The Serenity Prayer: Serenity

SERMON TITLE:   “The Serenity Prayer:  Serenity”
SERMON TEXT:    Philippians 4:1-9
PREACHER:           Rev. Kim James
OCCASION:           March 7, 2021, at First UMC
 
God, . . . grant me . . . the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
 . . . the courage to change the things I can, . . .
and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.  Amen.
 
INTRODUCTION
 
                A few days ago, I received an email from the Utah state Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services Administrator.  The email was inviting faith leaders to participate in a webinar on suicide prevention.  Now that so many people are able to get vaccinations, and the rates of infection and death have dropped, we’re all feeling much more hopeful.  But leaders recognize that many people have suffered tremendous losses due to death, sickness, unemployment, educational disruptions, social isolation, and other anxieties.  And, with the variants on the rise, we know we’re not out of the woods yet.  
                That’s why, during this season of Lent, we’re focusing our attention on The Serenity Prayer.  We began two weeks ago by talking about the nature of God.  Last Sunday, we discussed prayer and how we might ask God to grant me.   Today, we move on to the word serenity itself.  Using Philippians 4 as our text, let’s think about what it means to find that peace of mind and soul we call “serenity.” 

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