re:Imagine

May 1, 2008

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In the first part of this year we have been engaged in the very important work of strategic planning for our congregation. From the very beginning of the process, we have encouraged people to pray. This was not merely pious talk. We sincerely hope that this process has been primarily a spiritual one, and that all along it has been undergirded by our earnest prayers for guidance, wisdom, and power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, as we are ready to begin the final goal selection process on May 3rd, I ask for your increased attentiveness to prayer. Pray that God’s will may be manifest in our decision-making. Pray that we leave special agendas behind and come with an openness to the Holy Spirit’s direction. Pray that all involved may participate with generous hearts, free from rancor, swayed by God’s love and light. Pray that Redeemer may be—above all—faithful to the Gospel, and holy house built not by our human motivations but by God.

To this end, I invite your participation in a special day of prayer leading up to Saturday’s goal selection. Please pray! Pray for all our leaders, all participants, and the process itself. Scatter short prayers throughout your day. You may even consider fasting for the 24 hours leading up to our meeting on May 3rd. Although fasting is a practice which is relatively unknown in our communities, it was well known to the peoples in the Bible who regularly sought to heighten their prayers with abstinence from food, especially when guidance and insight were being sought. (If you would like more information on the discipline of fasting, you can check out this article at spirithome.com.)

Finally, I welcome all to a special time of prayer one hour prior to the beginning of the meeting on May 3rd. Prayers will begin in the Narthex at 8:00 AM, with time for song, scripture, and silence. Please feel free to come for all or part.

+ tjk