Bel-Mar Presbyterian Church, PCUSA

01/12/2021

11/29/2020

This Sunday 11/29, the Faith Formation class led by Rev. Mike Peacock transitions its focus to Advent. It's a great time to jump in if you've been considering joining this class on Zoom!

More info is here: https://palmaceia.org/events/the-bel-mar-class-looking-at-the-presbyterian-faith-in-the-modern-age/

11/27/2020

Please Join Pastor Mike and Rick McClintock in Thanksgiving Worship

11/26/2020

A Prayer in Thanksgiving for Harvest:
We know we have been told in the words of David: 4 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." We therefore praise you LORD this day with thanksgiving. We give thanks for the harvest. We give thanks for the product of our hard work. We acknowledge the literal harvest of the fruit of the land but also the various products and benefits of the work we do. LORD we continue to give thanks for all that we have received we also pray for the needs of others and how our labors have produced fruit that can be shared with others. We pray for the poor and needy and we pray that we will be guided to share all that we can with others. We are thankful for both what we have received and gleaned. Amen.

Exodus 23:16 16 You shall observe the festival of harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall observe the festival of ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor.

Leviticus 19:9-10 9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.

This is the WORD of the LORD. Thanks be to GOD.

11/11/2020

A Prayer for Veterans and Those Who Serve in Our Military

Today LORD we pray for our veterans and the men and women who serve in our armed forces today. We pray in thanksgiving for their service to country. We pray in thanksgiving for all that they have sacrificed for us to remain secure and safe. We pray for lives lost in the protection of freedom. We pray for healing - if possible - for injuries they received to the body, mind or spirit. We pray for soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, airwomen, and members of the Coast Guard.

[As we pray this today I invite you to think about the service of veterans to our country. I invite you to remember loved ones and friends who have served or are serving in the military to protect our freedoms. Pray for their safety and in gratitude for their service].

Heavenly Father as we continue in prayer this morning we continue to pray about our veterans and the patriotism they have shown. We pray for true love of country. We pray for an end to war and armed conflict. We pray for an end to danger in the world. We pray for an end to the creation and use of weapons of mass destruction. We pray for an end to chemical and biological warfare. We pray for peace for all in the world. But most of all we pray in thanksgiving for servicemen and servicewomen and ask your blessing upon them. Amen.

Joshua 1:6-9 Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

This is the word of the LORD.

09/21/2020

A PRAYER ABOUT EQUALITY - We begin the week over-whelmed by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg- the "Notorious RBG." She stood up for gender equality and voter's rights for all - long before others in the legal profession. She was a symbol of hope for us all but especially to women of all ages. In her honor we begin the week with a prayer about equality. I begin with a quote from Justice Ginsburg who said:

"Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation."

Let us pray.

It is with heavy hearts that we come before you this day as a result of the death of Justice Ruth Banard Ginsburg. We pray in thanksgiving for all that she did in the promotion of equality for all. We pray in thanksgiving for the progress made toward equality through her tenacious fighting. Her death comes at a time in our nation's history where issues of equality are at the center of our hearts and minds. Empower us to fight for "what is right" as she taught us.

[As you pray I invite you to think about the lack of equality in our nation- to include inequality for women and people of color. I also invite you to recognize how that inequality has and does touch your life today ].

Heavenly Father as we continue in prayer this morning we continue to pray about equality. We know that equality is at the center of your admonitions that we love one another - loving our neighbors as ourselves. Guide us to love our neighbors - all of our neighbors. Guide us to seek equality for all. Guide us to uncomfortable conversations that will allow an end to racism and inequality in the world. Guide us to be an instrument of your love promoting equality in treatment and an end to police violence - and all violence - in the world. Guide us to be an instrument for the end of systemic racism in our nation, our communities and our church. Guide us to be voices for an end to gender inequality in our nation. Forgive our silence and guide us to speak. Forgive our inaction and guide us to act. Forgive our hate and guide us to love. Help us to live as the "Notorious RBG." Amen.

2 Corinthians 8:11-15 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

This is the Word of the LORD.

09/06/2020

A PRAYER FOR LABOR DAY

Heavenly Father, we pray this day in thanksgiving for all workers. We pray for farmers, ranchers and those who fish to produce the food we eat. We pray for law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and paramedics who protect and respond in times of need. We pray for people on the front lines that we have become even more aware of - in the time of the pandemic. We give thanks for and ask your blessing upon healthcare workers and other care givers who provide treatment, healing, care, compassion and comfort to others.

We pray for scientists, inventors and technicians who take us from where we are to where we need to be. We pray for artists, musicians, entertainers, authors, teachers and dreamers all of whom expand our minds and the world around us. We pray for those who design, build, repair and maintain. For those who work in business and manufacturing, and who manage finances we give thanks. For those who work in offices, factories, shops and warehouses we also give thanks. Bless our elected officials, our judges and other leaders for whom we are thankful. Give them wisdom, compassion and integrity.

For all workers everywhere we give thanks. For those who work for justice, freedom, equality and peace we give thanks and pray that the product of their work be multiplied for others.

As we continue LORD we pray to you for those who are out of work, for those who want to earn their living or support their families. For those who seek work, we pray that you will provide jobs - both citizen and immigrant alike. Grant that unemployment may lessen or vanish from our ranks; that all those who are ready to work may put their strength and abilities in serving their society and communities, and earn a just salary.
Help our political leaders and leaders of industry find new and just solutions to equitable and living wages. May each and every worker have the joy of contributing, according to their God-given abilities, to the common prosperity of society by means of an honorable livelihood. Amen.

08/23/2020

I offer the following as a prayer you can pray each day for your children as they leave for school:

Dear God - I pray for my children today as they leave for school.
I pray that they have fun, be safe and learn something if they can.
I pray that you will keep them in your care. Be with them and keep them safe.
Help them to feel appreciated and loved - and not afraid.
Remind them to wear a mask and wash their hands - for their safety and and the safety of others - and as an example for others.
Help them to see the gifts and talents you have given them - and to use them well.
Help them to grow in knowledge and wisdom and to be safe away from me. Amen.