:, "CONSTANT IN PRAYER"

INTRODUCTION Those of you who were here last Sunday m_9rni ng will perhaps recall t~hat the text for the ser-

mon on that occasion was taken from the 12th chapter of Paul's Letter to the'Romans. "Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the spirit, serve the Lord". One person remarked to me at the door following the service that he was disapuointed because I had not r~ad the en­tire chapter for the Scripture Lesson. (In order to save time, I had read only twelve of the twenty-one verses) This person went on to tell me that in his judgment this 12th chapter of the book of Romans is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible. I share this feeling. I think it is one of the great chapters in the Bible, one that· all of us would do w~ll to read time and again.

1 mention this to you by way of introduction because I turn to this 12th chapter of Romans again today to find a text for the basis of this JD,editat1on. This is the text: "Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation,- be constant in prayer". In these next few _moments that we have together I wo~ld like to ryave you con­sider with me one of those phrases, the last one, as a practical exhortation for our daily living.

CONSTANT IN PRAYER Paul suggests that we are to be "Constant . in prayer". What does he mean? I don't

think he is referring here to stated periods of devotional practice. These are essential, of course, and we need them in our lives. But let's face. it- you can't be constantly on your knees, constantly reading your Bible. The woman about her housework, the man intent upon his business, the young uerson at his study or his play - all of these reouire concentration upon the matter at hand. How can we be "constant in orayer?"

Eere I think Paul has in mind what you mtght call an attitude, a condition within yourself, a relationship to God. The words which come to my mind most frequently, as descriptive of this attitude·, are openness and rec'eptivity. We must be op~n to God's initiative~ We must be receptive to His presence and nis guidance. And we can be like this even in the midst of all of the distractions of everyday 'living, without st_oDping to think about it.

There will always be those .interruptions, those baffling frustrations. Business is tense and demanding. Feelings are frequently disturbed and upsetting. Life gets rough. At such times, we must simnly take hold of ourselves and try to let God calm us down or straighten us up, or whatever is necessary.

I must confess to you that thi& has been my experience several times these past few months. It seems to me that we have had more difficult problems facing us this fall and winter in our church life than we have had in rec·ent years. We've seen some of our strongest laymen move away to other communities. We've had problems balancing our budget and paying our bills. We've had problems getting ueople to volunteer for·tasks in order to suread the load around. And then last month, with the rather Door show-ing

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th~t we h~a on several Sundays in terms of our Sunday morning congregation, I found myself getting terribly discouraged about things here in the church. I found my feelin~s gettin~ all tangled and twisted, letting things worry me that I hqd never let worry me before, and then finally one day wi~h. a rueful grin at myself I said to the Lord in my own urayers: Well, Lord, this is altogether too much Clarke and not enough of you. Hel~ me to do the things I have to do to the best of my ability, and then having done this let me be willing to put the rest .into your hands, to leave the rest to you. Help me to have more faith in you". I'm sure that there must be times when this sort o~ thing happens to you in your work, too. Too much of ourselves, taking ourselves too seriously, and not enough of the Lord.

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Yes, my fri~nds, we can expect interruptio-ns, problems, troubles, discouragements. But we can prenare oursel vee for these by developing this attitude, this condition within ourselves, this positive outlook, this inner steadiness of which Paul sneaks. And if we are to do this then there is one baste , principle to keep in mind. If we want to have this attitude, we cannot drift with the usual American tide - un in the morning, busy all day and evening, TV or some other distraction at night. We must find time in our busy schedules for quiet meditation and study. We have to discinline ourselves at this uoint. Personally I find that my most meaningful exueriences of nrayer qnd a sense of God's uresence come when I am uondering a passap:e of scri.,..,ture. What is ·God trying to say to me in this passage. Here is his personal encounter with me, by way of the written word. Ylha:t is it that he is trying to say.

I think if you take more time this year to let God speak to you from the Bible you will discover that your regular, normal attitude will be one of openness, rec·ept i vity - what ~aul calls being "constant in 'Jrayer". In this regard, I hope you will listen carefully to some words written by Evelyn Underhill that I am going to read t·o you now. She says in such a grauhic and sensitive way what I try to say to you so often and so ineptly.

I 11 All gardeners know the importance of good root development before we force the leaves and the flowers. So our life in God should be deeply rooted and/ grounded before we presume· to expect to produce flowers or fruits; -otherwise we risk shooting UD into one of those lanky plants which never do without a stick. We are constantly be­set by the notion that we ought to nerc·e:tve our­selves snringing up quickly, like the seed on , stony ground; showing striking si~ns of snirit~al ~rowth. But Derhaps we are only reauired to ~o on quietly, making roo, growin~ nice and bushy, docile to the 1great slow rhythem of life.

So it is that the life of the spirit is to unfold gently and steadily within us; till at least the full statuee for which God de signed us, is attained"

In other words, let each of us give careful attention to being Christian before we get all tense about doing Christian. V/e

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must have good roots bef.ore we aan bear good fruits. We must have faith before we can have good works. I am fonfident that this is profoundly true, .and I ask eac·h of you to give greater thought as we enter into the work of another year, to aevelorying, so to speak, your roots, so that our fruits - in t]+e church, 1n the community, and in the world -may be more imnressive, more in keening with the will of our Master, Jesus Christ.

LET US PRAY: As we come to thy table, this morning, Our Father, may each of us come with minds that are

open, with will that are receptive to thy s-oirit, to thy p:uidance. Helu :Us to cultivate within our lives that attitude, that outlook, that is esrential if we 2re to cope with the many interruutions, the marty problems, the many-discouragements of everyday lif~. Help us to be patient in tribulation; and constant in prayer. We ask all of this in thy name. Amen

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FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY January 7, 1962

ORDER OF HORSHIP 11 A. M.

ORGAN "Prelude and Adagio in C Hinor" Guilmant CALL TO HORSH IP HYHN NO. 1 "Holy, Holy, Holy" A? 'STLES I C:.i.:SED GLORIA PATRI

Aifl'JOUJCBHENTS OFFERTORY M'JT E'~l1 11 Jesu, the Very Thought" Vittoria PT-?.ESF.:NTATDN 0F THE OFFERDIG 1~V1JTH THE DOXOLOGY

MEDITATION "Constant In Prayer" PRAr:R HYHN :·' O. 415 "Here, 0 my Lord" THE HOLY COJI-'Il'lUNTON RITUAL

The I nvitation (Standing) 'l'he General Confession (Seated) Pr ayer and Comforting Words The Sur s um Corda and the Sanctus Prayers of Consecration and Humble The Agnus Dei (The Choir) The Partaking of the Elements Prayer of Thanksgiving and Gloria

HYHN NO. 179 "Spirit of God" BENEDICTION ORGAN "Sortie in D Niner"

-~->*"">~.. Interval for ushering

Rev. Hr. Clarke Choral Amen

Page 528 Page 529

Access

in Excelsis

Choral Response Rogers

It is the custom of this Church to observe the Sacra­ment of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month. The Table of the Lord is ooen to all 1rrho are sincerely trying to grow in their understanding of the vJill of God and the ways of the Christian life. 1·Je invite all of our Norshippers to r eceive the Sacrament here t l"D.s hour.

AN INVITATION

An invitation is extended to members and friends to come to FellovJShip Ha ll after the service vJhere cof­fee and cookies vJill be served by several of 0ur ladies. Hostesses today are Jl1rs. Forrest, Nrs . Jansa, Nrs. Schmitt, Hiss Cooper, and Hiss Forrest.

TEE USHERS - THE GRSETE:-tS - THE NURSSl?.Y

The ushe r s for today 1 s service are Hr . BOT.orater, Hr. Tmorer, l"ir. Herget, and l"'r. ; '!on tan eli. Identified by the r ed carnation are our hJO official greeters -Hr. Smith and Miss Munday. The Nursery .are Program for pre-school children is under the supervision of Mrs. Clarke, Hrs. Talley, i'1rs. Hull, and Mrs. McKenny.

HOMJll~ IS SOC I ~TY OF CERI::3 TH\.N S:S21TICE

Tomorro1rr evenin. -~ at eight o 1 c lock the ladies of the church Hill come t 0gethe r under the name of the \loman's Society of Christian Service. For those who are regular at tenders, v.re su ~~; est that you invite some other lady in t he con c>;regation to clay to come hTi th you as your guest. The program is entitled "The Hission of the Church in Latin ll.merica 11 , and will feature Miss Anita Harris as speaker.

TTTBS T!AY EVENING, J Al'WARY 9

The Fisherman's Club -vnll meet Tuesday evening for supper in Fellowship Hall at 6:30. lm evening of visitation in the homes of recent visiting friends will follow. If you would like to be a caller, speak to either i1r. Jansa or Hiss McCleary. If you would like t o be called on, speak to Mr. Tauer or either of the ministers.

Callers are asked to confirm their supper reser­vation with Nis s Hedman this morning. Every caller is urged to be ~resent, if possible, Tuesday evening.

PARK AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH

106 East 86th Street New York 28, N . Y.

AT 9-6997

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Rev. Philip A. C. Clarke ....... ........... ...... Minister Dr. Harold C. Metzner. .. .. .. .. . Associate Minister Miss Mary C. Hedman ..... ... ..... ........ ... Deaconess Mr. Mark A. Else ... ..... .... ....... ..... Choir Director Mr. Earl Weatherford .... .......... ...... ...... .. Organist Mrs. George Leech .. .. .... Nursery School Director

GENERAL OFFICERS

Lay Member, Annual Conference .. ..... ... Mr. Paul R. Russell Lay Leader, The Church .... .... ........ ..... ... Mr. Giles Robinson President, Trustees .... ... .. ... .. ... ... ...... .. .... .. Mr. Paul R. Russell President, Woman's Society .... ... ... ........ Mrs . Paul R. Russell

.d Ad 1 { Mr. Rudy Jansa Co-Prest ents, Young u ts. ....... .... ... M' N C · tss ancy urtts President, Choir. ....... .. .......... ... .. ..... .. .... Dr. Charles W . Kim Education Commission Chairman ... ..... ... ... Miss Allene Ford Finance Commission Chairman ... ... ... Mr. Richard Robinson Membership Commission Chairman ... .... . Mr. Giles Robinson Missions Commission Chairman .. ... ... .. Dr. Charles W. Kim Social Concerns Commission Chr .... . Mrs. James McDonald Worship Commission Chairman ... ... Miss Dorothy McCleary

STATED MEETINGS

Sunday Services: 9 :30a.m ... ................ ...... .. Sunday School 11:00 a.m .... ..... ......... ... Morning Worship 12:00 noon ..... ............... Fellowship Hour 7:00 p .m ........... ....... ......... Young Adults

(2nd and 4th Sundays) Commission Meetings .. ............... ... First Tuesday, 7:15 p.m. Official Board ............................. ..... First Tuesday, 8:15 p .m. Woman's Society ..... .. .. .. ..... ....... . Second Monday, 8:00 p.m. Fisherman's Club ........ ..... .. ......... Second Tuesday, 6:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal.. ................ ...... Every Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. Weekday Nursery School... ............... Every morning (9-12)

PARK AVENUE

METHODIST CHURCH