Praying and Planning

A pastor friend and mentor of mine regularly takes time away for pray for his congregation. Next week I’m planning to spend 48 hours away for the purpose of praying and planning. I’ll bring the congregational directory and pray for each of you (if you’re not in the directory, or you’re not sure if you’re in the directory, please send us a note so we can make sure you are!). I’ll also bring the congregational prayer list, and pray through the needs that we’re aware of. However, if there are specific things that you would like me to pray about, please send me a note before Thursday(September 1), and I will be sure to add your request to my list.

In addition to praying, I am also going to plan my sermons for the coming year. As most all of you know, I choose the biblical text that I preach on from the assigned readings for that Sunday. I usually try to come up with some kind of an arc for four to five weeks, giving the sermons some kind of integrity. Ideally, as I prepare sermons, I think about issues that we all are facing, either as individuals or families, as a congregation or as a society, and seek to allow the text to speak to those issues. So, if there are issues that you are struggling with right now that you’d appreciate being addressed somehow in sermons, let me know. The more stories I have in my mind as I prepare, the more likely that I’ll be able to speak into issues that are pressing. I obviously can’t promise to address everything on your hearts and minds, but it will be helpful to hear from you.

As I prepare to go away next week, please pray for me—that I would experience God’s presence, his guidance, and his love. Please also pray for one another, as each of us is carrying burdens. Finally, pray for our congregation, that we would become increasingly aware of God’s love for us and for the world that our lives and our loves would be oriented toward his kingdom, which, in Jesus, is at hand.

Peace,

Chris