Friday evening marked the beginning
of our “Face Down” weekend of prayer and I thought I’d post a few
remarks from a Fleetwood and Robson Park congregation perspective. As
the evening approached, I felt we needed time to come and “be” in the
presence of God. Although many members of our family have worked hard
to cultivate times of personal devotion, times together as a Church are
priceless and necessary for formation and growth in vision and mission
as a Church. This is how the evening unfolded…
Friday night at 9pm, we gathered. The beautiful melodies of Taize playing quietly in the background served to still our spirits as we entered the often fearful place of silence and reflection. As a focal point, we had the cross propped up at the front and center of the stage with a candle burning three flames reminding us of the Father, Son and Spirit we worship. We sat still meditating on Psalm 84, v 1&2 that was displayed on the ppt behind the cross:
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Silence was the rule and it drew us, compelled us into a space of active listening and engagement with the Spirit in our midst. As the haunting Taize number “Wait for the Lord” led our hearts to, well… wait for the Lord, for the first time in what seems eons, stillness felt comforting and desirable. Experiencing this on Friday makes me wonder what we are so afraid of. Why do we feel we need to always keep busy and distracted?
What I feel exists beneath this experience is a hunger for the mystery of God. A mystery and presence that is much bigger than we are, that we cannot fully explain but can only embrace and share. It felt like we really worshiped; like we came towards God and kissed him. I was almost uncertain whether to break the silence.
As the night unfolded, each one who came to bring cherished prayers was instructed to light a single candle and place it at the foot of the cross as a symbol of participation and unity with God’s divine will. As we continued in song and scripture, some fell prostrate before the King, while others fell to their knees. Some were standing with arms raised and some with head in lap engulfed by the love from the one we invited. We came to realize God’s bigness and our smallness.
My hope is that we can foster these corporate, prayerful environments more frequently and with more members of our family to experience it with. To see that some who we live in covenant with did not make the journey with us that night left my spirit lamenting and yearning for them to experience the transcendence and mystery that blessed us.
We are on this journey together and it takes time, sometimes much time, to shake the distractions that keep us from having more times like these. May we come to know the richness of God by being still with him together, that we might share his mind and will for this world.
Peace be with you,
John
