First Church

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
22 January 2012 -- 8:30 & 10:00 a.m.

“Blessed are the peacemakers….”
Matthew 5: 9

THE GATHERING

PRELUDE   Largo (Symphony 9)    arr. from Dvorak
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTROIT
CALL TO WORSHIP:      adapted from B. Prewer
Leader:    Let us center ourselves not on our wants or difficulties but on our God:
People:    in the silent places of my soul I turn to God, for God alone is our rock and salvation.

HABITS OF OUR HEARTS

When we turn the page of the calendar to the new year, it seems that often, the desire to begin again, start anew, reform, rework, and finally address those pesky bad habits surges up in us. Or, at least it does in me!

Our habits do define and limit us in many ways. Good habits can be a backbone for good intentions, and negative habits or indifference can undermine the best of ideals.

One habit of the heart worth cultivating is that of personal prayer.  Sometimes I hear from folks who tell me that they don’t know how to pray, or that they don’t have time. I too sometimes feel the same way. Even in the midst of my work, which, after all, involves a lot of corporate prayer, and the voicing of prayers for others, I too, need to have a pattern to help me and remind me to pray.