Thursday 18 February 2016

Strange Place for a Prayer Meeting (but not really)



We gathered in the school’s cafetorium. Pastors and members from seven area churches, Baptist, Wesleyan, Pentecostal, United, gathered for the third year in a row during Teacher Appreciation Week. Mid-week gatherings were cancelled. The crowd was mostly older, but filled with a sense of purpose. That purpose: to pray. Pray for the teachers, and staff at the local school. Pray for the students that use this building day after day. To pray for protection…for wisdom…for discernment…for guidance.

We opened by singing “Holy Spirit, you are welcome here.” And as the words of that song echoed in that space, the Holy Spirit was welcomed. As we prayed out loud our thanksgivings and praises, the Holy Spirit was there. As we gathered in small groups to pray for the staff, I sensed the overwhelming privilege we have to be able to approach a holy God, to seek his presence and seek his answer for us. To sit, eyes closed, hearing the muffled prayers, the interjected “Amens” and “Yes, Lords” was to know and recognize what God can do apart from our denominational label, apart from our theological distinctives. God was mighty in that room. We departed with a song of praise on our lips, and the love of the body of Christ in our hearts.

Holy Spirit, be welcome here, and everywhere.

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