As I reflect on the past few months of 2009 and look ahead to our life together in 2010, I am in the midst of preparing a proposal for consideration by the Session that we focus our energies in 2010 on becoming a praying congregation. What? Don’t we already pray? Well, yes!  So, what am I proposing? I am proposing that as a congregation we make an intentional and carefully planned response to an invitation:

·         To claim our inheritance as followers of Christ and begin living more fully in companionship with the only One who knows us completely and loves us without limit.

·         To continue or to begin the practices that will permit God to do those signs and wonders, the formation and transformation that will change and enrich our lives and give witness to the world of God’s active presence in our midst.

·         To continue or to begin those practices that will result in a lifelong companionship with God and bear the fruit of faithful discipleship, marked with joy, peace, fulfillment, confidence and hope.¹

We will seek to live-out Paul’s words: As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the work of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSV).

We will be using as our primary resources a planning guide, Becoming a Praying Congregation and its companion resource, When You Pray, and the book, Gathered Before God: Worship-Centered Church Renewal by Jane Rogers Vann.

Dear friends, may you one and all have a good and grace-filled New Year!