St James' Church

Vicar writes – Preparing for 24/7
26 Aug 2007

With only slightly more than a week to go, we’re getting very excited to see how God is going to reveal Himself to us in new, personal ways as well as to a church as a whole. The focus of the coming 24-7 Prayer Week is on families (whether it’s your biological family, spiritual family, cell group members, church friends, mentor-mentee, discipler-disciple, etc.) praying, communing with and crying out to God together. We stay spiritually in sync with the physical rebuilding.

1. 24-7 Prayer week starts the day after A Family A’fair on Sunday 2/9/2007 at 6pm, during the September School Holidays. Prayer week will continue non-stop, with people taking turns to prayer for an hour successively, until Sunday, 9/9/2007 at 6pm.

2. All are encouraged (but not obliged) to sign up in family groups (no more than 6) for a one-hour slot, or more, anytime during Prayer Week. This is an excellent opportunity for fathers to lead by example in gathering the family together before God.

“He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:6
“And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:16-18

This is a time for God to reveal His heart for your family and for you to also gain an insight into your own family’s fears, dreams, desires, etc. It could be a time for reconciliation, forgiveness or just simple family worship, intercession (for others) and thanksgiving. The room will be laid out in a child-friendly manner, with prayer guides so you can plan your hour in the room.

3. This prayer movement will only require ONE hour of your time and is designed specifically for those who are not prayer experts.

4. Fasting is another thing we’d like to encourage you to consider, please do give this serious thought and prayer as a family (with older children). Perhaps you’d like to also fast on the day you’ve set aside to pray together during 24-7? For e.g. Fasting breakfast and lunch, then break the fast by having dinner together as a family?

5. From Monday 3rd till Sat 8th Sept, we’ll have a nightly worship session in the basement chapel from 7-8pm, followed by a communal meal for those who wish to break fast or fellowship together.

6. There will also be a opening service (with prayer and worship) to kick off the start of 24-7 Prayer Week on Sunday 2 Sept, from 5.30 – 6.00 pm. We want to send off the first family into the prayer room with songs of praise and hymns of joy unto our Lord! Prayer Week will also close with a mini service and all are invited to on Sunday 9 Sept, 6.00 – 6.30pm.