Praying in the New Year

Happy Seventh Day of Christmas! Today as we continue to celebrate Christmastide, we also bid farewell to the Old Year of 2007 and welcome the New Year of 2008. This morning I received an excellent plan of prayer for today from Lake Murray's former youth and worship leader, Rollo Casiple, who has been pastoring La Vina (where's a tilde when one needs it?) Community Church in downtown Miami. Rollo truly is a pastor after my own heart, drawn to the ancient elements of worship as I am. Celebrating Advent at Lake Murray was his idea, as was establishing a Stations of the Cross during Holy Week. Rollo especially finds the worship practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church extremely intriguing although he questions their relevance to today's post-modern generation.

Here's is Rollo's e-mail, one that I plan to exercise today and tonight as we pray in the New Year in our own family.

Let us usher in the New Year in prayer! In the last minute of 2007, just stop what you are doing and pray with me. Even though we might not be together tonight, let us unite in prayer and in spirit for the following requests:

The last prayer in the Bible is "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). Peter tells us that we should be "looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (2 Peter 3:12). How better can we do it than by praying for the fulfilment of Genesis 12:3, Revelation 7:9-10 and Matthew 24:14? Pray for:

1 The speediest possible evangelization of the world — of every unreached people group, area, city and nation.

2 The Great Commission to be restored to its rightful centrality in the ministry of the Church worldwide.

3 Your part in achieving this. What is God's will for your life? In the coming year are you willing to do whatever He commands regarding the needs of the world? Is it possible God is calling you to a specific ministry in praying, supporting, or going to the ends of the earth for your Master?

4 Your local church's part. Pray that your fellowship may grow in missionary zeal and commitment in the coming year.

(From www.operationworld.org)

Praying for you all tonight and throughout the year!

Pastor Rollo

The Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen. (From the closing of Holy Communion, 1928 Book of Common Prayer)

Peace be yours this Christmastide and throughout the New Year.

With love in Christ our Lord,
Susanne