TIMBERWOOD CHURCH MINISTRY LEADERS BREAKFAST REGISTRATION - WITH JONI AND FRIENDS 

Week 4!

Acts 2:42-47: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.  And day by day, attending temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  

When we thought about fellowship, especially as it is reflected in small groups, we didn’t get into the nuts and bolts, or in this case the nut and bolt of bread and prayer.

Bread, this is perhaps the easier of the two, although neither are easy, without being hard.  Bread, breaking bread, the common daily expression of taking physical sustenance in the proximity of others.  Eating together.  Finding ways to eat together.  Both as nuclear families as well as spiritual families.  There is a high value in being next to someone, sharing a meal.   Additionally, and not that we need to see the Lord’s Supper every time we read the words “breaking and bread,” it’s tough to not share a meal and think about Jesus eating with his disciples for the last time.  In fact, for some, the practice of saying grace before a meal reflects that reality and centers the meal on Jesus as well as our grateful hearts.

Prayer, when we think about prayer, it’s something that could consume many letters.  We think of praying to God and asking for stuff.  We think of praying to God to express gratitude.  We think of prayer as something that is sacred, and holy.  We think of prayer as something that I must learn how to do and might be best left to the professionals.  Rarely do we think of prayer as something that is common and ordinary.  Rarely do we think of prayer as simple communication between a person created in the image of God and God.  To be sure, when we pray, we can ask for things, confess things, express gratitude for things.  Prayer is sacred and holy, but it is also common and ordinary, and while you can tell if someone has prayed to God consistently, it is also something that can be done by a novice.  Prayer is no different than any other form of communication between two beings.  It is talking, it is asking, it is explaining, it is sharing, it is listening, it is celebratory, it is heartbreaking, it is listening, it is silence, it is many things, and it should be held as an intense privilege, but should not be thought of as a scarce commodity that a person should ration or conserve.  I am not trying to be glib.  I am trying to get us to pray more.

Please give Wednesday nights a try.  Also, we have our membership class coming up, October 5 and 12, those are Tuesday nights, 6:30-8.   Attend to find out more information about Timberwood or to start the membership process. 

Peace to you, Pray more, 

John