with one another and with those we encounter in our day to day living. Fill our small groups with love, our Stephen ministry with compassion, our music ministry with inspiration, our worship services with joy, our hospitality ministries with warm hearts, and our mission work with humility. Teach us what it means to have strong relationships with you and with each other in all that we do.
We are especially grateful on this Sunday for all the relationships that have helped us to draw closer to you. Remind us that it’s often the little things that make the biggest difference in our lives; someone who offers an encouraging word, a listening ear, and some open space where we can just be ourselves. Thank you for all of these ways that we can be here for each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
O God, just as you will unite us every day at 4:57 pm when we pray for you to baptize us afresh in the life-giving Spirit of Jesus, make us one with each other even now as we pray the words that he taught us to say together…
“Our Father, who art in heaven…”
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