“Like a Prayer” – Sermon by Marnie Fisher-Ingram

Like a Prayer – Luke 11:1-13

July 24, 2016

I come here today after finishing up an intense summer of camp; I have spent the past 15 months planning a program for over 3500 teenagers. It takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, or as they say…. prayer.  I spend my days praying for direction. That what I hear one day will still be relevant in 9 months during the camp season. I pray that we find the right qualified and gifted staffers to fill our teams so that children and youth may then hear the voice of God through them, or in-spite of them.  It can be exhausting and rewarding. But it is a journey that always keeps me in conversation with God.

As Christians – young and old – we are told to pray.  We ask God rather shamelessly for things and wait for a positive answer. Often, the answer comes back as something unexpected. We pray with concrete intentions, but responses to prayer are most often mysterious….and it can be frustrating if we seek to understand why it works. The ups and downs of this road we travel remind me daily that life is best spent in community learning from one another.  Recently I asked some friends for experiences they have had with prayer, and I was stunned to learn stories and circumstances from friends I didn’t know. We keep many of our struggles so close, yet often these are the things we bring to God the most. Today I invite you to hear the Lord’s Prayer with fresh ears alongside stories of the earnest prayers of others.

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name

My mother tells a story of when I was probably 10 or 11. My family was in deep financial stress.  I vividly remember the tension and anxiety my parents carried around with them. Job changes and a house that wouldn’t sell had collided to create a situation from which my parents are still recovering – emotionally and financially.  My mom remembers hearing a voice say to her, “Ednamae, sell some things.” She says she recognized the voice, but couldn’t quite put her finger on it. The next day she and my dad placed an ad, and several big ticket items were sold within 24 hours….bringing some temporary relief to a stressful situation.

My friend Scott grew up in a Pentecostal church. His childhood SS teacher, 70-year-old Ms. Smith, got sick, and Scott’s mom took him – an eight-year-old at the time – to visit her in the hospital. Ms. Smith asked Scott to pray for her … Scott says it is the first time he can remember someone asking them to pray for them. He remembers laying his hand on her arm and praying. When Ms. Smith was well enough to come back to church, she hugged Scott in the hallway and told the people standing around, “Scott prayed for me, and God healed me.”  At that moment Scott remembers feeling deep awe …. Like connecting the dots in his head for the first time. He said, “God listened to me.”

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

I have a friend in Birmingham who tried for years to have a child. Four years of failed medical procedures were brutal and left her and her husband scared. She had always thought that if God has control of anything, it is the creation of life. Today she and her husband are parents to two amazing boys. She says she still struggles with what she equates with survivor’s guilt over why they were able to have children and others cannot … she says the thing she learned about prayer during that time was less about asking for something and more about who God is and her relationship with God.  She says that through her frustration and anger with God at the time, she knew she needed to trust and lean on God. Her prayer life developed, and her relationship with God grew during that time, in spite of her anger and agony. Or, was it her open and honest anger that forged a deeper relationship with the one who listens?

One of Passport’s former staffers, Michelle told me a story of how she was called to ministry. During her first summer as a camper in 2003 while participating in worship. The staff was leading the congregation in a Prayer Experience – a creative way of engaging God in prayer. On this particular evening, they were participating in Holy Imagination. It’s a type of prayer in which a story is told: “You are walking along a path in the woods, meet up with Jesus, have a little chat.” Michelle says she never experienced prayer like this and wasn’t quite sure what to do with it and certainly didn’t believe she would get anything out of it. As a part of the prayer experience, we try to facilitate dialogue between the campers and Jesus and will conclude by asking, “What did you hear Jesus say to you?”

Michelle says the first words she heard were “Trust me.”  She admits that she was a pretty freaked out. Then she heard the words “youth ministry.” Which also freaked her out as she had never thought about ministry at all – she wanted to be a teacher.

Michelle now serves a church and is a gifted youth minister.

Give us this day our daily bread,

Over Memorial Day weekend, my former youth minister Allison, received a call from her son, John, saying that he needed to move home. John has been struggling with a heroine addiction for the last year, and it been a devastating journey for them. In her words, “it brought us to our knees.” Three days later Allison boarded a plane to Denver from Vermont. Allison does not like to fly and was very nervous and anxious for the long flight. After getting settled into her seat, Allison thought about how flying has changed over the years. It seems like most passengers are on their phones, computers, etc. Allison thought to herself, “put down your phone and speak to the woman sitting next to you.” She said their conversation started with the usual, where are you going? What do you do for a living, etc.?

Allison soon found out that her new found friend is retired after serving 25 years in the military and was off to visit her granddaughter. In her retirement she volunteers at a local nursing home, is pursuing biblical studies, and is a self-titled “prayer warrior.” Allison told her that they had a little bit in common and Allison is also a minister.  Allison told Angela that she was flying to pick up her son who is struggling with a horrible drug addiction. Angela put her hands on Allison and started praying for Allison, for John and their family and the road ahead. God was present! Allison says, “The Holy Spirit was there, and it was just what she needed in her extreme brokenness and desperation.”

Following the prayer, the women opened their eyes and hugged. Allison soon found out the Angela was a single mother and her only son, Alex, has been in jail for the last three years for robbing houses and being involved in drugs. She knew that her son was heading for trouble and prayed for God to protect and keep him alive. She felt like he was going to be shot, overdose or be thrown in jail. He ended up in jail and will be released in the middle of August.

After learning Angela’s story, Allison put her hands on Angela and prayed for her, her precious son, her family and their road ahead. Two strangers, brought together out of mutual concern for each other and through conversation with God, were changed forever. The two women have continued to stay in contact over the past several months, praying for one another daily.

In the late 1980s, Faye’s mother left her dad and came to live with Faye and her daughter. They got a three-bedroom apartment, and Faye was paying part of the rent. About six months after they moved into the larger apartment, Faye’s mother decided to go back to her dad, which was a joyful thing. But it left Faye faced with the idea of moving again because she couldn’t afford the rent on the larger apartment. Faye was praying for money, cold hard cash. One day, she went into the women’s bathroom at work, and she saw the writing on the wall, literally! A woman whom she had met a couple of times but didn’t know well had put up a sign saying that she and her roommates were losing their apartment unexpectedly and she had nowhere to go. She needed a place for a couple of months while she figured things out. So Faye called her, they met, and the woman decided to move in with them. God showed up with a response so much greater than money! The woman lived with Faye and her daughter for two years and is a dear, dear friend today. If Faye hadn’t seen the sign on the wall as being God’s answer, she would have missed out on a lifelong friendship that has blessed her many times over.

and forgive us our debts

as we also have forgiven our debtors

My cousin Katy went through a pretty hard divorce about 18 years ago. It left her confused and anxious about the future. In counseling, she was instructed to make a list of what she wanted in a future husband. She listed 26 things. She has been re-married to her husband for 17 years and says he still meets all 26 requirements (and more) on her list. She says God’s care for her reminded her of the love God offers to us each day.

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

My mother called me on Oct 3, 2014, to tell me the news that rocked me to my core. After a routine mammogram and other testing, she had breast cancer. The next week felt like a blur. I cried and went through the motions at work. I yelled in my prayers to God. After a course of treatment was determined, I would go up for the mastectomy and help with her care following that surgery. It was 6 weeks from diagnosis until I was able to hug my mother. Those 6 weeks were long and hard. But as I got into my car each morning to drive to work, the most majestic sunrise greeted me each day. Vivid colors reminded me of God’s constant presence with us through this journey called life.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

I have a nephew, Chase, who is now 16 years old. He’s no stranger to this congregation. You joined us in prayer for him in his first years of life. Chase was born with a condition that keeps his bones from growing in a way that they should. He is an amazing young man who loves babies, playing the piano and going to church. To this day Chase has had 41 surgeries to try and repair and reinforce his fragile bones and increase his quality of life. Just before his 41st surgery, Chase had a remarkable encounter with a group from his church in Richmond. There is a group called the catalyst group with whom Chase has developed a special relationship. This group is mostly senior adults.

Just before his last surgery, the group asked Chase to come to one of their meetings. When Chase arrived, they asked Chase to sit in the middle of their circle – they placed their hands on him asking God to give him courage and strength for his surgery.

Prayer is personal. It is complex. It is corporate. It is mystery. It is both natural and foreign. It is how we show gratitude. It is how we cry out to God. It’s how we stand in awe of God’s wonder, listen for a comforting word, or to quiet our anxious mind.

In lessons to his disciples about prayer, Jesus offered an example for all of us. In traditions like yours, we recite the prayer in most worship gatherings. The familiarity forges its own rhythm in our voices and liturgy. Perhaps you’ve noticed this if you’ve visited other places of worship. A different cadence, inflection, or word stands out to you. This might even be the invitation from God to listen closely because God has something to say to you in that moment.

With that in mind, I invite you to listen to a version of the prayer that is a bit different – it’s taken from my daughter’s bible. Close your eyes if that will help you to focus. Breath deeply and open your mind and body to God’s spirit.

Hello Daddy!

We want to know you

And be close to you.

Please show us how.

Make everything in the world right again.

And in our hearts, too.

Do what is best – just like you do in heaven,

And please give us everything we need today.

Forgive us for doing wrong, for hurting you.

Forgive us just as we forgive other people when they hurt us.

Rescue us! We need you.

We don’t want to keep running away and hiding from you.

Keep us safe from our enemies.

You’re strong, God.

You can do whatever you want.

You are in charge.

Now and forever and for always

We think you’re good!

Amen Yes we do!

(The Jesus Storybook Bible, written by Sally Lloyd-Jones, Zondervan 2007)

If we believe that God listens to our prayers and that God speaks to us in prayer, then we must understand that prayer is personal, it is shared, and is corporate. The sharing of our concerns with each other, and praying over them brings us deeper into relationship with God and into community. Prayer provides a unique connection with God. Prayer provides an outlet to express all your worries, fears, sadness, joys, happiness and thankfulness. In prayer, we join in a holy chorus of the faithful. So Jesus has given us a road map, and to follow Jesus means that prayer is an important part of our journey.

On this road, on this journey, God hears us in our darkest moments. In our joyous moments. In our moments of grief, trial, and struggle. When life feels so heavy, you can’t breath. God is ready to listen – to walk alongside, to grieve with you, to hold you.

And when you are on cloud 9 because life is going well, God is ready to celebrate and hug you.

And when life is just going, the humdrum of the every day God is. God is there – walking alongside.

I have another story to share.  Daniel and I attend Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham. As it has taken us a very long time to adjust to life in the deep south, our church has provided a place of refuge and sanctuary.

BCOC was actually born out of the civil rights movement of the 60s.  Over 40 years ago, most of our charter members were members of First Baptist Birmingham. In the late 60’s a young African American woman and her daughter had been attending the church for over 2 years. They were faithful participants in every sense: the mother sang in the choir, and her daughter was active in the children’s program. The time had come for family to join the church. Birmingham was still the epicenter for racial tension and the wheels of integration turned painfully slow. On a Sunday morning, while standing before the congregation, the church voted and rejected her application for membership. Immediately, 300 members of the church, including the pastor and much of the staff walked out that day and never looked back. They liked to say, we left everything and took nothing, not even a paperclip.

Many of these former members started a new fellowship – the Company of the Committed and the family rejected from FBC were the first members. The next few years were spent deep in prayer trying to determine the face of their new church. How would they pay staff, where would they build, etc.? The local Jewish temple offered them space for worship at 8 am on Sundays, and Sunday School was held afterward.  A schedule we still have today. This  group of “Walkers” as they are called because of their exodus, inspire me. The months leading up to the vote on whether or not this woman would be allowed to join the church were high-strung. To this day I hear stories of church members threatened because of their stances for inclusion. I hear stories of families who were torn apart because some walked, and some did not. And they tell stories about how they prayed. They prayed for change – for changed hearts, and minds, and healed relationships, but it wouldn’t be soon enough. So they created change. God’s voice didn’t appear in the silence, God’s voice was heard in the faithful footsteps of the walkers.

Sometimes our prayers will lead us to create the change we want. Sometimes our prayers lead us to make a bold stand and say enough is enough. Sometimes our prayers lead us to the answer that we must lead the way towards the change we want in this world.

What would you pray for today?

Prayer keeps me focused.  Prayer connects me to the God who cares for me more than I can imagine. Prayer keeps me tuned to the hurt and pain of this world, my community, and my friends and family. Prayer move me beyond myself and my own needs towards deeper concern for others. Prayer is so much more than asking. It is praise. Thanksgiving, conversation, questioning, lamenting …but more than anything it is a conversation.  (David Lose, “Shameless,” workingpreacher.com July 18, 2010)

It is a conversation that draws me closer to a God who walks alongside us each and everyday. It is a conversation that tethers us to one another and to God when we need it most. It is a conversation that reminds us that we are much more than a speck on this road. It is a conversation that strengthens us, that welcomes us, that comforts us, that brings us strength. It is a conversation that sometimes feels silent and unanswered.  It is a conversation that is sometimes answered in ways we do not understand. It is a conversation that is listened to. In my heart of hearts, I know God hears our prayers.

On this road. Today, whatever it is, pray, and then Go!

Ask, Seek and Knock.

God is listening.  I promise.

Benediction:

As we leave this place today: Live simply, care deeply, love generously, forgive freely, and pray daily. And after you’ve done all this, place your lives in the hand of a God, who is listening daily.  Amen.