Day 15 - 40 Days of Prayer - Steve Benz

Our presbytery council meets in the churches of the presbytery where a gathering of this 20 folks is nearly overwhelming. The host church could never host a meeting of the presbytery, either because of parking or sanctuary size or inability to feed the multitude. They have embraced the opportunity, however, to serve the larger church and their neighbors through gracious invitations and wonderful dinner offerings. Our practice is to invite the council and the members of the host church then into our worship before our business meeting, and the results of that have also been of importance to our understanding of our common calling.

At a recent council meeting, worship included the following prayer that touched my soul.

O Lord, one tiny bit of water rests in the palm of my hand. I bring it to you and with it I bring the whole ocean. This tiny drop has the power to ease the burning thirst of men. When spread on the earth, to give life to the seed and the future harvest. When poured on the fire to quench the blaze. A tiny drop of water can cleanse the whole of my impurity when blessed by your forgiveness. But, O Lord, more than all this, this tiny drop of water passed over my head is the symbol of my birth in you. Amen

– Ishpriya R.S.C.J.

(from Earth Prayers, edited by Elizabeth Robert and Elias Amidon (New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 1991)

That one tiny drop of water infused our council meeting that night as we were reminded of our baptism, and of why we do this work that we call presbytery. It is my prayer that the commissioners and delegates to the General Assembly will be constantly reminded of their baptism while they are in Minneapolis, and that they will bring home that remembrance to share with us all. Perhaps we can begin each gathering of the commissioners back on home soil with a remembrance of our baptism and our common faith.

Peace and grace,
Steve Benz, Interim
Redstone Presbytery