Emphasis Preaching Journal

A young woman came to worship one day. She was new in the community and tentatively took her place toward the back of the church. She did not know what she would find. She was opening doors to new ways of faith, new people, new edges of her life. On that day, the prayers of the congregation were spoken aloud from the midst of the people. In the bonds of prayer, the young woman felt a great sense of homecoming, of arrival, of peace. She prayed aloud for all to hear, "Gracious God, thank you for bringing me to this family. Let me be a good receiver of your grace through these people.