In Prison? Is God reaching out to you?

Prison Fellowship;  Standing in the Breach At a graduation ceremony for students completing Prison Fellowship’s four-year Prisoners to Pastors program, a tearful dad confessed to me, "I thought my son would never complete anything but a prison sentence!" We were at South Bay Correctional Institution in Florida. Thirty-six students – who had completed hundreds of hours of rigorous theological study – were dressed up in gowns and tassels. They were like little kids in their excitement. Most of them had never walked in any kind of graduation ceremony in their lives, so this was a life-changing moment of hope and accomplishment! These graduates were being commissioned to change their prison and their communities for Jesus. One of the graduating students is particularly close to my heart. His name is Derrick, and he’s got decades of prison time still to serve. But he doesn’t mind. He’s on fire. He sees that prison as his "Jerusalem," the mission field where he can love people and spread the Gospel. Derrick’s adult daughter Christina was there to celebrate with him. She is a phenomenal, accomplished young woman. For many years, Angel Tree helped Derrick maintain his relationship with Christina when he couldn’t be with her physically.  At the graduation ceremony, Derrick and Christina weren’t allowed to hug each other, but the officers let me put an arm around each of them, so they could embrace each other through me. That’s exactly what you do when support Prison Fellowship and Angel Tree. You stand in the breach. God uses you to facilitate moments of connection, joy, and healing that would otherwise not exist.  Learn more about ways you can help atprisonfellowship.org.  For His Kingdom, Jim Liske CEO, Prison Fellowship Ministries Weekly Prayer Bulletin Prison Fellowship invites you to join us in praying for the work being done in prisons throughout the country, and for the lives being touched by this ministry. This week, please pray for Fred and his family: Please pray that my daughter can move past me being in prison again and accept me not being there on her special days. I'd give anything to be there for her. Also, that our families will regain the lost morals and values we once had and be there for each other. Also that I find strength in myself to not give up on everything I've worked so hard at to change about myself. This world also needs non-stop prayer so please pray with me. Prison Fellowship's Prayer Team offers volunteers the opportunity to take the needs of prisoners before God during regularly scheduled intervals. To learn more about the prayer team, and how you can participate, click here. Reprinted with permission of Prison Fellowship, P.O. Box 1550, Merrifield, VA 22116,  www.prisonfellowship.org

Good Shepherd Church Seminary Module 13; Your Prayer Life

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH SEMINARY

MODULE 13

YOUR PRAYER LIFE

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER   

 

It is essential for the priest to be a person of deep prayer and personal integrity. There are different ways you can develop or deepen your spiritual practice and devotion to God.

      1) Make any important decision in your day or night after a quick prayer to God such as ‘God, please help me make the right decision. Thank you.’

      2) Call on the Angels to assist you in your daily and nightly decisions and life. Also, if you are in difficulties or in personal danger, call on the Angels to assist you. Archangel Michael is a powerful helper in times of trouble.

      3) Pray every day for some time. You can pray speaking to God quietly from your own heart. Or your can draw inspiration from reading the Gospels and the Scriptures. You can download or find prayers in the Internet, in prayer books, in churches or church bookstores which speak to your heart and help you to pray.

      4) Pray together with your family, and with your community.

      5) Worship personally and as a community regularly.

      6) Celebrate the Breaking of the Bread – the Eucharist - regularly.

      7) Pray the Lord’s Prayer

      8) Pray universal church prayers

      9) Read spiritually uplifting and enriching books. Keep a small library in your house with a Bible and spiritual books that you find helpful, if possible. Otherwise, ask to enroll at a library which has a good spiritual section, or go to a church near you and ask the pastor or priest to lend you some books from the church library.

      10) Another option is to go online to the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship website at  www.uuchristian.org. This website offers an online chapel where you can spend time in private prayer, lighting a virtual candle. Click on ‘Light a candle’ icon at the lower right of the website page. Then follow the instructions to join the international church of believers at prayer night and day.

      11) The virtual monastery at www.uuchristian.org offer

 - Meditations

-  Prayers

-  Sermons

-  Resources and Liturgies for the Christian Year

-  Bible Study Resources

-  Monastic Schedule

Well known prayers which may assist you as priest for both personal and communal prayer are to be found in Module 4 ‘Prayer for the Priest’ see http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2011/12/module-5-prayer-for-priest.html

Purchase a minister’s handbook with ceremonies and rites in them you find helpful. These are available in the store online at the Universal Life Church Seminary at www.ulcseminary.org

You may also find helpful ministers’ books with examples of church rites and ceremonies which will be a good guideline for you. Let the Spirit guide you to choose the prayers and books which will enable you to best practice your own personal ministry, and develop your unique spiritual personality and gifts.

With thanks to Rev. Ron Robinson or Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship for his gracious permission of the UUCF online chapel and virtual monastery
Image by Rev Catherine Nicolette for use copyright free

Quick 'N Easy Mince Stew

Here is another recipe from my Mom's kitchen. 

This stew is delicious, and very affordable. We love it, especially in the winter when it is cold outside. 
It is great for vegetarians too,  as vegetarian mince can be used - no animals are thus hurt to enable this recipe.

Allergy Alert; Before starting the recipe, check first that you have no allergies to any of the ingredients.
If you are allergic to any of the ingredients, then don't use this recipe.

Here's the recipe;
QUICK 'N EASY MINCE STEW;
Ingredients;
One onion
One tomato
250 grammes mince ( such as vegetarian mince)
One packet of thick vegetable soup
Four tablespoons uncooked rice
One tin mixed vegetables
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional;
Tablespoon of apricot jam or chutney or handful washed seedless raisins for added taste
One potato. If you wish to add potato to the stew, only use an already boiled and chopped potato 

How to make;
1. Fry sliced and cubed onion in two tablespoons of oil at medium heat till onion is transparent  
2. Reduce the heat and stir in 250 grammes of mince until browned
3. Chop tomato and add to mixture
4. Add salt and pepper and uncooked rice
5. Stir packet of soup into a cup of water and add to mixture
6. Add mixed vegetables
7. Add raisins or apricot jam or chutney if you wish
If you choose apricot jam, make sure you stir it until it fully dissoves
You'd be surprised what great taste this adds to the meal.
8. Simmer on low heat until cooked
How to serve;
Serve on bread, or with rice. Brilliant!

What to be careful of;
Don't leave the upper cupboard of your kitchen open, if you have one. You can get a nasty gash on the head when you forget the small door is open.
Don't leave any chemicals or kitchen utensils in floor level cupboards where babies and children can get at them and drink them. Lock them away.
Don't leave the handles of the pots out over the ends of the stove - children can pull them off the stove and burn themselves; or you can knock the pot off the stove and over yourself, causing a nasty burn.
Don't let the babies or children play around your feet while you are cooking. 
Don't let animals play around your feet while you are cooking.
That is how accidents happen. 

Don't leave your cooking pots unattended. 
A child can pull it over him or herself, the cat can knock it over if it gets into the kitchen and jumps around. 
Also, you can forget the time, the food can burn, and a fire can begin. 
That can be very dangerous.
In squatter camps and slums, if you are using a primus stove, be very very careful with it. Don't leave the meal unattended. 
Also, primus stove fuel is very flammable, it can catch alight easily and can cause burns or shack fires. 
Please be very careful with the fuel.

Don't leave your fuel container for filling the stove lying around. 
Lock it up carefully.
A child can drink the contents, or can knock it over if it is not safely locked up.
Don't leave matches, cigarettes, cigarette lighter, or candles lying around. 
Inquisitive children can start fires without meaning to.

If you use tins, make sure to dispose of them safely. 
Never open tins and leave the opened sharp edges free. 
If a child or adult trips on an opened can, they can cut themselves. 
If a can is not disposed of safely, the sharp edges can cut the fingers of the waste collector/ person picking the discarded can up.

If you are cooking over a wood fire, also be very careful not to get burned.
In other words, keep safe.

Enjoy your meal!

Image by Catherine Nicolette

Graca Machel and report on The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children

The Effects of War on Children
Children who have been through a war are affected for life.
"The physical, sexual and emotional violence to which they (children) are exposed shatters their world.
War undermines the very foundations of children's lives, destroying their homes, splintering their communities and breaking down their trust in adults."
Graca Machel in her 1996 report 'The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children'
See War Child 
http://www.warchild.org.uk/issues/effects-war-children
In the spirit of Lumiere, is there anything you can do to help?

Image kind courtesy of War Child

War Child Field Day Festival in London 25th May 2013 - Why not go?

War Child Field Day Festival will be held in London on 25th May 2013.
Why not go along and see what you can do to help?
War destroys lives, and is the situation that keeps on giving years after the violence is over.
Amputation.
Mutilation.
Assault.
Flashbacks.
Post traumatic syndrome.
Orphans.
Psychiatric disorders.
Pain and suffering.
In the spirit of Lumiere, is there anything you can do to help ease the terrible fallout of these tragic events?
See link;
http://www.warchild.org.uk/news/war-child-field-day-festival

Image kind courtesy of War Child

Help protect the children of Syria - War Child needs your help

Children are living through hell on earth in Syria right now.
Tears. Death. Mutilation. Bombs. Being orphaned.
There are thousands of children right now in Syria needing help.
Why not help dedicated War Child to assist children by taking them to one of War Child's 'Safe Spaces' where they can feel protected and cared for, where they can just be children and play.
In the spirit of Lumiere, is there anything you can do to help?
http://www.warchild.org.uk/syria

Image per kind courtesy of War Child

Voice of justice for unborn babies

In the spirit of Lumiere, why not consider becoming a 

voice for justice for unborn babies, and 

join your local Prolife group?

If you feel you are being called to the priesthood, why

not consider whether you are called to the 

Prolife ministry? Priests are urgently

needed to be the voice for the 

unborn child.

Prolife;
http://www.prolife.com/

Priests for life
http://www.priestsforlife.org/plgroups/europe.htm

Lumiere has lit a candle in remembrance of deceased mothers and babies

Lumiere has lit a candle in remembrance of mothers and babies deceased during abortion procedure, and for their grieving families.
Lumiere was contacted and apprised re the heartfelt suffering of mother Deborah, who lost her daughter and her grandson - Marla and baby Christopher Michael Cardamome - during abortion procedure.
Marla and Christopher Michael, may you rest in peace after your suffering.
Deborah approached Life Dynamics to request assistance to show the public the risks women face during abortion.
See link
http://safeandlegal.com/

Lumiere has lit a candle in remembrance of babies

Lumiere has lit a candle in remembrance of the babies who were executed after failed abortions.
May they rest in peace after their suffering.
See link;
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/05/08/reporter-covering-gosnell-murder-trial-changes-his-mind-on-abortion/