Prayer
European Evangelical Alliance Prayer Week 2007
Introduction to Evangelical Alliance Week of Prayer 2007
I am grateful to the Estonian Evangelical Alliance for the materials for this year’s Week of Prayer: the Bishops and Archbishops of the denominations (both those formally inside the Evangelical Alliance, and those which are not) each helped personally, and we are deeply grateful.
The Week of Prayer is becoming more widely used every year. More countries are using the materials: the Evangelical Alliances in Bulgaria and in Russia, for example, are now promoting it, with growing take-up in both countries. And more Churches have been praying together in countries which have celebrated the Week of Prayer for years: in Spain, for example.
At the same time, it is also being celebrated in more diverse and creative ways: leading to far more younger people getting involved.
The materials are prepared by different national Evangelical Alliances each year: and they therefore reflect the rich cultural diversity which we enjoy across Europe. If you look carefully, you will notice a reference this year to the great tradition of choral song festivals, in Estonia.
The variety grows! But so do the expressions of our unity in Christ! And those two things reflect part of the central identity of our Evangelicalism, which celebrates Unity in Diversity.
May God bless the Week of Prayer 2007, as we pray together: and may He yet come down on our corner of the world, once more.
Gordon Showell-Rogers
General Secretary
European Evangelical Alliance
COMMENT FROM EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE CARIBBEAN
I am pleased that the European Evangelical Alliance continues to encourage Christians to make the first week of the year a time of intercession. The materials below are helpful in developing a common theme for the week and EAC encourages our brethern in the Caribbean to join with our brethern in Europe in a common theme for our intercession in early 2007.
Gerry Seale
General Secretray and CEO
Evangelical Association of the Caribbean
EPIPHANY - A TIME TO MANIFEST CHRIST!
The continuing manifestation of Jesus in the world.
Now it is no longer "dust you are and to dust you shall return", but "you are joined to heaven and into heaven shall you be taken up" (Basil the Great, +379)
In the Christian Scriptures the word epiphany is used three times by Paul. Two of the references speak of the second coming (Titus 2:13; 2 Thess. 2:8), the third time the word ephipany appears as the reference to the first coming of Christ (2 Tim. 1:9-10). In the Early Church the Epiphany originally celebrated the birth of Christ. Later in the West, the Epiphany became the day to celebrate the manifestation of Jesus through three great events: the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the marriage feast at Cana. Today Epiphany brings us to the end of the Christmas cycle, completing the great rhythm of expectation and fulfillment that defines this period of time. It also points to the Christ's manifestation to the world, a ministry that not only happened in the first century but happens now within the Church and within us.
SUNDAY JANUARY 7, 2007
JOINED TO HEAVEN - BY THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD
Readings: Psalm 72; Matthew 2:1-12
The Scripture passages for today speak of a righteous King who is Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Appearing of righeousness means that unrighteousness will be exposed. There were some in Jesus' own land who saw Him as a contestant to their power and privileges; and there were some who saw in Him a God-Man who would join us to heaven by becoming one of us. May we see Him as He really is.
PRAYER: We pray with our brothers and sisters all over Europe to God, that all cruelty caused by religious backgrounds may cease around the world. We pray that the God of Peace may enlighten Christian leaders to work toward peace and resist all religious extremism and fundamentalism. We ask from the Lord understanding that the task of all religious leaders is to promote peace and reconciliation, not to escalate the violence, which may lead to bloodbath. In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
MONDAY JANUARY 8, 2007
JOINED TO HEAVEN - FROM ALL LANDS
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6, 9; Ephesians 3:1-12
Salvation comes from among the Jews but is not confined to them. After having been manifested to the chosen nation, salvation in Christ is offered to all nations. Therefore it is our task to carry on the mission of Christ in order to bring the Good News of God's Kingdom to all people.
PRAYER: We pray with our brothers and sisters across Europe to God , -- we thank you, O God, that you love us and call us through your Son Jesus Christ into Your Heavenly Kingdom from every nation, from every tribe, from every language. In Him the Kingdom of God is near. In Him, as His children we are one family – the rich, the poor, the wise, the foolish, the young, and the old. Build up Your One holy catholic Church and help us to confess Christ – to the ends of the earth. Amen.
TUESDAY JANUARY 9, 2007
JOINED TO HEAVEN - BY THE LAMB OF GOD
Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 3:13-17
Not by any earthly power did Jesus accomplish His salvation. John the Baptist says of Him: „He is the Lamb of God.“ And it was by the power of the suffering Lamb, His beloved Son that the Father desired to join us to His heaven.
PRAYER: We pray with all our brothers and sisters across Europe: -- Lord, by your death on the Cross you have redeemed people of every nation and all generations. Teach us how to love your Cross and rejoice in it and to understand that no love is possible without personal sacrifice in our love. Amen.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 10, 2007
JOINED TO HEAVEN - BY RECEIVING THE SPIRIT
Readings: Psalm 89:20-29; Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22
In the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God has reversed the unhappy consequences of the construction of the tower of Babylon – division, miscommunication, misunderstanding. By baptising us with the Holy Spirit, Jesus lets us drink of one Source, joins us together and to heaven, so that the Father's words may sound to us, too: „...with you I am well pleased.“
PRAYER: We pray with our brothers and sisters across Europe to God - Our Heavenly Father, we thank and give praise, that you have not left us orphans, that you have sent another Counselor who is with us forever, the Spirit of truth. We pray that the Holy Spirit may continually teach us and remind us of your Word, that Holy Spirit may guide us into all truth, that the power of the Holy Spirit may empower us to be your witnesses in the world. In the name of Your Son and our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
THURSDAY JANUARY 11, 2007
JOINED TO HEAVEN - BY BECOMING A NEW PEOPLE
Readings: Acts 10: 34-38; Mark 1:1-11
Favouritism is not a characteristic of God. Anyone who comes to Him with repentance, desiring righteousness will find acceptance. Anyone who has been forgiven will become a new creature and will be joined to heaven in new life.
PRAYER: We pray with our brothers and sisters across Europe to God that our life in the Body and Spirit of Christ would reflect you as the ultimate Oneness in all our diversity (personalities and spiritualities, etc). As your own community we recognize our highest calling and privilege to be one nation, a new people of Israel from all the tongues and tribes of the world. We desire to praise and worship and proclaim you, the Master, using the gift of all our voices as your glorious choir made up of the multitudes who will sing at your eschatological Song Festival. Amen.
FRIDAY JANUARY 12, 2007
JOINED TO HEAVEN - IN AN EARTHLY WEDDING FEAST
Readings: Isaiah 62: 1-5; John 2:1-11
One would assume that Jesus' first miracle would take place in a very religiously loaded situation. Instead it took place in a very social setting - a wedding feast.We are not let down or forsaken, Jesus is present at our earthly feasts and He will join those who accept His invitation to a heavenly wedding feast.
PRAYER: We pray with our brothers and sisters across Europe to God that You give us eyes to see Your work in our churches and in our personal lives. Give us a fresh touch from the Heavens so that our earthly life and service would be more influenced from above. Teach us to understand and value our everyday life as a taste of heavenly communion. We ask that one day we may eat and drink with You and with all the saints in the Heavenly Kingdom. Amen.
SATURDAY JANUARY 13, 2007
JOINED TO HEAVEN - WE ARE THE EPIPHANY OF HIS GLORY
Readings: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 1:1-14
God has called us in Jesus Christ.We are to reflect His glory in the world by carrying on His work of charity. Doing this we have not been left to our own devices - He has poured out His Holy Spirit giving us gifts for this ministry.
PRAYER: We pray with our brothers and sisters across Europe to God that He may be seen and known through us all, who believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead through the glory of our Heavenly Father. We pray that the same glory of God may shine in the witness of the Gospel of His Church as a bright light in this dark world. We pray that people around us may experience the power of God, which transforms people into the likeness of Christ. We ask that God’s mercy and goodness may reign in the hearts of His people. Amen.
SUNDAY JANUARY 14, 2007
JOINED TO HEAVEN - AT THE FEAST OF THE LAMB
Readings: Psalm 96; Revelation 4: 8b-11, 5:8-14
We are looking forward to the heavenly feast of the Lamb when His glory will be revealed to the whole of creation and when every knee shall bow and proclaim Him Lord. We are ooking forward to being joined to all the saints singing a new song of praise in eternal presence of our Lord and Saviour.
PRAYER: We pray with our brothers and sisters across Europe to God – Almighty God, by Your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Prepared by the Estonian Evangelical Alliance