“[The disciples] all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

Acts 1:14

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing”

Martin Luther King Jr.

“Biblically and historically, the one non-negotiable, universal ingredient in times of spiritual renewal: corporate, prevailing, intensive, kingdom-centered prayer.”

Tim Keller

UNITY – 1st week of September

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.   Ephesians 4:1-3

Pray that COS will …

  • actively chose to center our life and ministry around God’s heart through self-surrender and deepening trust – which will display unity in the Spirit.
  • Acknowledge the places where we have been conformed to this world by: our failure to listen to God’s love for this world, being content with superficial relationships, being content with our own material comfort, not challenging the sin of racism.
  • Confess the part we have all played in protecting our own interests rather than being a community of deep love across all kinds of boundaries.
  • embody Christ’s love for ‘the other’ even as American society digs deeper partisan and ideological trenches.
  • help all members of our church family build connections with each other even in our time apart.

JUSTICE – 2nd week of September

Jesus unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Luke 4:17-19

Pray that COS will …

  • be hungry for God’s truth, righteousness and justice for this world
  • raise our awareness of the unjust structures that oppress and keep people captive whether socio-economically or racially.
  • deepen mutually enriching relationships with persons on the margins of society.
  • seek justice that is rooted in the gospel and nourished by a deep life of worship, prayer, and sacred rhythms.
  • form disciples who understand that the goals of Christ’s Kingdom are unattainable without the King – that bearing good fruit requires abiding in Christ.

RECONCILIATION – 3rd week of September

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.  2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Pray that COS will …

  • grow dissatisfaction among us for the ways our lives remain disconnected from ‘the other.’
  • build bridges relationally and organizationally to cross the barriers that keep our community and congregations segregated.
  • pursue ministry which goes beyond ‘virtue signaling’ and enters the slow, difficult work of lasting transformation.
  • Be able to affirm our oneness with all who sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ

GUIDANCE – 4th week of September

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.  John 14:26

Pray that COS will …

  • Be Spirit-filled to listen to God through his word and transformed by it
  • Be challenged to humility to accept the call of a deeper relationship with God
  • be open, wise, and courageous to envision worship, fellowship, and mission in fresh ways in the uncertain months ahead.
  • discern what the Spirit is saying to us through the emerging ministry of Swahili worship.