The Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) weekend is almost here. Our church consultants are arriving tomorrow to begin their work of interviews with staff, key leaders and focus groups. Saturday is a key day in the HCI process as we will have a congregation-wide session led by our consultants in Memorial Hall, 10:00am-3:00pm. I believe this session will offer us key insights in how congregations can better connect to our fast changing world. Child care is provided for infants through age three. Want to participate Saturday? You can still register by hitting reply to this email. Your pre-registration will help us in our provision of lunch. We look forward to Rev. Bob Farr, our Lead Consultant’s message this Sunday entitled: Risk Beyond Faithfulness. It is a challenging title as are the Pray.Study.Grow scripture passages and devotions for this week.
In addition to reading and praying through Pray.Study.Grow, another significant way as a congregation we are preparing for the weekend is observing A Day of Prayer and Fasting tomorrow, Thursday, November 3. Whenever we fast, we begin to discover the attitudes and appetites that are prevalent in our nature and inner spirit. Fasting is an opportunity for us with God’s help to gain greater control over “the appetites” that can easily control us and allow God to speak more clearly into our lives. As we fast, we have more time to offer God in prayer and getting more in tune with how God wants to lead our lives.
Our day of prayer tomorrow is focusing on the church as we are seeking God’s direction for Schweitzer. We are reminded in this week’s text that Queen Esther called for three days of fasting at a pivotal time (See Esther 3: 9-17) for her and her people. In our time, we are saying to God: Lord, This is your church. How do you want us to serve and glorify you in this community and world? Fasting is a deliberate way to set aside our own agenda and seek what is on God’s mind. It is a time to listen, really listen to God. I ask you to fast tomorrow, recognizing that some of us have medical limitations. I ask you to pray for God’s good purpose for Schweitzer to be clearly conveyed in the Prescriptions provided on Sunday. A special House of Prayer tomorrow evening will focus on prayer and fasting, Thursday, 6:30pm. Participating as a community in prayer will be a wonderful way of winding down the day.
The final hour of the HCI weekend will be the most exciting as five prescriptions will be presented to the congregation, Sunday, 12:15pm in the sanctuary. Regardless of when you worship during the morning, I hope you will be present at this time to hear the presentation.
I look forward to seeing you this weekend at Schweitzer. Remember, if you plan to participate during Saturday’s session and have not yet registered, please hit reply to this message.
