EVENING PRAYER 7-9pm - corporate ecumenical prayer at Bayers Road Baptist Church, 7077 Bayers Rd.
WHY? Since 2011 roughly 80,000 Syrians have been killed, both civilians and military, in a civil war that has torn the country across many lines, politically, religiously and socially. As a result there are now 1.5 million Syrian refugees in the countries surrounding Syria, with that number rising by 200,000 each month.
God’s people are called to stand alongside those who are suffering, and to call on God to rouse himself (Zechariah 2:13) to bring Christ-centred justice, peace and hope.
Who is putting this on? Grove Community Church, a small ecumenical gathering (www.grovehalifax.blogspot.com, Miro Rak, 455-8859, miro_rak@yahoo.ca).
Background Info (to help guide your prayers):
1. For God’s reign to come, for His name to be exalted among the various powers and nations
2. For the Lord to turn people to himself, to encounter Christ’s love, forgiveness and saving grace
3. For the evil powers of darkness, hatred, revenge and false religion to be defeated in the region.
4. For peace in the country and an end to the bloodshed. For God’s rich mercies, hope and healing to pour out on the suffering people in the country, and the refugees outside.
5. For the political powers in Syria and internationally (U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia), to lay down their agendas and rule with humility, justice and love.
6. For the Lord to send wise, God-fearing counselors to the decision-makers in all parties in the country.
7. For the witness of Christ’s bride, the church, to reach out to the suffering, to share the divine cure of the gospel, and to speak the word of the Lord in all boldness.
8. For the safety and protection of Christians, keeping the church's faithful witness.
How to Fast:
Using Matthew 6:7-18 as a model, don’t tell anyone you’re fasting, don’t complain about being hungry, simply take extended time to pray this day. As you refrain from a particular meal (or food all day, or a drink or activity), take the time you would have used to prepare and eat food to pray, read Scriptures or to wait in silence for God to guide your prayers. Through the day, when you feel hungry and are prone to focus on yourself, turn your hunger into a hunger for God to act and bring his kingdom in Syria.
Scriptures: Psalms 46, 96, 44:23-26, Jonah 3, Nehemiah 1, Isaiah 25, 35, Habakkuk 1:12-17, Romans 8:26-27, Colossians 1:15-20, Revelation 5:9-10
WHY? Since 2011 roughly 80,000 Syrians have been killed, both civilians and military, in a civil war that has torn the country across many lines, politically, religiously and socially. As a result there are now 1.5 million Syrian refugees in the countries surrounding Syria, with that number rising by 200,000 each month.
God’s people are called to stand alongside those who are suffering, and to call on God to rouse himself (Zechariah 2:13) to bring Christ-centred justice, peace and hope.
Who is putting this on? Grove Community Church, a small ecumenical gathering (www.grovehalifax.blogspot.com, Miro Rak, 455-8859, miro_rak@yahoo.ca).
Background Info (to help guide your prayers):
- in Google, search for Syrian refugees, Syrian civil war, see Wikipedia links
- http://middleeast.about.com/od/syria/tp/Syrian-Civil-War-Explained.htm
- refugee map - hiu.state.gov/Products/Syria_DisplacementRefugees_2013May15_HIU_U805.pdf
- http://www.ebf.org/humanitarian-aid-to-syrians-update-and-reflections
- http://www.ebf.org/we-mustnt-give-up-on-christians-in-syria
- http://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/stories/syria_church_leader.php
1. For God’s reign to come, for His name to be exalted among the various powers and nations
2. For the Lord to turn people to himself, to encounter Christ’s love, forgiveness and saving grace
3. For the evil powers of darkness, hatred, revenge and false religion to be defeated in the region.
4. For peace in the country and an end to the bloodshed. For God’s rich mercies, hope and healing to pour out on the suffering people in the country, and the refugees outside.
5. For the political powers in Syria and internationally (U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia), to lay down their agendas and rule with humility, justice and love.
6. For the Lord to send wise, God-fearing counselors to the decision-makers in all parties in the country.
7. For the witness of Christ’s bride, the church, to reach out to the suffering, to share the divine cure of the gospel, and to speak the word of the Lord in all boldness.
8. For the safety and protection of Christians, keeping the church's faithful witness.
How to Fast:
Using Matthew 6:7-18 as a model, don’t tell anyone you’re fasting, don’t complain about being hungry, simply take extended time to pray this day. As you refrain from a particular meal (or food all day, or a drink or activity), take the time you would have used to prepare and eat food to pray, read Scriptures or to wait in silence for God to guide your prayers. Through the day, when you feel hungry and are prone to focus on yourself, turn your hunger into a hunger for God to act and bring his kingdom in Syria.
Scriptures: Psalms 46, 96, 44:23-26, Jonah 3, Nehemiah 1, Isaiah 25, 35, Habakkuk 1:12-17, Romans 8:26-27, Colossians 1:15-20, Revelation 5:9-10
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