A vigil – from the Latin word vigilia meaning wakefulness.

While in the past 20 years some churches have grown, some are shrinking in size.  All churches especially mid-size and small churches have struggled as folks who were the pillars of the congregations have aged and died off.  Most churches have not had a plan to increase the size of their own church in 100 years.

76 Million people do not attend church.  People are recognizing the spiritual part of their being.  Many are actively seeking a way to grow in spirit.  Know that there are people in your own community looking for a way to find God, to nurture the spiritual part of their lives.

Mega churches have sprung up and several have membership from 12,000 to 20,000.  The percentage of volunteers in those Mega Churches is astounding.

A couple of years ago I spent a week at Willow Creek in South Barrington, IL where they had 22,000 members and over 18,000 were signed up as volunteers in some capacity at the time I was there.  I was blown away at their success and productivity.  I participated in a seminar focused on building up volunteers in churches.  I studied their marketing strategy. Much of what they do will work regardless of the size church you have. 

I also have worked in a marketing firm and served on a large church staff.  But I am a small church person.  So my heart is here and I have been pondering a plan to rebuild the small church community who find themselves with dwindling members and limited finances.

To rebuild your small community or neighborhood church, you will need to get the people together that are on board with the idea of growth.  You may believe everyone wants the church to grow, but it isn’t true.  Growth will represent change and some will go kicking and screaming into change of any kind especially at the church.  But remember the church is God’s house.   It is in our care.  This is our watch.

Organizing and executing a Prayer Vigil is a powerful tool in opening doors and windows of opportunity for your church.  A Prayer Vigil needs to be a 12 hour, or 24 hour time frame of continuous prayer for your church.

You will need a sign up board showing the designated hours of the vigil.  People need to sign up for a one hour period of time where they commit to coming to the church and being in prayer for that one full hour for the church.  They will need to show up a little early, and perhaps stay a few minutes late for the sake of uninterrupted coverage.

People will ask if they can just pray from home, but showing up and being focused at the church keeps those distractions we often experience while at home, at a minimum.  It is easier to pray in the sanctuary at church, especially for this longer period of time.  The short answer is no.  You want people to show up and pray for the allocated period of time, at the church and focused.

It will be helpful to have between 8 and 12 people committed and excited to help make this event happen.  You can do this with less, but see how many you can get.

Logistically speaking, 

• -Divide the prayer vigil time into three or four hour blocks of time, and assign a leader to each block. 
• -In a 12 hour vigil you will have three leaders with four hour blocks of time or four leaders with three hour blocks of time.

Leader support:

• -Each leader should have their own list of the people who have signed up to pray for one hour during their block. 
• -A day or so before, they need to call and check to be sure people are still planning to be there for the hour they signed up for. 
• -Verify you are talking about the same hour and date. 
• -The leader should say they are excited about the prayer vigil and glad this person has signed up for this important time set aside to pray for their church.  People are busy and value should be assigned to people’s time and prayers.

The time block leaders serves a couple of other important functions as well.  We can be a chatty and social bunch in church congregations.  I have seen people show up to pray, and start chatting with someone in the parking lot or talking on their cell phone and an completely loose track of time. They go in to take over from the person who has now been there praying two hours and needed to leave an hour ago.  The leader keeps us on track and focused.

I am all for kids in the service, more so than in the nursery.  But prayer vigil time is quiet and I have also seen two or three moms or grandparents show up and leave several kids each screaming at the top of their lungs, running up and down the hallways or parking lot.  The leader can also take care of these types of situations keeping things quiet and prayerful.

If someone doesn’t remember, or has an emergency and doesn’t come for their hour, the leader can pray in their place as well so the vigil remains continuous prayer.  It is really good to have double coverage.

Planning and setting the day:

Give yourselves a little time to get the event organized and let people know it is happening. A Saturday is best.  Some people will be off work (not everyone), and you can end right before the Sunday Service.  Ending right before the service is a powerful finish for the prayer vigil.  You have a time where your whole group comes back together, and I think this is a very important part. 

If you are doing a 12 hour vigil, you can begin at noon on Saturday, and end at Midnight on Saturday and then it will only be a few hours until the Sunday morning service.  For a 24 hour vigil, you can begin at 8:00 am on Saturday, and will be able to end at 8:00 am on Sunday morning.

I always worry about midnight to 6:00 am coverage on the 24 hour vigils, but somehow teenagers and night owls get it done.  Some people work nights and this is no problem, some just stay up all night anyway especially on the weekends. 

It would create something like jet-lag for me, although I have heard it is a wonderful experience praying in a candle lit sanctuary at 3:00 am, but I may never know.

Prayer Points and Notes:

Have some half size sheets of paper with points and notes about the common interest you have in growing the church.  A few suggestions follow here, but feel free to make your own point and note sheet.

• -Most Holy God, we pray your blessings on this church, help it to grow.
• -Let this church be a place where people find you and nurture their faith.
• -Let people always feel your presence here and speak to our spirits.
• -Let this be a church of service and love.
• -Let this church be a place where people grow in their spiritual walk.
• -Help us to understand what we need to do to bring new people here.
• -Reveal to us the changes we will make so people can find you here.
• -Open the way for us the way to share our faith.
• -We pray that your will is done here, God, not ours, but your will. 
• -This church be Your House, a House of Prayer, and let it grow.
• -Show us how to invite and welcome new people here.
• -How can we be a blessing to the community and the people who are seeking you God?
• -Let us be a people who shine the light and love of the Gospel.
• -Let us be a congregation of grace and love.
• -Reveal to us how we build this church up.
• -Bring peace and understanding to the members of the church.
• -How can we let new seekers see the value in being children of the Living God?
• -If changes come here, help us accept the changes and let them be useful for our spiritual growth.
• -Let us embrace change and call it good.  Allow the change to bring about the best in each of us.
• -Let this church expand it’s membership and it’s mission.
• -Let anyone in our community who has ever thought of visiting here, come and see what this church has to offer now.
• -You showed the world what grace and redemption look like up close, help us to walk in your way and share it with other.
• -Life is growing and changing in all areas.  Help us continue to grow in our spirits.
• -Gracious God, we pray your blessings on this church.  Help us grow and be a blessing.

 With an hour to pray, read each of these and contemplate them.  Make sure bibles are in each pew or seat.  But encourage people to pray and not just sit and read for an hour.

Some people can pray with music going, and some cannot.  If you use music, make sure it is soft and not disruptive.  You can have upbeat, inspiring music at the service tomorrow.  It will be a time of worship and rejoicing.

Be sure to pray together in worship the following morning.  Read Mark 11:22 through 11:25 aloud in church.  Have faith and watch for miracles.  You have just opened the doors of possibility to create something great in your church with God.  You have opened the windows to be a blessing in the community and to expand.  Fear not. Believe and have faith in God.

   Later this week – A Marketing Plan – Step Two in Growth and Rebuilding

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

Heavenly Father, As we gather together this year to celebrate the holidays, we ask your blessings on the relationships we have with others.  Help us let go of the stress and hold onto the joy of being with our friends and our families. 

We may not all think alike, or believe the same things.  We may hold different values.  We may have old resentments and anger in relationships.  Help us let go of our anger.  Help us find love and acceptance for those we will spend time with.  Let us find common ground.  Let us bring out the best in each other during this holy and sacred time. 

Let there be peace and glad tidings across the entire world.  Thank your for hearing this prayer.  Thank your for sending your son.  Amen

Photo by Christine Oldham

When I walked in Garden of the Gods last night, there were signs of snow on Pikes Peak.  Here in the park 6000 feet below the Peak, the air was warm. Flowers still in bloom seemed  unaware of this impending change.  I look forward to the change in seasons.  Autumn may be my favorite season.  There is a briskness in the morning air and the scent of a wood fireplace.   I enjoy bird hunting with my Labradors, so that translates to walking in wheat or corn fields that have been harvested.

This global recession has brought many changes in peoples lives.  Have hope.  It may be a new season in your life.  Maybe summer was your favorite season and you loved your last job, or the place you lived.  Now it is autumn and we must embrace and look for the beauty of this new season.  I pray that you are blessed and whatever transition you are going through is wonderful and an enriching part of your life.

Genesis 1:4

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;”

It was good!

Holy God, I lift up the men and women who are coming back to the United States after serving in a war with a vague enemy. 

 I would pray also for the souls of all those who perished.  Help those who return to assimilate back into a peace-time country.  Let them find the help they need to adjust to time with family and find peace in their spirits. Let them know they are appreciated and respected.  Amen

Willows bent and shaped

In our minds we work it all out.  Sometimes being flexible and open to other ideas can be better.  It seems that some folks are quite rigid while some are like cooked spaghetti and all over the place.  Which one are you?  Are you something in between?

The Unity Minister Catherine Ponder always suggests we ask that God’s unlimited good will be done in our lives in prayer.  Also when we ask for something specific, to say “This or something better, Father”.  In this way we are not limiting God.  I do ask for very specific things  when I pray and don’t usually add the qualifier.  In the Lords prayer it does state “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.”  You hear people say, “God willing”.

Holy and powerful God.  I would open my heart and mind today to the unlimited good you have for my life.  I am grateful that you care so much for me and your blessings for my life are far greater than I can even imagine. Let me be flexible and able to bend without breaking.  Shape my life.  Amen

In Kabbalah and the practice of Mystical Judaism it is suggested  the ultimate reality is there is only NOW.  While we are busy checking our lists and squinting to catch a glimpse of the future,  making a feeble attempt to prepare for it, there are those who know there is only Now.

Opportunity on Pikes Peak June 2009

Hello God,  Have I counted my blessings lately?  Probably not often enough.  My health is good.  I had enough to eat today.  I have some amazing friends.  I have a terrific family.  I have meaningful work and a divine purpose.  My heart is filled with gladness.  I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Thanks be to God!

Morning Walk

Somehow we want to settle in and get comfortable.  My theory is that the winds of change can put us on course to find the right direction.

When we loose our job, or some major life event takes place that turns everything upside down, we pray for everything to go back to normal.  (Another theory of mine is that “normal” is a setting on the dryer, and not a state in our lives.) So when things change perhaps we should pray to find our new direction.  Pray to gracefully embrace the exciting challenges that now come with this change.

Pray that we keep moving forward and not wish for the past.  Today is a great day because you make it so.  You find something to be grateful for in this day, and live it with enthusiasm.

Genesis 11:31  Change came when Abram’s family left Ur to go to Canaan but ended up in Haran.  Genesis 17:5 Abram’s name was changed to Abraham.

Instead of praying to for everything to go back to normal, pray to find your way through the changes.  Pray to find productive work that becomes your passion and your joy.

Don’t fear the winds of change. Set your sails for a new course and fear not.

It is the result of listening for the still small whisper of God’s voice.  It also is a result of my passion to communicate with God, and develop and strengthen my spirit by lingering in the presence of God.

More will follow and the look of this blog site will be changing in the next couple of weeks.  A link will be added to Amazon so folks can order the book.

I want to thank friends and family for their support and encouragement.  I want to thank God for blessing me with creativity and inspiring me to write about the wonder and joy of prayer.

• Patti L. in Kansas for healing for her back and recovery from surgery
• Anna Mae T. for healing and recovery from surgery
• Family of Judilianna L. in Colorado Springs
• All soldiers in Iraq
• All soldiers families here
• Cindy M
• Joe M
• Marty M
• Terry, home, job, healed in spirit
• Brett and Sandra
• Barry & Jody
• Katherine & L.D.
• Gina & Taylor & family
• Healing for Taylor
• Patrick, Darlene, Carl and Amy
• Jeff & Tracy
• Don & Ginger
• Safe travels for all who come and go

God I lift all these people and prayers for them up to you with the faith that I know you hear my prayers and answers prayers for all of us. Amen

Newsong