Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Tuesday’s Verse:
From Galatians 6:2 ESV
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
The storms that rolled through New Jersey on Saturday night hit especially hard in the New Milford community, where Saint Matthew’s lives. Falling trees and branches brought overhead wires to the ground, sparking power outages throughout the borough, including our neighborhood. In the past, we’ve canceled Sunday church services because of snow and ice storms, but never because the power was out.
All throughout our state, the bad weather caused similar problems. Locally in River Edge, a tree fell onto a house, causing a fire. But because the overhead wires were grounded around the struck house, the fire department couldn’t use water to put out the fire, as the wires were still live with electricity running through them. It made the fire department’s job much harder.
Through all these troubles, we witnessed a blessing. Neighbors helping neighbors, all working to minimize the difficulties people were experiencing. Department of Public Works employees, police, fire, first responders, workers from the power company, and tree companies all came together to help clean up and restore power. Yesterday in New Milford, the ShopRite near our church had power restored, as did many neighborhoods in town and throughout the state.
Going through these challenges, we saw the best in us. No one cared who you voted for or whether you were a Christian or not. Communities throughout our state came together to show love for their neighbors and bring some normalcy to the lives of those facing hardships.
It’s Tuesday. May all of us hold on to the goodness we witnessed and partook of. Thanks to our leaders, especially New Milford’s Mayor, Michael Petrino, and those who helped our communities. May the words of Saint Paul in Galatians ring through our minds this day.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Gracious Lord, we thank You for raising up those from within our communities who helped us all deal with the impacts of Saturday’s storms. May our hearts never lose sight of the goodness that comes from loving our neighbors as You have loved us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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