Pastor’s Corner February 2012

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

A new prayer ministry at RPC

One of the key ministries of the elders of our church is to pray for the church. The elders pray for Redeemer and her ministries regularly in various settings- privately, together as a Session, with their home fellowship groups, and each Sunday morning as they lead the congregation in the pastoral prayer. The pastors also receive the yellow prayer notes from the congregation and are able to share in many congregational prayer requests at the Sunday evening gatherings.

Praying for the flock is a major ministry of the pastors and elders. We see in Scripture the sharing of the burdens of the people by the elders (Numbers 11:16-17, Acts 20 &21, etc). We also see times of special prayer for spiritual and physical healing where members of the church to to the elders for prayer (James 5:14-15).

In light of the addition of two new elders the elders would like to add a prayer ministry on “first” Sunday mornings. Starting the first Sunday in February (February 5), some of the elders will make themselves available for prayer in room XX during the Sunday School hour. Going forward the elders will do this the first Sunday of every month.

If you have a matter of spiritual or physical healing (for you or a loved one) you would like prayer concerning, you can come to room XX during the Sunday school hour on the first Sunday of the month and the elders would cherish hearing your request and praying for you on the spot. If you have a heavy burden in need of prayer, bring it to the elders for prayer on these Sundays. This isn’t meant to be a time for counseling or long discussion, but rather a very direct time of specific prayer.

Admittedly we are not sure how many people will take us up on this, but we think it’s a ministry worth making available to the flock. We elders want to be faithful in shepherding the Redeemer flock and know bringing you and your needs before the throne of grace is a blessed and effective part of our calling.

In the Lamb,

Pastor Tony Felich