Dear Prayer friends,
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail:
Welcome to Advent, and I hope you had a pleasant Thanksgiving.
The Week in Review:
1) This past week there have been several good connections about our future missionary plans, and it would take a while to good while through it all step by step. It has been happening quickly. We are excited. To summarize:
a) We had a good Skype call with Bp. Philip of Belize about potentially serving in the capital city of Belmopan, potentially looking at us making a several week site visit in the early months of 2012. This is very encouraging.
b) We have also had other encouraging additional news from SAMS about the possibility of serving in the Diocese of Northern Uganda. A proposal is in the process of being made to the Bishop of that Diocese.
c) Other possibilities emerged, as well, such as potentially serving in Nairobi, Kenya, or in the northern part of Kenya among nomadic tribes (the latter is a more remote possibility - in more than one sense - at the moment).
We are prayerfully evaluating all the options.
2) We had two good Thanksgiving gatherings, one for our immediate family and two friends in New York State, and one with Julie's immediate family, in Connecticut. We enjoyed touching base with our daughters, Ruth, Hannah, and Lydia, and with our parents. Of the options at the moment, our family is giving us feedback on where they might like us to serve, and Belize takes the top vote for just about everyone.
3) We have enjoyed touching base with supporters during the past week or so. You all are an awesome bunch! We have made new friends along the way.
Prayers:
1) Please keep Lydia and our parents, particularly Julie's parents, in your prayers:
a) Lydia's college roommate has departed for the school year, may reenter next Fall. Please keep Lydia in your prayers, for school work, exams, and adjustments.
b) Julie's sister's family, along with Julie's parents, are considering relocating to Colorado from Connecticut sometime in the near future. We will be included in important family discussions this coming weekend.
2) Please pray for our finances, meetings, logistics, and the right open doors in the Lord's timing over the next few months.
3) Bishop Philip of Belize has asked us to keep him, and the Church in Belize, in our prayers. We would appreciate your praying for them, as well.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
Fr. Shaw and Mother Julie
Monday, November 28, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Scripture Prayer
1Peter 4: 7-11
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled, so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
We pray Lord, for clear minds for Father Shaw and Mother Julie Mudge so that they can pray and hear your direction for them. Thank You for every gift that You have given to these loyal servants of yours as they wish to serve others and faithfully administer Your Grace in its various forms. Show them Lord what their new mission is to be and where it is to be. Also give them the strength they need to complete a mighty work for You. And in all they do, may their works bring praise to Jesus Christ, your Son. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled, so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
We pray Lord, for clear minds for Father Shaw and Mother Julie Mudge so that they can pray and hear your direction for them. Thank You for every gift that You have given to these loyal servants of yours as they wish to serve others and faithfully administer Your Grace in its various forms. Show them Lord what their new mission is to be and where it is to be. Also give them the strength they need to complete a mighty work for You. And in all they do, may their works bring praise to Jesus Christ, your Son. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Prayer Mail
Dear Prayer friends,
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail. We hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving.
1) This past week we had various great meetings and phone calls about our future prospective plans.
2) We would like your prayers for discernment and for the right mission fit. Possibilities that we are exploring include Belize, Uganda, and potentially Kenya.
3) Please keep Lydia and our parents, particularly Julie's parents, in your prayers.
4) Please pray for our finances, meetings, logistics, and the right open doors in the Lord's timing over the next few months.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
In Christ,
Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie+
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail. We hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving.
1) This past week we had various great meetings and phone calls about our future prospective plans.
2) We would like your prayers for discernment and for the right mission fit. Possibilities that we are exploring include Belize, Uganda, and potentially Kenya.
3) Please keep Lydia and our parents, particularly Julie's parents, in your prayers.
4) Please pray for our finances, meetings, logistics, and the right open doors in the Lord's timing over the next few months.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
In Christ,
Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie+
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Scripture Prayer
Isaiah 30:21
And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Father God, we come to you once again asking that you give clear direction to Father Shaw and Mother Julie Mudge. We pray that their ears hear your orders for them. Lead them Lord to that place where you want them to minister for the next few years. Help them to find that destination where You might use them best with their unique spiritual gifts. We pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. And Lord we pray for Lydia as she continues to adjust to college life. Send her your love, peace and joy. Let her know that You are with her always in her journey to adulthood. Amen.
And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Father God, we come to you once again asking that you give clear direction to Father Shaw and Mother Julie Mudge. We pray that their ears hear your orders for them. Lead them Lord to that place where you want them to minister for the next few years. Help them to find that destination where You might use them best with their unique spiritual gifts. We pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. And Lord we pray for Lydia as she continues to adjust to college life. Send her your love, peace and joy. Let her know that You are with her always in her journey to adulthood. Amen.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Prayer Mail
Dear Prayer friends,
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
Thanksgivings.
1) This past weekend we had another good visit with Lydia at college.
2) Julie and I started our prayerful and exploratory searches for a new mission site this past week, focusing our current search on Central America and Eastern Africa, as per our conversation with SAMS.
3) This week, as well, we received several other good suggestions in response to last week's prayer mail and/or our newsletter. Thank you to everyone who has contributed suggestions. Our hope is to narrow down our mission choices by the end of the year, in preparation for our short term site visits in early 2012.
4) We plan to continue church visits in 2012, after we have a more refined story to tell.
Prayer requests.
1) We have options to explore, on different continents, as prep work for the next assignment. We would appreciate your prayers for the right fit and good site visits.
2) Please keep Lydia and our parents in your prayers.
3) For finances, logistics, and the right open doors in the Lord's timing over the next few months, as we begin our new mission phase.
4) For our meetings over the next month and half, with individuals.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
In Christ,
Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie+
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
Thanksgivings.
1) This past weekend we had another good visit with Lydia at college.
2) Julie and I started our prayerful and exploratory searches for a new mission site this past week, focusing our current search on Central America and Eastern Africa, as per our conversation with SAMS.
3) This week, as well, we received several other good suggestions in response to last week's prayer mail and/or our newsletter. Thank you to everyone who has contributed suggestions. Our hope is to narrow down our mission choices by the end of the year, in preparation for our short term site visits in early 2012.
4) We plan to continue church visits in 2012, after we have a more refined story to tell.
Prayer requests.
1) We have options to explore, on different continents, as prep work for the next assignment. We would appreciate your prayers for the right fit and good site visits.
2) Please keep Lydia and our parents in your prayers.
3) For finances, logistics, and the right open doors in the Lord's timing over the next few months, as we begin our new mission phase.
4) For our meetings over the next month and half, with individuals.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
In Christ,
Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie+
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Scripture Prayer
Psalm 51:30
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
From One Minute Prayers for Women
Just as You prepare a place for me, Lord, may I prepare a place for You. Create in me a clean heart that is pleasing to You. Make it a place that welcomes Your presence, God. I want a heart than clings tightly to Your promises. Let it beat strongly with Your purpose.
I want my soul to be a fortress that holds and protects Your Word within. Design a temple that is worthy to be called Your home. As I move through my days, I will think of the One who resides in me. Fill my heart with all that is pure and right so it will not be sacrificed to false gods but will be preserved and prepared for You alone.
Our Prayer for the Mudges:
Lord, the Mudges are praying for discernment about their next place of mission. Prepare that place for them, Lord. But more importantly, prepare their hearts for You. Create in them those pure hearts that are pleasing to You. Help them to cling tightly to Your promises and let their hearts beat strongly with Your purpose. May their souls be fortresses that hold and protect Your Word within. May their bodies be temples that are worthy to be called Your home. May they always be thinking of You. Fill their hearts with all that is pure and right so that these hearts will be preserved and prepared for You alone. May their hearts always welcome Your presence, God. Amen.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
From One Minute Prayers for Women
Just as You prepare a place for me, Lord, may I prepare a place for You. Create in me a clean heart that is pleasing to You. Make it a place that welcomes Your presence, God. I want a heart than clings tightly to Your promises. Let it beat strongly with Your purpose.
I want my soul to be a fortress that holds and protects Your Word within. Design a temple that is worthy to be called Your home. As I move through my days, I will think of the One who resides in me. Fill my heart with all that is pure and right so it will not be sacrificed to false gods but will be preserved and prepared for You alone.
Our Prayer for the Mudges:
Lord, the Mudges are praying for discernment about their next place of mission. Prepare that place for them, Lord. But more importantly, prepare their hearts for You. Create in them those pure hearts that are pleasing to You. Help them to cling tightly to Your promises and let their hearts beat strongly with Your purpose. May their souls be fortresses that hold and protect Your Word within. May their bodies be temples that are worthy to be called Your home. May they always be thinking of You. Fill their hearts with all that is pure and right so that these hearts will be preserved and prepared for You alone. May their hearts always welcome Your presence, God. Amen.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
October November Newsletter
Julie smiling at the SAMS OfficeTransitions.
In January, Shaw had a word from the Lord that our time was drawing to a close in Peru. Jesus was drawing us forward to a new assignment. During the intervening months, as events unfolded, we have been discerning what shape our missionary ministry would take, and now, after talking with SAMS this month, we are exploring several possibilities on at least two continents that would fit that criteria. The two month missionary program in California was particularly helpful in this discernment process.
Why Missionaries Make Transitions.
Missionaries make transitions for a number of reasons:
Jesus just calls you elsewhere
Changes in situation on the ground
Key transition point in the family
Turns out that it wasn’t a good match of people, expectations, or skills
Difficulty in making necessary cultural adjustments/ in learning the language
The job gets done – time for a new assignment!
We are at a key juncture for us as a family. Lydia is launched at college. As parents, it has been important to be around while she adjusts to college life. To that end, while we explore missionary options, we will continue to be in close contact throughout the critical months.
This is a key juncture for both of us as a married couple. We always felt we were a strong couple, yet we have drawn much closer to each other in the process. We never thought that there could be so much more. Our time in the US and in the missionary program in California, in particular, has been important catalysts for this great phase of our marriage.
On the ground in South America, we could see that the job that we came to do had started to become redundant in December 2010. One potential implication was that the sudden emergence of on-line education would make it possible to expand seminary classes across any country and across both North and South America. If so, by sharing all the countries' seminary professors, fewer full-time faculty members like ourselves would be needed in any one country.
All this seemed to confirm that the word from the Lord was timely.
Prayer concerns:
Funds: We need your support more than ever. Between the time of transition and the missionary program in California, our account has gotten quite low. We will need to build up funds again before we can go out.
Please keep us in prayer for a good fit for the next SAMS assignment on our path with Jesus.
God bless you, and thank you for your continuing support! I pray for you, every day.
Shaw+ and Julie+
In January, Shaw had a word from the Lord that our time was drawing to a close in Peru. Jesus was drawing us forward to a new assignment. During the intervening months, as events unfolded, we have been discerning what shape our missionary ministry would take, and now, after talking with SAMS this month, we are exploring several possibilities on at least two continents that would fit that criteria. The two month missionary program in California was particularly helpful in this discernment process.
Why Missionaries Make Transitions.
Missionaries make transitions for a number of reasons:
Jesus just calls you elsewhere
Changes in situation on the ground
Key transition point in the family
Turns out that it wasn’t a good match of people, expectations, or skills
Difficulty in making necessary cultural adjustments/ in learning the language
The job gets done – time for a new assignment!
We are at a key juncture for us as a family. Lydia is launched at college. As parents, it has been important to be around while she adjusts to college life. To that end, while we explore missionary options, we will continue to be in close contact throughout the critical months.
This is a key juncture for both of us as a married couple. We always felt we were a strong couple, yet we have drawn much closer to each other in the process. We never thought that there could be so much more. Our time in the US and in the missionary program in California, in particular, has been important catalysts for this great phase of our marriage.
On the ground in South America, we could see that the job that we came to do had started to become redundant in December 2010. One potential implication was that the sudden emergence of on-line education would make it possible to expand seminary classes across any country and across both North and South America. If so, by sharing all the countries' seminary professors, fewer full-time faculty members like ourselves would be needed in any one country.
All this seemed to confirm that the word from the Lord was timely.
Prayer concerns:
Funds: We need your support more than ever. Between the time of transition and the missionary program in California, our account has gotten quite low. We will need to build up funds again before we can go out.
Please keep us in prayer for a good fit for the next SAMS assignment on our path with Jesus.
God bless you, and thank you for your continuing support! I pray for you, every day.
Shaw+ and Julie+
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Prayer Mail
Dear Prayer friends,
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This past week we had a good visit with Lydia at college, and a good visit with SAMS in Pittsburgh.
Prayer requests.
1) We have spent two months at a missionary program in California, and during that time, have been discerning where to serve our Lord best. We talked over our discernment with SAMS (our mission society), and we have the green light to go into another mission field. We have options to explore, on different continents, as prep work for the next assignment. We would appreciate your prayers for the right fit.
2) Please keep Lydia and her schoolwork in your prayers.
3) Please keep Julie's parents and my mom in your prayers.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
In Christ,
Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie+
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This past week we had a good visit with Lydia at college, and a good visit with SAMS in Pittsburgh.
Prayer requests.
1) We have spent two months at a missionary program in California, and during that time, have been discerning where to serve our Lord best. We talked over our discernment with SAMS (our mission society), and we have the green light to go into another mission field. We have options to explore, on different continents, as prep work for the next assignment. We would appreciate your prayers for the right fit.
2) Please keep Lydia and her schoolwork in your prayers.
3) Please keep Julie's parents and my mom in your prayers.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
In Christ,
Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie+
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Scripture Prayer
1Peter 1:13
Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Lord, we send up to You today our fervent prayer for Father Shaw and Mother Julie Mudge. We pray for their meeting with SAMS (November 7) and eagerly wait to hear about the next chapter in their ministry. Be with them, Lord. Send them your grace as they hope to do a new mighty work for You. Amen.
Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Lord, we send up to You today our fervent prayer for Father Shaw and Mother Julie Mudge. We pray for their meeting with SAMS (November 7) and eagerly wait to hear about the next chapter in their ministry. Be with them, Lord. Send them your grace as they hope to do a new mighty work for You. Amen.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Prayer Mail
Dear Prayer friends,
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
a) Our prayers continue to be somewhat the same this week, as last week (i.e. we return this Thursday and ask for safe and timely travel as well as finishing strongly here, and for our time at SAMS this coming Monday).
b) We have been truly blessed by our time here in California, not only encouraged for what lies ahead, but also blessed by each other. A side benefit for being here is that we feel as though we were on a second honeymoon. We are blessed that we have three outstanding daughters, who we love dearly.
c) In addition, we would ask prayers for:
our visit to Lydia this coming weekend in Massachusetts, and Julie's parents, who are in a temporary shelter, due to snow fall and power outage in Connecticut. Ellen, Julie's sister, is their primary caregiver, and we would ask your prayers for Ellen, who deserves a stained glass window.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
In Christ,
Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie+
Disciples Making Disciples.
Peace be with you.
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
a) Our prayers continue to be somewhat the same this week, as last week (i.e. we return this Thursday and ask for safe and timely travel as well as finishing strongly here, and for our time at SAMS this coming Monday).
b) We have been truly blessed by our time here in California, not only encouraged for what lies ahead, but also blessed by each other. A side benefit for being here is that we feel as though we were on a second honeymoon. We are blessed that we have three outstanding daughters, who we love dearly.
c) In addition, we would ask prayers for:
our visit to Lydia this coming weekend in Massachusetts, and Julie's parents, who are in a temporary shelter, due to snow fall and power outage in Connecticut. Ellen, Julie's sister, is their primary caregiver, and we would ask your prayers for Ellen, who deserves a stained glass window.
God bless you, and I continue to pray for you every day. Your prayers matter to us.
In Christ,
Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie+
Disciples Making Disciples.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)