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Harvest Praying

The Rev. Marissa Becklin

Taking cues from the season for how to pray

I can’t believe it’s almost fall again, and perhaps when you’re reading this it will still be unbelievably hot outside, but the march of time continues and September will bring with it earlier sunsets, Friday night high school football, and the harvest of crops throughout the county. In the rhythm of creation, we see a mirror of our spiritual lives. Just as farmers assess their crops, giving thanks for what has flourished and making plans for the next season, we too are called to reflect on the harvest of our lives. I want to invite our congregation into a specific prayer practice for this month, that I’m calling “harvest praying”.


What Has Grown?

First, consider what has grown in your life this past year. What seeds of faith have taken root in your heart? Perhaps you’ve seen growth in your relationship with God through prayer or time spent in the Word. Maybe you’ve experienced growth in relationships, ministry, or in personal areas like patience, generosity, or understanding. Take time to thank God for these blessings. Just as a farmer rejoices over a bountiful crop, we should rejoice in the spiritual fruit God has cultivated in us.


What Needs Pruning?

But not all growth is healthy, and even fruitful plants need pruning. Are there areas in your life that have become overgrown, tangled, or unproductive? Maybe certain habits, attitudes, or relationships are hindering your spiritual growth. Pruning can be painful, but it is necessary for new growth to occur. Pray for the wisdom and courage to identify these areas and for the strength to let go of what needs to be removed. Trust that, like a skillful gardener, God prunes us so that we can bear even more fruit.


What Are You Grateful For?

Gratitude is at the heart of the harvest season. As we reflect on the year, we are called to give thanks—for the abundance of God’s provision, for the growth we’ve experienced, and even for the lessons learned through challenges. A heart full of gratitude recognizes that every good gift comes from God, the Lord of the harvest. Take time in your prayers to express your thankfulness, not only for the tangible blessings in your life but also for the spiritual harvest that has occurred within you.


Praying For Guidance

Finally, as we look to the next season, I invite us to pray for guidance. Just as a farmer plans for the next planting season, we too must seek God’s direction for our lives. Ask God to show you where you are being lead, what new seeds God wants you to plant, and where God wants you to serve. Pray for the discernment to follow God’s will and for the faith to trust God with the future.


As we move through this harvest season, I pray that it can be a time of deep spiritual reflection for all of us. May we all recognize the growth that has taken place this year, embrace the pruning that leads to more abundant life, and give thanks for the countless blessings we have received. And above all, may we continue to seek God’s guidance, knowing that God who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).


In this season of harvest, let our prayers be filled with gratitude, reflection, and a deepened trust in the God who provides for all our needs.


In Christ's Love,


Pastor Marissa

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By The Rev. Marissa Becklin • October 15, 2024
As I prepare to travel with three of our youth from Faith United to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this July 15th, I wanted to take some time to tell you about what Youth Gathering actually is–and why I am so passionate about it as a pastor. The ELCA Youth Gathering is an extraordinary event that brings together thousands of Lutheran youth from across the country for a week of faith, fellowship, and service. It happens every three years, and is organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for high school youth, adult leaders, and volunteers. The Gathering aims to provide an opportunity for young people to deepen their faith, engage in meaningful discussions, and connect with peers who share their Lutheran identity. So, what exactly happens at the ELCA Youth Gathering? Picture this: thousands of youth and adult leaders converging in a host city for a week-long experience filled with worship, Bible study, workshops, and service projects. The Gathering is structured around a central theme that guides all activities and discussions, allowing participants to explore relevant topics and issues in light of their faith. This year’s theme is “Created to Be”, and the host city is New Orleans, Louisiana. One of the most impactful aspects of the Gathering is its emphasis on service and social justice. Participants have the opportunity to engage in hands-on service projects within the local community, addressing issues such as hunger, homelessness, environmental stewardship, and racial justice. These service experiences not only make a tangible difference in the lives of those served but also challenge participants to live out their faith in practical ways. The Gathering took place in New Orleans in 2009 and 2012 as well, and played a big role in the city’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina. In 2018 it was in Houston, right after Hurricane Harvey went through the previous year, and most of the service done that year was hurricane cleanup. In addition to service, the Gathering provides a space for worship and spiritual growth. Each day begins and ends with powerful worship experiences, featuring dynamic speakers, inspiring music, and opportunities for reflection and prayer. Through these worship gatherings, youth are encouraged to encounter God in new and meaningful ways and to deepen their relationship with Christ. But perhaps the most significant aspect of the Gathering is the sense of community and belonging that participants experience. For many youth, the Gathering is a chance to connect with peers from different backgrounds and cultures, forming friendships that last a lifetime. It's a place where youth can be themselves, ask tough questions, and explore their faith in a supportive and affirming environment. The ELCA Youth Gathering is more than just a conference—it's a transformative experience that equips young people to live out their faith in the world. It's an opportunity to encounter God, serve others, and build meaningful relationships with peers who share a common Lutheran heritage. I’m passionate about the Gathering because I attended as a high schooler, and I got to experience the feeling of being surrounded by thousands of other teens from across the United States who were Lutheran and were proud of that fact. It would be hard to overemphasize how important it is for young people (especially in today’s more secular society) to experience that community, and that space of pride and joy in one’s faith. The Gathering made me think about myself and my role in the church in a different way, and it was on the bus back to Iowa that I first wondered if I might feel called to be a pastor someday. This will be (I hope) a life-changing event for Lily, Haley, and Gabby. Please pray for them in these months as we prepare to head out, and please be ready to ask them questions about their experience when they get back. Lastly, thank you for your generous support of this trip for them–the Gathering is not inexpensive, but it is worth it, and your financial support makes this experience possible for them. Thank you for helping them feel valued by you in this way. In Christ’s Love, Pastor Marissa

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Navigating The Media Landscape

By The Rev. Marissa Becklin • July 1, 2024
In a world inundated with media messages clamoring for our attention, it is essential for us as Christians to approach our consumption of media with discernment and wisdom. Just as we seek guidance and direction in our daily lives through prayer and scripture, so too should we turn to God in prayer before engaging with the various forms of media that surround us–be they television, radio, print, film, social media, podcasts, etc. The words and opinions of this world are human, not holy, and we do well (especially as we approach the media onslaught before an election this fall) to ask for God’s guidance, peace, and wisdom as we wade through it all. Below I am sharing with you a “Liturgy for Before Consuming Media”. I invite you to tear this out of your print newsletter or pick up a copy at church in the back of the Sanctuary, so that you can put it on your fridge or somewhere in your home as a guide for prayer over the next number of months. Prayer is a habit that we develop and build, and at first it will feel strange to stop and pray before every time you open your phone to scroll the news or Facebook, or every time you turn on the TV or radio, or open the newspaper. In time, I hope that this habit becomes natural to you, and that you become comfortable enough with the prayer that you don’t need to lean on the words of this liturgy anymore–I hope that you’ll develop your own short prayer that works for you. The truth is that there are SO many words, opinions, angry messages, and fights out there vying for our attention. Our country is quite polarized right now, and our political parties (all of them) benefit from us feeling afraid and angry, because those feelings motivate us. God calls us away from these feelings, though, and invites us instead into a position of prayerful peace. We cannot listen to the still, small voice of God guiding us if we are shouting, or if our ears are ringing with fear and rage. God is with us, beloved. Always. And God is accompanying us through these months ahead, calling us to patience, curiosity, and to the task of listening to God and one another. May we be guided by the Holy Spirit to discern that which is true, noble and uplifting, and to recognize and reject that which is deceitful or harmful. A Liturgy Before Consuming Media O Discerning Spirit, who alone judges all things rightly, now be present in my mind and active in my imagination as I prepare to engage with the claims and questions of broken human beings. Shape my vision by yours, and tutor me, Holy Spirit, that I might learn to discern the difference between those stories that are whole, echoing the greater narrative of your redemption, and those that are bent or broken, failing to trace accurately the patterns of your eternal thoughts and so failing to name rightly the true condition of humanity and all of creation. Grant me wisdom to divide rightly. Bless me with the great discernment to be able to celebrate the stamp of your divine image. Guard my mind against the old enticement to believe a lie simply because it is beautifully told. Let me not be careless. Give me right conviction to judge my own motives in that which I approve, teaching me to be always mindful of that which I consume, and thoughtful of the ways in which I consume it. Impart to me keener knowledge of the limits of my own heart in light of my own particular brokenness, that I might choose what would be for my flourishing and not for my harm. Let my own freedoms in Christ never be flaunted or exercised in such a way as to give cause for confusion, temptation, or stumbling in others. May the stories I partake of, and the ways in which I engage with them, make me in the end a more empathetic Christ-bearer, more compassionate, more aware of my own brokenness and need for grace, better able to understand the hopes and fears and failings of my fellow humans, so that I might more authentically live and learn and love among them unto the end that all of our many stories might be more beautifully woven into your own greater story. Amen. From A Liturgy Before Consuming Media Found in Every Moment Holy Volume 1 In Christ’s Love, Pastor Marissa
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