This week's author is Karen Ziel, Minister of Faith Formation and Leadership for the Connecticut Conference, UCC.

Scripture:  Genesis 21:5-6  (CEB)

Reflection:

Prayer:

• The families and friends of Sgt. Eric M. Hock, Sgt. William M. Bays, and Cpl. Dillon C. Baldridge who were killed on June 10th in a fire fight in Afghanistan; and
• the delegates of the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Conferences, UCC, as they gather together Friday and Saturday to make a decision about the future of these three conferences.

• Those grieving in Orlando after a shooting that left 5 dead, on June 5;
• those grieving or suffering in London after an attack on London Bridge left 7 dead and more than 40 injured on June 3;
• the friends and families of Ricky John Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namakai-Meche, who died in their efforts to stand against hatred by trying to help two Muslim women who were being verbally assaulted on a train in Portland, OR, on May 28th;
• those grieving in Mississippi after a shooting that left 8 dead, including a deputy sheriff, on May 27;
• the family and friends of Richard "Ned" Bunell, member of First Congregational Church of Canton Center, who died on May 15th. Richard had been on the prayer list for several weeks;
• those suffering or grieving after an bombing in Manchester, UK, killed 22 people and wounded another 59 on May 22;
• those grieving in Egypt after an attack on a bus carrying Coptic Christians left 26 dead on May 26;
• those grieving or suffering after a man drove his vehicle into pedestrians in Times Square, New York City, killing one and injuring 22 others on May 18;
• Audrey Touloukian, granddaughter of Rev. Janice Touloukian, who is recovering after being hit by a car while biking on April 30;
• Rev. Sara Smith, Senior Pastor of United Congregational Church of Bridgeport, who is recovering from an injury;
• Mark Engstrom, member of the CT Conference Board of Directors, and his wife Nina, who are facing health issues;
• the community of Conway, MA, and the United Congregational Church, UCC, Conway after a tornado touched down on Feb. 25 causing significant structural damage;
• the people of South Sudan where nearly 1 million people are facing famine;
• John Polglase, husband of the Rev. Betsey Polglase, Pastor of the Columbia Congregational Church UCC, who has chronic pulmonary disease;
• the members and staff of Thompson Congregational Church after a fire severely damage the building on Dec. 29;
• Michael White, former Operations Manager at Silver Lake Conference Center, who was diagnosed with colon cancer;
• Juliane Silver, the daughter of the Rev. Jim Silver of Middletown, who is in dire need of a liver transplant. We pray that a donor will come forward giving the gift of life and a portion of their liver to Juliane;
• Chacy Eveland, husband of the Rev. Marcia Eveland, pastor of the First Congregational Church UCC of Ansonia, who has been moved to a full-time facility for care of dementia;
• the thousands of migrants worldwide who flee from violence and persecution in search of safety;
• our ecumenical partners in the Kyung-Ki Presbytery in South Korea;
• the Conference's partners working for peace in Colombia amidst violence;
• the leaders of this nation, that they may meet the challenges of the day with insight, wisdom, and compassion;
• this nation, that it may continue its difficult work to end the practices of racism;  and
• those serving or living in war or conflict zones around the world, or where terrorists have struck.

Please Remember These Connecticut Conference Churches
In Your Prayers:

Karen E. Ziel

Karen works in partnership with the team to guide congregations in self-assessment and discernment, and to provide or suggest effective programs for clergy and lay leadership development.  Contact her to: Connect your congregation with the tools and...