Ivy Conklin wrote in response to last Sunday's sermon:
"It was a thrill to pray together the Lord's Prayer last Sunday! And it stirred a lot of memories. Like how most Protestant churches have thrown out the liturgy (because it was Catholic?), but most have kept the tradition of saying this prayer together every time they worship. How it makes us feel bound together and knowing we're in the right place when we visit most any church anywhere. This is the first time I've heard it used from the NIV, which I never memorized.
"It reminded me of Margaret Wall who attended our Montebello church every Sunday. Margaret was born deaf. Several members of United Methodist Women attended Peggy Metz' classes at Beverly Towers to learn sign language. Ellie Mires became very proficient, and it became her mission to sit with Margaret on Sundays. When Ellie couldn't be there she asked one of us. It was a tough assignment to keep Margaret in the same place as the rest of the congregation, but it made us feel so useful. The minister printed out the sermon and prayers; music and readings were in the hymn book; order of worship was in the bulletin. Of course Margaret knew the Lord's Prayer, and recited every word. Whenever I hear the Lord's Prayer I hear Margaret's voice, sometimes echoing just a syllable behind the rest of us."
