Church at the Lake

Church at the Lake No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!

Sunday Service is at 10:30 am and followed by coffee and cookie fellowship where we can get to know each other.

09/06/2026

Sunday Worship Sermon “Remember and Celebrate!”Exodus 12:1-14 Pastor Beth McKibben-Nee

08/30/2026

Sunday Worship Sermon “Discipleship = Confession + Expectation” 11:1-2, Matthew 16:21-28 Pastor Beth McKibben-Nee

08/23/2026

Sunday Worship Sermon “The Bible and Medicine”Mark 12:30-31 Matthew 8:1-7 Pastor Don Giesmann

08/16/2026

Sunday Worship Sermon “Reconciliation“ Romans 11:1-2, 29-32, Matthew 15:21-28 Pastor Beth McKibben-Nee

"The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."~ Job 33:4In the busy days of summer, it c...
08/14/2026

"The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."
~ Job 33:4

In the busy days of summer, it can be difficult to stop for a moment, take a breath, and just BE in the presence of God. Breath can be deliberately aligned with short prayers to make prayers an embodied experience.

This type of prayer is fittingly called the “Breath Prayer.” In “Paths to Prayer,” Patricia Brown writes that “the goal of this form of prayer is to integrate our interior thoughts and exterior actions.”

Breath Prayer is intentionally slow, so it is challenging for people who naturally bring a lot of energy into their moments. But engaging breath with prayer is worth the effort! I invite you to give it a try with one of my favorite Bible verses: Psalm 46:11…

1. Decide how long you will practice this type of prayer and acknowledge your intention with God.

2. Sitting in a comfortable position, take a full, deep breath into your lungs and exhale slowly. Do this 3-4 times.

3. Next, bring Psalm 46:11 to mind. Shorten the phrase each time you pray it and breathe 3-4 breaths between each phrase.

[Breaths] --> Be still, and know that I am God.

[Breaths] --> Be still, and know that I am.

[Breaths] --> Be still, and know.

[Breaths] --> Be still.

[Breaths] --> Be.

4. Be still and breathe for 5-10 minutes. If your mind wanders (which it will!), gently bring your awareness back to your breath.

5. Repeat the process with Psalm 46:11 again, shortening the phrase and taking 3-4 breaths between each phrase.

6. As you open your eyes and finish the prayer, consider how you feel and what the experience was like for you.

The next time you use the Breath Prayer, pick a phrase from the Bible or simply from your heart that has deep meaning for you.

May your prayers be filled with Presence, peace, and hope.

Pastor Beth +

Source: Patricia D. Brown, Paths to Prayer: Finding Your Own Way to the Presence of God (Jossey-Bass, 2003), 58-60.

08/09/2026

Sunday Worship Sermon “Faith in the Face of Fear” Matthew 14:22-23 Pastor Beth McKibben-Nee

07/26/2026

Sunday Worship Sermon “Hidden Potential “Matthew 13:31-33, 51-52 Pastor Beth McKibben-Nee

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."~ Psalm 119:105One way to really delve into prayer through scrip...
07/23/2026

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
~ Psalm 119:105

One way to really delve into prayer through scripture is by using a prayer method called lectio divina. It is a way to read scripture contemplatively by infusing it with prayer and meditation. It is generally comprised of four parts: 1) lectio [reading], 2) meditatio [reflection], 3) oratio [prayer], and 4) contemplatio [contemplation]. There are a variety of ways to incorporate lectio divina, but I invite you to give the following process a try:

- Lectio: Select a short Bible passage (Should be under 10-15 verses) and read it aloud slowly.

- Meditatio: Consider: "What word, phrase, or idea of the text stood out to you?" Identify the part of the scripture that "glimmers" for you and spend around 5 minutes reflecting upon it.

- Lectio: Read the passage aloud again.

- Meditatio: Consider: "How does this text resonate with my life today? How does it speak to what is going on within me, within my community, within the world?" Reflect for another 5 minutes.

- Lectio: Read the passage aloud one more time.

- Contemplatio: Consider: "What might God be inviting me to do based on today's passage and reflection?" Contemplate for 5 minutes.

- Oratio: As you move through the process toward God, allow yourself to be drawn into prayer at any point in lectio divina or as a culmination to the process.

As you engage in this prayer practice, may God's Word light the way and guide you ever closer to God's Presence.

Pastor Beth +

Source: Patricia D. Brown, Paths to Prayer: Finding Your Own Way to the Presence of God (Jossey-Bass, 2003), 58-60.

07/19/2026

Sunday Worship Sermon “Wheat and Weeds Together” Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Pastor Beth McKibben-Nee

"The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer."~ Psalm 6:9When I placed this set of praying hands on a...
07/16/2026

"The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer."
~ Psalm 6:9

When I placed this set of praying hands on a rock at the foot of our church's steps, it reminded me of the images that we often see of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. An image of hands clasped or pressed together is often symbolic of prayer. While I sometimes interlock the fingers of my hands while praying, I often rest my hands on my lap, palms up and hands open, in a receptive gesture. It's my way of opening myself up to whatever God may give in my time of prayer. However, it is only one of many prayer styles that I might use.

In "Paths to Prayer: Finding Your Own Way to the Presence of God," Patricia D. Brown encourages her readers to 1) discover their current prayer style and 2) step outside their comfort zones and explore other types of prayer. She organizes prayer practices into four style categories:

"Searching Prayer:" This style is characteristic of those who like to use their intellect to delve into scripture or clearly delineated patterns of prayer. People who prefer this style might like prayers that are written, repeated, or are based on biblical references.

"Experiential Prayer:" People who fall into this prayer style often incorporate breath or movement into their experience. They might encounter prayer in a moment-to-moment way throughout their days.

"Relational Prayer:" As its name suggests, people drawn to this category are most interested in the personal meanings affiliated with prayer in relationship with God and with others. A sense of interconnectedness is associated with this group.

"Innovative Prayer:" This prayer style is full of creativity and imagination. People who engage in this type of prayer style enjoy discovering new ways of praying.

Is there a particular prayer style that you like to use? After looking at the different prayer styles, is there another style that you are drawn to and would like to explore?

I've discovered that experimenting with prayer styles has deeply enhanced my prayer experiences and has helped me to notice in fascinating new ways how God is present in the world and in my life. I invite you to join me in the coming weeks as we practice some of the prayer methods nestled in these categories.

In the meantime, rest in the assurance that God hears your supplications and accepts your prayers.

Peace & blessings,
Pastor Beth +

Source: Patricia D. Brown, "Paths to Prayer: Finding Your Own Way to the Presence of God" (Jossey-Bass, 2003), p. 31-35.

Address

First United Church Of Christ Congregational 802 Prairie Street
Marblehead, OH
43440

Opening Hours

10:30am - 12:30pm

Telephone

+1 419-798-4612

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