seasons of prayer

A weekly Rector’s Notes article, August 26, 2019

This year, the people of St. Stephen’s are invited to embark on a new path of formation and fellowship that will draw our community closer, while providing opportunities for each of us, from the youngest to the oldest, to learn more about themselves and grow in their faith, as we explore the concepts and practices of prayer over the next several months.

What are we doing?

Together as a community, we will explore how prayer is used to inform and grow our faith. To connect us to God and one another.

Each month, we will gather as a community to share a potluck meal in place of our regular coffee hour, and engage in formation activities designed to meet the needs of all in our congregation.

Some months, we will engage in multi-generational activities that speak to all ages together. Other months, we will have specific activities geared towards the respective needs of children/youth and adults.

Throughout these 8 sessions (we will not have a gathering in April as the First Sunday of April marks the beginning of Holy Week and we will be celebrating the end of that week on Easter with our Easter Brunch Potluck), we will explore many different aspects of prayer, learning more about ourselves, our faith, and each other.

Why prayer?

Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words. Christian prayer is response to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus teaches us to come before God with humble hearts, boldly offering our thanksgivings and concerns to God or simply listening for God’s voice in our lives and in the world. Whether in thought, word or deed, individually or corporately, when we pray we invite and dwell in God’s loving presence. When we follow the Way of Love, we are called to practice prayer – both personally and communally, locally and globally.

In Luke Chapter 5, we learn that after performing great acts of healing, Jesus would “withdraw to deserted places and pray.” This solitary practice enables the individual to connect with God in a personal way that cannot be accomplished through corporate worship alone.

Thus, it is crucial that we discover how our connection to God can deepen through prayer, by exploring different types of prayer and by practicing those types of prayer that enable us to offer praise, adoration, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession, and petition.

More information?

You can find information on our website at sslv.org/seasons-of-prayer

Join us on Kick Off Sunday, September 15, to receive your special, limited run, poster pamphlet to hang on your fridge (or wherever you put your most important event notices…)