Lord! Hear Our Prayer! (The Week of June 26, 2023)

 My Life Is in Your Hands” by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir 

Prayer List

(June 28, 2023) 

 

For the World: Emmanuel! Weather condition in summer season; Wild fire in Canada; Conflict between Russia and Ukraine; People who are in war zone; Healthy boundaries with neighbors, especially, among people and among nations; People who are looking for a refuge to have God’s dream; People who are dealing with violence at home, at work, at school and everywhere; Salvation of the Native Americans; People in Myanmar; To see that our God is truly alive and living; Healing of our nation from all wickedness and isms and divisions; Healing of our leaders from all greed, selfishness, bitterness, hatred, mistrust, and even fear; spiritual awakening of our nation; All those who do not know Christ for their eternal salvation; Peace of the world, God’s peace; All medical staff who take burdens of caring sick people and the frontline workers; All those serving in public; Finding all treasures from heaven such a time as this; All those longing for the light in darkness in prisons of many different forms; All those who are making a big step to keep charity, unity and purity for their marriage relationship; all to find true identity that God has put in the life of each one of us from the beginning without distortion; Our prayers also include the divine wisdom for all those who are dealing with the issues of accepting or approving, right or wrong, left or right; Discerning hearts; Direction of our nation, especially for the law making challenges against biblical teaching; Pure Heart in the Leadership of the country; God’s favor for us, for our family, for our church, for our community, for our country as we follow the will of God; God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven. 

 

For the Church, Universal: The Unity of the Christian Churches in Christ Jesus; Seminaries and seminary professors; All Christian believers who are in Syria and Turkey to shine with the Good News of Jesus Christ as they go through this critical challenging time; Christians in Russia and Ukraine for the role of God’s eternal Kingdom; Missionaries in Haiti; Christians to hold God’s dream as a church together; Christians and missionaries in Afghanistan for God’s guidance and protection; Churches in Myanmar for God's guidance and strength to be the light in the time of darkness; Christians who are suffering because of their faith in Christ for their endurance, especially in the Middle East, Africa, Israel, China, Russia, South East Asia, and North Korea and also God’s will be done through them; Missionaries all around the world sent by God as well as all the pastors and lay leadership in the Christian churches around the world for discerning heart to see the will of God and for their strength to hold it when they see it clearly so that they can carry their call faithfully, truthfully and fruitfully; Jews for Christ Ministry in Jewish community; Serving heart to grow for all Christians in the world; All the Christian Churches around the world carrying the mission of God such a time as this; all churches opening the building for in-person worship each week for God’s wisdom and protection; Clear direction from God to guide the world in turmoil with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

 

For Our Church and the Ministry: All those pastors and congregation going through pastoral changes for their healthy transition; Those churches in the United Methodist Connection who are striving to find the will of God as they take next step after their disaffiliation process; Renewed vision for Markesan Church and each members; Ministry of the Voice of the Martyrs; All churches in the United Methodist Church for God’s guidance to discern well for the direction of the church to see the vision of God even in the challenging time; Ministry of the Habitat for Humanity in our area; The ministry of Northcott Neighborhood House; Mission in Action for orphanage project in Ghana; Pregnancy Resource Center in Beaver Dam; Conference leadership in this season; Hand Chime choir; Porchlight Ministry in Madison; Becoming a blessing place for the community; For God’s wisdom and heart for Healthy relationship building with our neighbors; All Churches in Markesan and Princeton and the pastors; All those who touch, step on or pass through our church’s land and in building to receive God’s blessings; Native American Ministry; Ethnic pastors in our conference to witness Christ in God’s will; Worshipping in Spirit and Truth; Card Ministry for the community; Good stewardship for the ministry of the church; UMW Circle; Lay Servant Group; All the worship preparers including musicians, liturgists and ushers; Our custodian, John; Connectional Ministry Coordinator, Izzy; Our churches’ Lay Leadership Development; God’s power and wisdom for our Caring Team and Prayer Circle; Hope School in Beit Jala, Israel; Mike and Sherri Morrissey, Thailand Missionary and Thailand Now: guidance of the Holy Spirit; Our District Superintendent Rev. Tsuker Yang; Ministry of Gideon International; Children & Youth Ministry in our church for God’s wisdom and guidance; Our unshakable focus on the mission of God whatever happens around us; Bishop Hee-Soo Jung in our conference and his spiritual leadership to follow the Holy Spirit in this challenging time so that he can see the Will of God clearly as well as the UMC’s direction in God’s will; the United Methodist Church’s Unity in Christ; Preparation of our Conference's Delegation to represent God’s will in the future as they become able to see what God's will is for the Christ’s Church such a time as this surrendering their own ways, their own theology, own ideology, their own preference; Our United Methodist Community of Faith - for God’s healing, healing for our wounded-ness and brokenness and sinfulness, and for God’s guiding light in our every steps to follow only the Holy Spirit so that we don’t miss this divine opportunity to be cleansed and renewed by the power of Jesus Christ to be One with God and each other for God’s eternal Kingdom without losing hearts so that we are able to see Christ’s love from each other’s lives. 

 

For the Friends and Families of Markesan and Princeton UMC: Russ H for God's presence; Joyce Show for healing; Family of Betty Kahl for God's comfort;  Chris Dufrene dealing with Colon Cancer; Deloris Linden for strength and recovery; Lori Schweder’s mom healing and recovery; May Lopez and her family transition to AZ; Eileen D recovery from the knee replacement surgery; Davis family for God's comfort; Molly Scharf for healing and strength; Verlys M. for Strength and healing from cancer; Bill Ostrum for God’s strength; Bob and Deloris Linden for God’s strength; Izzy E. for full healing and recovery; Jackie Olsen for God’s Strength; Scott Hautamaki for God’s comfort; Marty L and her family for God's strength and guidance; Prayers for an Amish family that lost their 2 year child in an accident; Prayers for Al Vinz (former member) and his wife Kathy who is also a cancer survivor; Annie Boelter is now on Hospice; Sharon Long who fell and broke and dislocated her ankle; Sue Wendt undergoing knee surgery; The Jr. Bender family in his recent passing; The Irene Brunn family in her recent passing; Randy Schulz as he is dealing with loss of feeling in his legs; Marlene Hautamaki for God’s presence; Lola Arndt suffered a serious stroke; Bill O. for Heart concerns; Prayers for Kayla for healing of her finger, infection; Jossie’s grandmother for her health and upcoming surgery; Sunjoo’s Father dealing with lung cancer; Miranda Cluppert for full recovery; Prayers for Scott Kok, Tanya Walker Kok’s husband dealing with cancer; Kyle Schweder Family, Robin Gelinskey’s daughter in law has breast cancer; Joe Greget, Nancy Cotterill’s son is having Heart Issues; Elliot Hess, Carol's daughter, Kelly for cancer treatment (Princeton); Betty S. for health issue; Allie S. for her Cancer Treatment; Carla’s brother in law David for recovery from surgery; Clark’s friend Janice in Pennsylvania dealing with pancreatitis; Prayers for Mae, Clark B. sister as she has exploratory surgery dealing with cancer; Amber Stellmacher underwent cancer surgery; Tracy Zemlo diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery; Joyce Swandt for eye problems; Sandy Jahnke experiencing eyesight problems; Betty Sutton’s son Mike for his recovery from surgery and his wife Carrie; Nina Zick for healing; Jamie Haas for recovering from surgery; all who are in transition; Russ Zastrow as he deals with radiation; Dwight Grams as he deals with Leukemia; Linda Schmeckpeper on hospice; All those care givers at home; Brian K. for full healing, his family for God’s strength; Tami Horzewski for full healing and recovery from paralysis; Those who suffered a loss, are ill or homeless; Judy, Ken's mother for her health; Prayers for all who have not attended church;  Those who are considering going into ministry; Prayers for Ray D.  diagnosed with Cancer; Sue A. dealing with Cancer; James P for God’s guidance as he is preparing his new life in Christ in prison; Nancy E. for God's healing and strength; Francine and her family for God’s guidance; Members of our church who have been disconnected from our faith due to spiritual personal struggles; Thailand Missionary, Sherri and Mike Morrissey’s daughter Rachel in hospice care; Brenda G from the community, for God’s guidance and strength; Herb for his health; All those who are not able to worship in person due to their health condition; Ed Bartlett for health; All those who are now uncertain of their life in transition through Job changing; Austin in service; Casey’s faith journey with God; Amanda and her family for God’s strength and guidance; Natalie and her family for God’s guidance and strength; Joslyn’s family in Norway for their faith; Tyrone for divine guidance for the new step of his life; Delany for her condition; Kayla’s friend Dan dealing with kidney issue; Jeffrey W., Kevin D., and Amy D. for God’s healing; Cindy P. for her Health; All those who are dealing with scleroderma; All those who are dealing with addictions; Denise R. for God’s strengthening power and healing; Seth for his faith; Saul for his faith journey; Thelma for On-Going Medical Treatment; Nelson S. at Barret House; All residents at MRH; Jayme’s healing and recovery;  Scammers who tried to harm our faith community.

Welcome Summer! (Farewell Message)

“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.” 

(Proverbs 16:2, NLT)

 

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Are you now enjoying the season of all greens with those beautiful yellow flowers in your backyard? Quite amazing to watch all those changing pictures each season. It was like yesterday when the white snow covered the land and the green stuff came out of the hard soil and painted the earth over the white snow. Now that new green stuff on the ground has spread throughout all the trees up high and dance with the early summer winds! I was watching them through the small kitchen window in the morning when I was preparing my breakfast. What a beauty of God’s creation and the gift of this season! 

 

That small kitchen window is my favorite window in the entire house and I love sitting in front of it! But I just wonder what if there is no window? Maybe it's hard to see outside? No wonder why some smart guys created something to see the world outside through a little computer screen wherever they are and called it “Windows”. 

 

How about us, ourselves? Interestingly, someone also created a special window to see who we are in relationship with and named it “Johari Window”. Of course, they named it after one part of their names, Joseph and Harrington, like we named the United Methodist Church from the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

 

Anyway, according to Johari Window, it has four quadrants called, open, blind, hidden and unknown areas. Depending on the size of those areas in the window, our relationship changes! So there is a part about me that everybody knows including me, like “Pastor K is a preacher” for example - open area. However, there is a part about me that everybody knows about me except me unless they tell me, like “Pastor K is humble and meek” - blind area. I wish it was so true though. Then, there is a part about me that everybody doesn't know about except me, like “Pastor K was coming from heaven” - hidden area. Of course, there is a part of me that no one knows including me - unknown area which means the area of potentiality. So when the open area of that window becomes bigger, the other three areas become smaller. But our relationship becomes stronger & deeper. It makes sense, isn’t it? However, it does require lots of sharing in trust, doesn’t it? 

 

How about our relationship with God? As I read the Bible, I found that it is absolutely true. Very easy example is Peter who said, “Truly I love you, Jesus!” However, after he had denied three times when Jesus was crucified on the cross, he had realized that he did not. So his answer to the resurrected Jesus later on was “Lord, you know that.” Once Peter did not know that he did not love Jesus with a full heart, but now Peter knew what kind of love he had for Jesus! It is quite a self-realization! But what a transformation! Then God used him to transform the world for the last two thousand years in His will so far.

 

How about you all now? Do you know who you really are? Some of you might believe that you are a peacemaker, but might be not; some of you might believe that you know Christ well, but might not; some of you might believe that you are faithful enough, but might be not; some of you might believe that you are honest, but might be not; some of you might believe that you are humble, but might be not; some of you believe that you love your church, but might be not in God’s eyes; and some of you believe that you are not worthy but you are; and some of you believe that you are too weak to do anything for God, but you are.

 

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born 

I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5, NLT)

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, do you really know who you are? But where are your hidden areas, blind areas and unknown areas? Journey with Christ in his body - the Church - truly opens our eyes to see those unknown areas, hidden areas and blinded areas to make our relationship with God and each other much closer and stronger like Peter. And we know he was not the only one. Who knows if you find God’s call for you someday totally different from where you are now as you journey with Christ?

 

It has been a wonderful five years of Journey with you and Christ to see those hidden, blinded and unknown areas about me so that I can grow in the relationship with our living God each and every day and with you! Truly, I have been blessed by you all! 

 

Now, it is too sad to say that I am no longer your pastor after the first day of July which means I cannot come back and do any pastoral function in Markesan and Princeton Community like weddings and funerals; however, I am glad that you will have a new pastor who can continue to take this role for you from August. So let us continue to walk the walk as we love, forgive and serve together in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, with his heart wherever we are! We love you all!

 

May the Spirit of God continue to guide you all to grow into the Kingdom of God eternal on earth as in Heaven as we wait for that...

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kyochul