Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a sabbath day’s journey away.  13  When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James, Alphaeus’ son; Simon the zealot; and Judas, James’ son—  14  all were united in their devotion to prayer, along with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 

The Spirit is moving in our midst in some unmistakable ways.  In my sermon yesterday, I told the congregation that it is clear to me that like the first disciples, we have been in a period of prayerful waiting for a number of years now.  We have been prayerfully waiting for God to send the Spirit to move upon us in order to guide us and empower us to answer the call God would have for us in the next chapter in our congregation’s life.

Five years ago we began focusing on prayer as a congregation through the 90 Days of Prayer program, and that focus has grown ever since.  We have been prayerfully waiting for the Spirit and y’all, the Spirit has been on the move around here.

The first evidence of that came during Holy Week and the Spirit has been moving like a freight train ever since (a story for another blog post…stay tuned).  As we prepare to celebrate the gift of the Spirit the disciples received at Pentecost and the birthing of the church that took place on that day, I am asking all of us to commit to a week of very intentional prayer for our congregation and its ministries.  God is about to do a new thing in and through us.  May we be united in prayer in this week as we prepare to step into this next season of our church’s life in and through the Spirit’s power.

After Christ’s death and resurrection, the disciples were often afraid – hiding behind locked doors even after the risen Christ has appeared to them, unsure of what the future held for them.  When we let our fear sit in the driver’s seat, it can get in our way.  Pray today that our congregation, its leaders and its people would be released from any fear that could create obstacles that would get in the way of God’s plan for us.  Pray that we might relegate any fears we have to the back seat, entrusting the Spirit’s guidance and power to drive us instead.