Declare a Holy Fast – a Sacred Assembly – 17 November 2008

Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.   Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.   Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, 'Spare your people, O LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?''   Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people.  Joel 2:15-18

This week we are preparing for the holy fast and sacred assembly that we have been called to.  The whole parish of St. Matthew’s, St. Oswald’s and Overslade churches are facing a challenging future and significant issues as a church family and we believe God is calling us to unite together in a time of Prayer and Fasting, to wait on him, to seek his face and to hear his voice.  We are devoting the fourth weekend of November to do just that when together we shall pray for strength to fulfil God’s purposes for us.

We want to discern God’s priorities for our mission and ministry and as we face significant decisions in the coming months about our buildings and our future strategy in our new parish of St. Matthew’s and St. Oswald’s with Overslade, we want to have a clear sense of what God is saying to us.

We are calling on everyone to bring before God many issues including: 

·         The possibility of building a new worship centre, offices and classrooms on the St. Oswald’s site and to sell our existing buildings has been cast into doubt by the planners—pray to know God’s plans! 

·         Pray for discernment about the future direction of ministry in both St. Matthew’s and St. Oswald’s if the new building is not to go ahead.

·         Pray for our church plant on Overslade, for Alan and Richard. 

·         Pray for unity and protection for our church

·         Pray that we might return to Jesus our first love with passion and renewed commitment.  Pray against negativity and lethargy.

·         Pray for the different purpose areas of the Church—Worship; Outreach; Community; Discipleship; Service. 

·         For our work with young people. 

·         For our Church Leaders, for the needs of the church, the appointment of Church staff, the newly appointed Leadership Team, the PCC. 

·         Pray for our mission project Casa Re’Om. For Pastor Bonga, the staff and the boys.  For the ongoing ministry of the orphanages at Inhamizua and Dondo, and for their church, the Body of Christ International.

·         Pray for the necessary finances to be made available by God’s people for His purposes.

Please set aside some time today to bring these matters before God.