04-22-26

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 22, 2026
Outside of a couple of breaks during the year, a group of men gathers every Wednesday at noon to review the list of Joys & Concerns, to pray, and often do a short study. As I continue to remind people, Men’s Ministries tend to have a lifecycle, usually less than ten years. That’s not to say that something new won’t emerge, but in church life, men’s programming has some of the shortest tenures. With all that said, our Wednesday Men’s Group has been meeting for over 30 years. During the pandemic, they moved from early morning on Wednesdays to noon. The group went through a phase of only five or six guys on a Wednesday, but lately we have been averaging 12-15. There is excellent camaraderie and always some good bantering around college sports. I write this, in part, to celebrate the history and the ongoing commitment of these men. They often follow up with cards to let people know they have been prayed for. In times of crisis, fear, or grief, it is good to know that people have been thinking about you and taking your name before God. None of us can explain with great confidence how prayer works, yet there is no question that people are touched and uplifted when prayer surrounds them. Though I do not believe God called us to diagram how prayer works, I have walked into a hospital room an hour after the Men’s Group and said, “The Men’s Group spoke your name earlier and lifted you in prayer,” and something changes in the person’s demeanor. Today, I give thanks for the Wednesday Men’s Group.

​Holy God, and Giver of Amazing Gifts, I celebrate all those who offer something of themselves to those who are struggling and afraid, those who are grieving or dealing with a challenging diagnosis. The human family is inescapably tied together in the web of your grace, and sometimes a simple prayer touches the heart of the hurting in a way that no one can quite understand. Yet where there are no answers, there is still gratitude. Thank you! Amen.