A Day Set Aside for Fasting and Prayer

Central,

I hope that many of you will join your leadership tomorrow (Monday, December 5)for a day set apart to fast and pray. I encourage you to come and pray in Central's sanctuary at any time between 7:00AM and 7:00PM. A prayer and fasting resource will be available to give you some guidance for your time in the Sanctuary. You might also want to read the gospel of Luke as you sit in silent prayer. At each hour a staff person will invite people to the front for corporate prayer and praise.

When we fast we follow in the footsteps of Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Jesus, Paul and millions of other faithful followers of the Lord God who regularly fasted. In fact, Jesus assumed that his followers would fast. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says "when you fast...." To better prepare us for tomorrow I encourage you to read the following passages from Scripture;

"Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, WITH FASTING, with weeping and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a FAST; call a solemn assembly." Joel 2:12-15

"But as for me, when they (David's enemies) were sick, I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with FASTING. I prayed with head bowed on my bosom, as though I grieved for a friend or a brother; I went about as one who laments for a mother, bowed down and in mourning." Psalm 35:13-14

"Is not this the FAST that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Isaiah 58:6-7.

"While they were worshipping the Lord and FASTING, the Holy Spirit said,..." Acts 13:2

"Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and FASTING, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust." Acts 14:23

A reminder that our midweek ADVENT WORSHIP services are from 7:00 - 7:30PM on Tuesday and 11:30AM - 12:00Noon on Wednesday. This week we will reflect on the hymn, "Wake, Awake for Night Is Flying." Each week during Advent we will be having these 30 minute worship experiences on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is a great time to gather and be quiet in the midst of the busyness of this season.

In Christ's Name, WELCOME!

Paul Johansson