Community Prayer...

Community Prayer happens the 1st Wednesday of each month.

Last night 9 of us got together and here's what happened:

- a few came early and it was great hearing conversation on my back deck for about 20min. before we started; 1-2 had a quick bite since they came straight from work (I love it when people can come by and feel comfortable using my peanut butter and jam)
- as everyone showed we started with thanking God about something: a friend trying rehab again to get on course; a little girl doing well after heart surgery; the summer, etc.

WE PRAYERFULLY REFLECTED ON VERSES OUT OF MATTHEW 18 and how God might speak to us through them (Westside just finished a teaching series on that text)

Here are a few things that came out of that:
1. becoming a welcoming person/community, b/c as we welcome 'one' we welcome the presence of Jesus (v.6)
2. we're an extension of God's heavenly rule as the church (v.18-20) and he's present among us
3. deeper sense of community
4. a better awareness of people and their needs (v.7)

Here's what we prayed for shaped by Matthew 18:
1. for less individualism as one participates in the church (what's in it for me) and more community (how does this affect all of us) (v.1-5)
2. for friends struggling to forgive and reconcile (v.21-35)
3. for a larger concern for people gone missing or on a spiritual detour (v.10-14)
4. for humility: that it would cause us to depend more on God and become aware of the people in front of us rather than just focusing on ourselves.(v.1-5)

Prayers FOR WESTSIDE:
- Summer Impact through our BBQ, Kids Camp, and personal relationships
- volunteers needed in different serving teams
- upcoming parents in 2008

Personal:
- a pastor's wife out west dealing with cancer (since the time of this post, this person passed away - on Saturday, June 7th - please keep the family in prayer)
- Cindy's struggle with being sick after her trip

These nights are easy to ignore yet too important to miss. I appreciate them a lot and feel they keep moving me towards a deeper sense of prayer in community.