Corporately Speaking...

I doubt that anyone reading this message would argue that corporate prayer is critical to the life and success of any church. It was with this conviction that the Tuesday night Power Hour was begun. However, after nearly two months of Power Hour meetings, it has become evident to me that it just isn’t feasible for everyone to be able to take another night from their week to gather in prayer. At first this concerned me, but I couldn’t see a way around it. However, I have begun to witness something in the past several days that I believe is God’s solution to our dilemma.

The answer is for us to take time in each of our small group meetings to pray. By praying in these meetings, we will see a number of things happen. First of all we will begin to see the barriers that we have erected between ourselves fall. Corporate prayer begets community and relationship. As we draw nearer to God we are also drawn nearer to each other. Secondly, we will begin to minister to each other more effectively. We will all begin to do the work of the ministry. (It’s not just Cameron’s job!) Finally we will begin to see God move in our lives and in the life of our church in very tangible ways!

There is one problem that we will still have to overcome. How can we all pray corporately when we are all meeting at different times and in different places? I believe that the answer to this challenge can be found in the Stillwaters’ Prayer Points. Much like the talking points that political parties use to keep their spokesmen promoting the same message, using the Prayer Points will help us to keep on the same page (no pun intended) as we pray individually and corporately. This list will be included in the bulletin every week and will also be posted to the church blog weekly at http://conspiracyofkindness.blogspot.com.

Pastor Cameron has also rolled out the new prayer initiative called 7 at 7, calling each of us to pray for Stillwaters for 7 minutes at 7:00.

Here is this week’s list:

Stillwaters’ Prayer Points

1.) Praise God for who He is. Praise Him for His mighty works.

2.) Thank God for what He has done for us.

3.) Pray for individual needs. (We won’t list them here. As you develop relationship with your brothers and sisters in the church you should be learning about needs that they have. Pray for the folks and the needs that you know about.)

4.) Pray for the needs of the church:

- RAIN!!!!
- Church finances.
- Wisdom and clear direction in this transition period.
- A greater hunger to know God (through prayer, through the Word, through service.)
- Greater love for each other and greater love for our neighbors.
- Unity.
- Stillwaters Jazz Band (Pray for opportunities to play, pray that we will mesh as a band, and pray that our opportunities to play will produce opportunities to minister to others.)
- Greater freedom in worship
- Pray that the church will be led by the Spirit and not influenced by dead religion.

5.) Pray for lost and unchurched family members, friends, and neighbors. (Once again, you know them so you pray for them!)

6.) Pray for Sunday’s service:

- Pray that God will direct the leaders to include the things that He wants included in the service.
- Pray for God to empower the music team, those who speak or pray, and Pastor Cameron so that God’s message to the church is accurately and powerfully delivered on Sunday.
- Pray that God’s presence be felt in our meeting place.
- Pray that the hearts of those who attend will be prepared to receive the message of the Lord.
- Pray that God will be pleased with the worship that we have to offer Him.
- Pray that God will help us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.