Prayer 101:

Sunday April 22nd at 7:00 PM

Among the outcomes of our Faith Alive Weekend was a longing to be more comfortable, consistent, and effective in our life of prayer: individually and together. At the “Follow Up” meeting on March 11th, several questions were articulated regarding prayer as a core value to our life in Christ. “How should I pray?” How can I pray better?” How can I become more comfortable praying out loud?” “Teach me to pray!”

To that end, Fr. Steve will offer an evening gathering in the Parish Hall on Sunday April 22’~ with some teaching on the many ways TO pray, being present with another before God in prayer, and developing a lifestyle that becomes more and more immersed in prayer. And guess what: we’ll even put the teaching to use IN prayer! Questions? Ask the Vicar.

Faith Alive is coming to St. Andrews

Our Faith Alive Weekend is set for March 9-11th

 Let me give you a little background about the Faith Alive program.

Faith Alive is main stream of the renewal ministries. It was established more than a quarter century ago in the Methodist Church. In 1970, a group of Brotherhood of St. Andrew men, their wives, and other Episcopalians who had been witnessing in the Methodist Churches established the Episcopal-led fellowship known as Faith Alive. Since 1970 over 2,000 Faith Alive Weekends have been held and many Episcopalians now have a closer relationship with Our Lord.

Faith Alive is a prayer driven ministry and thousands will be and are already praying for our up-coming weekend.

Basically a Faith Alive Weekend is a weekend program where other Episcopal lay people will come to St. Andrew’s and share with us what God is doing in their daily lives. Members of St. Andrew’s are invited, but not forced to share their own experiences.

Faith Alive is a witnessing mission. The Team members on the weekend are instructed merely to listen and love, and to share what the Lord is doing in their own lives. Their role is not to teach or preach, and they are at all times under the authority of our Vicar, Father Steve.

Faith Alive is a weekend that is set-aside for the parishioners to corporately think about their promises made at the time they were confirmed and baptized and what they mean to them today. The promises are found on pages 302 and 303 of the Book of Common Prayer, which calls for responses to:

Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Savior? Do your promise to follow Him as your Lord.

Team members come with their own answers to those questions, and living these promises does not eliminate all problems. However, we do know that we are not alone, and that Jesus is there to help us if we ask and trust Him because He loves us.

In a series of large and small gatherings through out the weekend, team members seek to share and explore with you how Jesus can be more real to each of us.

Preparation for our weekend has already started. The most important activity prior to our weekend is prayer. Prayer is the secret resource for St. Andrew’s to have a successful weekend and you are encouraged to regularly ask God to bless our weekend

The actual weekend really begins on Thursday evening when our parish will begin a 24-hour prayer vigil.

On Friday afternoon the witnesses will begin to arrive for the 5:00 team meeting. During the weekend there will be three separate programs going on. One for the adults, another for teenagers ages 13-19 and finally one for children ages 6-12. A nursery will be provided for the younger children.

There are coordinators for both the teen program and the children’s program. The Teen Coordinator selects his or her own team for the weekend and frequently it is comprised of other teenagers. The teen program focuses on spiritual growth, in-depth sharing, and a deeper commitment to Jesus Christ.

The children’s coordinator also provides his or her own team, drawing on those called to the ministry of children. This is not a baby-sitting program. Rather it is a sensitive and loving program held during the adult and teen events. This program is designed to open positive communication between child and parent about a loving God.

Experiencing God’s love, sharing of memorable events, praying to a loving God, learning new Christian songs and inviting Jesus to become an important part of the child’s life are all part of this program.

After the team meeting there will be a supper for everyone followed by a program in the Parish Hall consisting of prayer, singing, and several witnesses sharing what God is doing in their lives. The adults will be involved in small groups while the teens and children will begin their separate programs.

In the small group sessions led by witnesses, everyone will be given the opportunity to speak but none will be pressured to do so. Basically, the discussion will focus on The challenge of the Christian faith and our awareness of God in our daily lives. There will be a brief summarization and the night’s program will then adjourn by 9:30. The witnesses for the most part will be staying in parishioner’s homes. The Teenage witnesses will stay in homes with the parish teenagers. Some adult witness may stay in motels at their own expense.

On Saturday morning there will be a several neighborhood gatherings, commonly called coffees, in which team members and members of St. Andrew’s will gather at homes for simple refreshment, meditation and discussion. Once again, while the adults are at the neighborhood group meeting, the children and teens will be meeting in their groups.

At noon on Saturday there will be a men’s luncheon and a women’s luncheon in which Christian issues unique to men and women will be discussed. After the luncheons there will be relaxation and some team members and parishioners will visit the home bound and sick of the parish.

Children, teens and adults will together partake of a Saturday evening dessert, prayer, singing and sharing of witnesses. After this sharing, teens and children will return to their special programs and the adults will break up into small groups, where each will reflect upon their relationship with the Lord. After this session, the church will be open for prayer with you concerning thanksgiving, healing, intercessory and for a new or deeper commitment to Jesus.

On Sunday there will be the normal services except the Faith Alive coordinator, Hal Foss, will speak during the sermon and the congregation will be renewing their Baptismal vows. Witnesses will also be available during the services to pray with you. After the final Sunday service there will be a brief lunch before the witnesses depart.

Finally, our weekend will conclude with a thanksgiving and response assembly at the church. At this time we will evaluate the weekend and determine what St. Andrew’s follow-up plan will be.

At the weekend you many not relate to everything said. A Faith Alive Weekend is like a supermarket. Select what is for you and leave the rest. Throughout the weekend you are welcome to talk or just to listen. You won’t be required to talk or share or pray aloud, although whatever you might say, know that people will listen in love.

Our upcoming weekend can be a new dimension in the life of our parish. We will have fun and opportunities for continued growth through the Faith Alive follow-up program. This is not a one time event.., it is a beginning.

Please pray for our Faith Alive Weekend

Holy and Gracious Father; bless, we pray, the upcoming Faith Alive Weekend at St. Andrew’s. As we go forward give wisdom to those who plan: discernment to those who direct: strengthen to those who work. Refresh us anew with Your Holy Spirit through those persons you would call to speak. Prepare the hearts of those you would call to hear your good news. Equip and empower this congregation to find and fulfill your purpose for our lives, and send us out to be lights for your light, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen

Please come and see what Jesus is doing in the lives of Episcopalians. Gary Stout-General Chair