(Associate Pastor Rhonda O'Reilly prepared this week's lead item, which introduces us to a new opportunity for worship.)
The
new program year is upon us at MWPC. One clear sign is that we have
begun again the process of "praying through the members of MWPC."
Beginning every September, the church office sends postcards to each of
the members - fifteen at a time - to inform them we will specifically
pray for them during Morning Prayer on the following Tuesday morning. We
are always glad to hear back that things are going well, but are also
thankful to know when praying for a particular person or situation would
be helpful for our members and friends. We undertake this discipline
because our church staff believes in the power of prayer. We hold each
of you in Christian love and pray God's blessing on you and yours. We
believe prayer is a dialogue with God and that intentional communication
with our creator is always a good thing. Richard Foster in his book Prayer - Finding the Heart's True Home
takes the attitude that prayer "is about a love relationship: an
enduring, continuing, growing love relationship with the great God of
the universe" (p. 3). Foster describes twenty-one different "kinds" of
prayer, such as: healing prayer, intercessory prayer, the prayer of
relinquishment, and contemplative prayer. He does an excellent job of
explaining the origins and uses of different types of prayer and gives
good, clear examples of how to pray in each style. I highly recommend
the book and encourage you to check it out of the church library - or
borrow my copy. However, the main purpose of this article is to make you
aware of a new addition to our Sunday worship opportunities and invite
you to partake in our Service of Prayer for Wholeness.
After
six months of serving as your Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care, I
sense a need at MWPC for a simple, regularly scheduled, worship
opportunity focused on praying for those in need of healing, health,
support - in general - wholeness.
In
the past I have participated in leading such a service based on a
service defined in the PC (USA) Book of Common Worship. After an opening
hymn, the scripture and a short comment, there is an "Intercession for
Healing." This involves quiet music played and folks invited to come
forward (if they wish) individually, for prayer with the pastor,
including laying on of hands and anointing, if desired. After everyone
who desires has come forward, the time concludes with a general prayer
for wholeness and the Lord's Prayer. The service ends with a simple,
quiet hymn and a blessing.
Our
Celebrate Ministry and Session have supported my request for such an
offering; it will be held on the first Sunday of each month at 8:30 a.m.
(average length 30 minutes) in the Chapel. I will look for feedback
from our Session and congregation regarding the timing, content, and
value of this opportunity. If this time of spiritual support sounds like
something that would be helpful for you, please plan to join us
beginning Sunday, October 7 at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel.
I think the organized effort to pray for members is a wonderful idea and particularly would appreciate being notified that you have done so. Ron and I are on the affiliate membership list, which is probably the reason we have never received a postcard. While it is true we are only at MWPC once a month, we do feel blessed to be a part of such a vibrant congregation, one steeped in music and mission, which is what led me to choose MWPC in the first place. Please add us to the prayer list.
ReplyDeleteEvelyn Vaughn