​Devotion for Thursday, March 19
By Ruth Petersen (with additional wisdom shared by her dad, the late Rev. Roger Prescott)
 
In these days of 'social distancing' I am keeping in communication with friends and family via text and email.  I was reminded of a short reflection that my father gave in a similar time of social distress. I share it with you here:
 
Golden Apple Words
While reading my Bible the other day, my eyes fell upon these words from the Book of Proverbs:
     "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver"  Proverbs 25:11 RSV
After pondering these words I began to wonder what words, fitly spoken, might just be like golden apples.
 
How about ...
   "I love you" or "It's all right"
Then there are ...
   "Sleep till noon" and "I couldn't have done it without you"
Last week the golden apple words for me were ...
   "Mr. Prescott, your car is ready."
And how about the simple words...
   "Thank you" and "You're welcome"
 
I find, when I think about it, that language is full of golden apple words. Why not share some today with your family or a friend?
 
This was written by my father, Rev. Roger Prescott, many years ago. He administered a "Warmline" of short daily thoughts and devotions (via telephone) for over 20 years as a way to be available to those who were shut in or just needed to hear a warm, friendly voice. He collected these daily devotions into books in the later years of his life. I love to use them, as many are filled with devotions based on our family activities. They remind me to always remember the values of gentleness and humble joy in daily living as a child of God.
 
Prayer: O God, we thank you for the gift of friends and family. Guard our speech and give us generous hearts to share today.  Amen.
 
Bio: Ruth Peterson has worked in various jobs over the years (accounting, teaching, administering) and is grateful now to have 'retired' to enjoy hobbies of reading, walking, puzzling of any kind, cooking and yoga. Ruth and her husband Dave live in St. Paul near Como Park and have been part of the St. Michael's community for about 35 years.  They write, "We have received many 'golden apple' words in those years!"
 

​Devotion for Wednesday, March 18
By Michael Gregory
 
We are called upon to be peace keepers

Reflection:
There are many references in the Bible about how we are called upon to be peace keepers. One of the most famous is Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” We all have ways in which we can be peace makers. Consider simply sending an email or picking up the telephone and reaching out to another by simply listening.

Listen actively by paraphrasing, summarizing, asking open ended and empathizing. One thing that helps me and may help you is the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. I am suggesting that you take a moment and read this prayer out loud for yourself.

Prayer:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life
 
It is my hope for you during these trying times that this brings some small comfort to you this day as you consider your situation and potentially reach out to others.
​
Bio: Mike Gregory is a qualified mediator with the Minnesota Supreme Court. He has mediated/negotiated over 2,500 times on issues between entities of up to one billion dollars and has regularly volunteered as a mediator with the Dispute Resolution Center in Ramsey County Housing and Conciliation Court, in neighborhood disputes, in public housing and after racially charged police shootings.

Devotion for Tuesday, March 17  (St. Patrick's Day)
​By Pastor Brad Froslee
 
from the Blessing of St. Patrick
As I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen. 
 
Reflection:  As a Lutheran and Scandinavian, I didn't know much about St. Patrick growing up (in fact my Irish and Catholic friends gave me a bad time because my family was more apt to celebrate St. Urho—the fairly fictitious Finnish saint).  And as I grew older there were always the questions of what was real and what was myth of this "Irish" saint.  Yet, I have come to see that in St. Patrick there is a faithful witness to one who feels called to preach the gospel, to care for others, to go into uncomfortable times and places.  St. Patrick can offer a word of hope and word of strength to others.  The blessing above is attributed to St. Patrick and invites us to know God's care over, around, and within us.  On this St. Patrick's Day 2020, may you be upheld in knowing that God in Christ is with you.
 
Prayer:  God, go with me this day--before, behind, above, beneath, and within.  Help me to face this day with open eyes and ears and a caring heart.  Amen.
 
Bio: Brad Froslee, has served as pastor at St. Michael's Lutheran Church for just over three years.  He enjoys writing, doing genealogy, singing, going for walks by the river, and spending time with family and friends. Most recently he has stayed busy cheering on his son at basketball games and is dreaming about warmer weather.