Prayer Letter - 19 December 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

Last week as the World Trade Organization met in our city, demonstrators were in daily clashes with the police as they sought to have their concerns heard by the people in the meeting. I thank God for the leadership shown by our city leaders and the restraint exhibited by our police. During this disturbance I found my self reading of the angel's message the night of the birth of Jesus. A multitude of heavenly hosts praised God and sang, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests (Luke 2:14). As the words of the angels sang in my heart, the actions of the protestors played before my eyes. Peace is very elusive in our world, yet Jesus comes as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

I wonder if the people who gathered around the birth of Jesus had peace in their hearts. Joseph and Mary certainly had many things playing in their minds after two encounters with angels and then the shepherds' story. And that doesn't mention the normal worries of giving birth to a child "on the road." The shepherds mixed "hopes and fears" in their souls as they sought to understand the incredible message they heard. Who knows what the innkeeper felt or if he had time to think about his feelings?

Where are you with your feelings as you pause to pray this Christmas week? Has the hassle of the season worn you down? Are you pulled in several directions with the demands of people, the invitations and expectations of others, or with your own desires? Have you made time to get still before the Lord or is that impossible with the way things are right now?

I have always found it hard to pray for peace while I am on the run. My actions drown out my words. Somehow, some way the search for peace requires stillness of body and soul. The Hong Kong life style will allow such stillness about 4am, but then drowsiness blankets any speck of meaningful thought. For me the journey to peace means I step out of my routine and make time to be quiet with the Lord. No requests. No demands. Just time with the Lord. I wonder if such an experience might not be a very good way to connect with Jesus this season of His birth and a great way to give ourselves a faith-based gift that settles the soul in good hands.

Pray for God's guidance in how and when to take some time to get still with the Lord. When you find the time and place, seek to get quiet with the Lord. Remember a good conversation requires someone to listen. Maybe it's your turn and mine to listen to the Father. I suspect we will find peace a lot more quickly by listening than we will by directing the traffic in our lives.

Last weekend God blessed us with the music of Christmas. I thank the Lord for sending Angie our way and for the great preparation our choral people did for these presentations. I am very grateful for your efforts to bring family and friends.

This weekend we have the Candlelight Lord's Supper on Christmas Eve and the single 10am service on the morning of December 25. Pray for the people who gather in these services to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ. Invite God to fill the place with a strong sense of His presence. Thank God for the freedom we have to worship Him without restriction. One of the great joys we will have this Christmas season will be the baptisms of several of our people. On Christmas Eve S and W are to be baptized. On Christmas Day S, two of his sons and his mother in law will be baptized. Let us pray for them as they prepare to share their testimonies and pray for the pre-believers who will hear their faith stories.

As I write, two of our people are in the hospital, E and P's daughter, W, and J's wife, G. Pray for their diagnoses and recoveries. And pray for the other ill in the families of church friends and family.

Many of our people are traveling this week and next. In fact, Nancy and I will be traveling 26 December. We will spend some time with our children and I will check on my mother (Helen Lucenay will have a pacemaker placed in her heart during the time we are in the US.) SC will lead the 1 January services and we will be back for our 45 anniversary Sunday 8 January. Pray for those who are traveling and for those who will be separated from family over the holidays. Pray for our services during these special days.

We are nearing the end of the time set aside for gathering our World Mission Offering. At this time we are considerably short of our giving goal (goal $365,000). Join me in the prayer that we will be able to reach this goal in our giving. The monies we give will help spread the gospel around our world. Part of our responsibility before the Lord is to share the good news and this is a proper way to respond to God's challenge for us.

Thank you for your prayers for the pastor and Nancy. As we will be out of the city the next couple of Mondays our next prayer letter will be dated 9 January. You will be in our prayers as we visit with our family after Christmas.

May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas. And the blessing of God almighty, the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always (The Promise of His Glory).