Pray for our Worship Teams. Pray for inspiration among music leaders that would help us prepare our hearts for worship. Pray that we would enter into song and worship, would consider the message, and would exalt our great God. Pray for more God-gifted volunteers who would lead in praise and worship and walk faithfully before the Lord.

Pray for Unity in the Spirit. Pray that we will all have a similar desire to see God’s will done through and in HMC. Pray against satan’s tricks being used in our midst e.g hurts, anger, unforgiveness. Pray that we would keep our eyes on God’s leading and trust Him to sort out the things we don’t understand.

SCRIPTURE:

Read the Scripture several times until you feel “at home” with the passage.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

—Luke 24:13-34

REFLECTION:

Imagine this interaction happening now and that you are an active participant on the road.

Who is on the journey with you?
What does the landscape look like?
What are some of the sights and sounds that surround you?
How would you feel about Jesus visiting your home?
What would conversation involve?
What is Jesus response to your questions?

Picture sitting and eating with Jesus. Imagine Jesus reaching for the bread, asking God’s blessing on it and then sharing the loaf with you. Can you feel the warmth, smell the sweet aroma, and taste the goodness of God?

Scripture says “their eyes were opened and they recognized him”

• Where have you recognized Jesus walking with you this past week?
• Who else has been a companion on the road and with whom you have shared and heard share life stories this past week?
• What can we offer as a prayer for those who have travelled along the road (wisdom, peace, physical & spiritual healing, thanks).

SCRIPTURE:

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

—John 21:9-22

REFLECTION:

Read the text a couple of times and imagine you are on the beach with the disciples and Jesus. What do you see, hear, smell and taste? Pay attention to the thoughts and emotions that are stirred within you as you listen.

Imagine you are Peter. How do you feel when Jesus keeps asking you in you love him? How do feel about what Jesus asks you to do to demonstrate your love?

In what way have you been tempted to compare your path of following Jesus to someone else’s?

In what way is Jesus calling you to demonstrate love for him by loving others?

What does it mean for you to keep your eyes focused on Jesus without comparing your journey to someone else’s?

Take some time to pray, asking God to guide you on your journey.

(Sharon Garlough Brown: Extra Mile: A Story of Embracing God’s Call p306)

Pray for increased creativity. As God leads, may out staff and leadership be able to be creative, and may we have the courage to try new things as God leads by His Spirit. May we be excited with a willingness to try new things in new ways as we seek to Gather and Go, and as we do, may we be sensitive to God’s lead.

SCRIPTURE:

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch[d] with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
—MATTHEW 26:36-46

REFLECTION:

Ponder that Jesus is returning to the scene of the crime – the garden, the place where Adam and Eve committed the first sin. Now Jesus knows the time has come for Him to suffer, die and be raised to life to pay the price for our sin.

Imagine you are Christ in the garden. Imagine how would you pray to God. If you were Jesus,

• What would you pray for?
• How would you react i
• If you knew you were going to suffer?
• How does God respond?What feelings bubble up inside you?

ACTION:

Now focus on a concern/burden/suffering you have in the present (e.g.: health, work, financial, relationship, addiction, etc). Instead of focusing on the problem, instead of focusing on the pain, anxiety, stress – surrender those feelings and turn to God; let your first reaction be a prayer. When you are ready, speak to God from your heart.

Pray for the ministry of the Young at Heart. Pray for the speakers and topics for the coming months. Pray for opportunities for our seniors to share their life experience and God’s faithfulness over the years to other generations.

Please pray for other overall unity of the HMC community; as we seek to walk together, that as a body, we would experience unprecedented unity together as we pray, and seek God’s direction in our Sunday services.

Pray for the Ladies Social ministry. Pray for the women who gather for fellowship monthly, that healthy inter-generational relationships would be fostered and ladies would be encouraged in their faith journeys.

Next Event:

Wednesday, March 21 — Holly DeVisser (Kinesiologist, Brockton Family Health Team) will speak on active living and maintaining your health. 6:30-8:00 in the upper room