| Message From Pastor Peggy May 31, 2020

Along with almost every other social event, what was to have been the Seventh Annual Civic Prayer Breakfast 2020 was cancelled due to CoVid-19. The Breakfasts of the past have been wonderful opportunities for the community to gather in support of and in prayer for our civic leaders. 
 
God’s Word encourages such action. In his letter to Timothy, Paul writes: Most of all, I’m writing to encourage you to pray with gratitude to God. Pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as you intercede with intense passion. And pray for every political leader and representative, so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we worship the awe-inspiring God with pure hearts. It is pleasing to our Saviour-God to pray for them. He longs for everyone to embrace his life and return to the full knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-3, The Passion Translation).
 
Pray for every political leader and representative. I don’t know about you, but if I had kept a tally over the course of my life, I might realize that I can far too easily criticize a political leader rather than pray for him or her. It is even easier for me to stand silently in the company of those who are critical of ​leaders, even if I am not in agreement, rather than invite those in my presence to bow with me in prayer for the leaders. Yet God calls us to rise above such an attitude and not to be judgemental. He calls us to pray. And why? So we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we worship our awe-inspiring God with pure hearts. 

James 5:16 further encourages and commands: Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer! James 5:16.

Imagine the difference we could make in our communities and world if indeed we did lift up our leaders daily in prayer, seeking wisdom for them and for God’s will to be done through them. 
 
Given this year’s Civic Prayer Breakfast was cancelled, the organizing committee has asked that on May 31st churches would pray for civic leaders. They have adapted a prayer from the Ontario Prayer Breakfast Committee for use, as noted below. They have also compiled a one and a half minute video: Community in Action which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/dy9quWATfVI

May we pray for and find ways to encourage our leaders not just today but everyday – especially during these challenging times. 
 
Prayer for Leadership – The Path Forward in Crisis
 
Lord, we ask you to faithfully guide our civic and church leaders in this time of pandemic crisis. As they consider the health and welfare of every citizen in our communities, may they act prudently, with compassion and care, protecting the most vulnerable among us. 
 
Please give our leaders strength as they install in our communities the guidance and support needed to contain sickness, and the challenge to be present in loving care for one another. 
 
We give thanks for our civic and church leaders and ask that they be blessed with the wisdom and fortitude to guide us through these difficult times. For hope where there is despair, light where there is darkness and love where there is loneliness, we lift our prayers to you, now and always. Amen.