St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Gilroy CA
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The Rector's Corner
PRAYER IS THE EXCITING PART OF EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY
Prayer is the true beginning of all good things in Christ. There is power on the daily walk of those who believe, and Jesus promises wonders in our lives as a daily occurrence. Holidays are exciting and easy for anyone to understand.. But a living God who cares for the everyday living of ordinary people--that can be a little harder to get a handle on!
Yet the promises are clear--everyday life in Christ is supposed to be filled with miracles. And the power of God is shown forth by the presence of miracles (look it up!). Miraculous power should be a constant companion for us-- as ever present as the air we breathe. But how do we find this power? How do we unlock the miraculous life that Jesus promises us? What do we have to do to know Him even in the stuff of everyday living?
It all begins--as everything in Christ does--with prayer. We begin by praying....TOGETHER, as well as in the quiet of our room, the car.. Where we find ourselves. We are promised that whenever two or three are together in Christ's name, that The Lord Himself is there with us. And when He is there, so is his power. Many of us have often experienced that power in our Sunday worship, definitely during our Wednesday Noon Healing services. But some of us don't realize that we can also worship together--regularly--in mere twos and threes!
Our FAITH ALIVE WEEKEND, this spring, showed many of us how powerful small group prayer and ministry really is. For many of us, this has been continued informally, and for many more it has been refreshed in our Alpha Course. We really focus our prayers in a powerfully personal way, praying with others in small groups. In fact the churches that are growing fastest are those which make a special place for such small group prayer and ministry, as a regular and official part of the congregation's life together.
I think the reason for this is that the church becomes strong when personal prayer becomes central. We always minister best to things matter personally and to others that we know best. And when we know focused, personal and powerful prayer well, it becomes a part of the fabric of the church as a whole. Any church can share outside itself only that which it knows--and lives--within!
It is for this reason, that I continually pray for a spirit of deep and personal prayer to be released in our midst. I believe strongly that the Lord has a very special mission for us here at St. Stephen’s. That mission will be revealed, as it always has been, as well as empowered and sustained by the constant everyday prayer of everyday Christians just like us!
Invite those neighbors you have always meant to invite “one day” ... to join you and us for Sunday worship. But also take the time, as so many are already doing, to drop in on the Alpha course, Wednesday healing services, or even by getting together over coffee. Experience the living power of God as He means us to.... together!
Please check out our online January/February 2010 Living Stones Newsletter - all the latest news and information.