Dear Evergreen family,
This is the big day! Have you started? Do you have a plan? What am I talking about? I’m talking about our one hour/one week prayer challenge! Today is the first of 7 days of 60 minutes of prayer! So, how’s it going?
My plan is to pray for about 20 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening using informal prayer, psalms, and hymns. Then, I’ll pray for about a half an hour while I’m running or walking outdoors. How about you?
It may be helpful to dip back into the prayer “toolbox” that we’ve been building over these last several Sundays. We’ve talked about
~Persistence (1/3),
~“Having lemonade” (1/10),
~Praying on the move (1/17),
~Praying words given to us (1/24),
~Praying with many instruments (1/31),
~Praying on the hour (2/7), and
~Listening (2/14).
*Note: All of the Prayer 101 messages can be found through Evergreen’s Facebook page. Click here to view Evergreen’s video library.
As you can tell, I dipped into the toolbox and pulled out “praying on the move” and “praying words given to us.” Maybe you’ve already found what you need for this week, or maybe you’re still stuck.
If you’re still stuck, have no fear! We’ve saved maybe the best for last. Evergreen is providing you with another tool for the toolbox. On certain days during Lent, the Evergreen Worship Center will be set up with a prayer labyrinth. There will be helpful biblical suggestions, hints, and guidance on posters as you walk this prayerful maze on the floor of the Worship Center. While the use of a prayer labyrinth pre-dates Christianity, Christianity has a long history of using non-Christian things and “baptizing them,” meaning to bring them into the service of Christ (like Christmas trees). This is one such practice. Give it a try! In order to ensure social distancing, this wonderful tool will be available by appointment only, meaning you’d be the only one in the Worship Center at that time. Be on the lookout for the Sign-Up Genius in this week’s e-news!
Also, don’t forget! This evening, we’ll share an Ash Wednesday devotion by Zoom at 7:00 p.m. https://zoom.us/j/96968638261 Meeting ID: 969 6863 8261 Passcode: 018611. We’ll share the liturgy and you’ll be able to make the mark of ashes in your home.
May God bless us all.
Your Fellow Minister in Christ,
Mark
Also, don’t forget to join me tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. for the second session of our book study on Rescued by John Riccardo. Here’s the Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/97321153338. The passcode is 474670, and the meeting ID is 973 2115 3338.