Known by Name. Saturday, January 21, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Agenda

Transcription

1 Known by Name Saturday, January 21, 2017, 10:00 a.m. Agenda Time Prayer Subject Resources needed Invited by Name 10:00 a.m. Welcome, announcements, Nametags, Reflections sheet opening prayer 10:05 Introduction of theme What s Your Name? (icebreaker) Inspired by the Name Devotional What s in a Name? devotional 10:20 Prayers for heart preparation Names of God on pieces of paper, YouTube worship song (optional) 10:25 Worship Women to read scripture verses, Worship song (if desired) Invested in Prayer in His Name 10:35 Prayers for One Another 11:00 a,m. Prayer Activity Stations Information in resource package 11:30 Corporate Prayer: Praying for our Local Community 11:35 Praying for our Nation A woman asked to lead in prayer Praying for Global Concerns Prayers for RSVP Ministries RSVP brochures, film brochures Closing comments & information Communication Sign-up sheet Closing Prayer 1

2 Invited by Name Known by Name RSVP National Day of Prayer - January 21, 2017 Program Notes for Prayer Leader A. Welcome & Announcements (washrooms, schedule, essential info, Reflections sheet) B. Introduction of Theme: Known by Name - 2 min RSVP Ministries is delighted to host this second annual day of prayer, a day in which believers from across our nation join hearts from shore to shore to pray for our communities, our nation and our world. Our theme for this year s day of prayer is Known by Name. How grateful we are to know that God has revealed himself to us by name. In ancient times he gave his name as Yahweh or I am. More recently, just 2000 years ago, he revealed himself in the form of a baby born in a manger, who grew to become a man. The name given to that child was Jesus. And you will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 The creator of the universe, the Lord of all the earth, the maker of all people, is known to us by name. He invites each of us into an intimate relationship with him, and he awaits our response, our RSVP so that we can walk with him and get to know him better and better and love him more each day. But not only is God known by name to us. We are known by name to God. You are known by name. And so today we are going to particularly value names. We are going to learn each other s names and we are going to pray for people by name and we are going to grow in understanding of what it means to be known by name. Our names are linked with our identity, our sense of who we are, our self-worth. God knows you and treasures you. I have called you by your name, and you are mine Isaiah 42:2 C. What s Your name? Take the next few moments to pair off with someone new to you. Share your name with your partner. If you know its meaning, share that with each other, and any story or anecdote that might go with your name. Introduce each other to the group. 2

3 Inspired by the Name A. Devotional (see resource package) B. Heart Preparation - 1½ min Before we worship, before we ask God for anything, let s pause to prepare our hearts for this time of prayer. Remember Hagar, the servant girl of Abraham and Sarah? She was in what we would call a horrible situation. She had been asked to bear a child for them, but when she was pregnant, Sarah mistreated her to the point that she ran away, into the wilderness. There the Lord came to her and called her by NAME! Hagar! She then called God the one who sees me. That happened about 4000 years ago. But guess what? God hasn t changed. He still sees each one of us and knows us by name. Is your heart troubled? Is it breaking? Is it overflowing with joy? Before we worship him, before we bring our requests to him, remember that we can trust the One who sees us and knows us by name. Listen to this from Psalm 9:10: And those who know Your name will put their trust in You. We know him, he knows us, and we can trust him. Let s bow our heads for a time of silent prayer as we let this truth sink into our hearts. After a few moments of silence, as an option, you could play and/or sing the following piece: He Knows My Name min C. Time of Worship Scripture (assign someone beforehand to read each of these verses) Come, let us tell of the Lord s greatness; let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness. Psalm 29:2 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 3

4 In his word, the Bible, God has revealed himself to us in many ways and with the use of many names. Each name conveys some aspect of who God is. On the table at the front are (heartshaped) papers with names of God written on them. Go and choose a name that you want to hold in your heart today and take a moment to meditate on that name. As we worship and praise God, feel free to read out that name of God or you may want to say out loud why that name speaks to you today. For example: I am feeling insecure in my life right now so I praise God that he is my rock and my strong high tower. Let s take some time now to offer praise and thanksgiving to the Shepherd of our souls as we worship him. Worship Song (optional - see resource sheet for suggestions) When asked by the religious leaders of the time by what power or in whose name he had healed a crippled man, Peter responded: Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:5-13 NLT) We too are ordinary people and today, like the disciples of old, we want to be with Jesus. So let s come now and bring our prayers and requests to Jesus, whose name is above all other names. 4

5 Invested in Prayer in His Name A. Prayer for each other in areas of service to God (small groups ) Each person here serves the Lord in their own unique way. In small groups of 6-8, take time to share with each other the ways that you seek to serve God with your life in any realm: home, community, church, family, neighbourhood, place of employment, etc. Then pray for each other in those areas of service. B. Prayer activity stations (options and information in resource package) Over the next 30 minutes you will have the opportunity to visit any or all of our prayer activity stations. Specific instructions are at each station and you can journey in pairs, on your own, or in small groups of 3-4. C. Corporate Prayer As we gather for our final period of prayer together, I invite you to consider with me the names that Jesus used to identify himself in the gospel of John. Bread of Life As we pray for our local community, we remember that Jesus said, I am the Bread of Life. Bread is said to be the staff of life, a most basic source of nourishment. Let us pray that basic needs will be met in the lives of those around us. Let us pray also that their spiritual needs will be met day by day. I invite you to speak out in sentence prayers as I mention various parts of our community: Let s pray for the families in our neighbourhoods for healthy relationships, for protection and provision of their needs, for their children and their jobs, for the activities they participate in. Pray for opportunities to share Christ with those who don t know him. (pause for sentence prayers) Let us pray for the homeless and those who serve them. (pause for sentence prayers) Give thanks to God for the good things in our community for the beauty of our surroundings, the truth in places of learning, the joy of friendships, the pleasure in art and musical offerings. Give thanks for those who serve and protect in order to keep our community safe and healthy. (pause for sentence prayers) 5

6 Consider the spiritual needs of our community for hope, justice, purpose, meaning, peace, love, truth, righteousness, knowledge of God and pray that they will be met. (pause for sentence prayers) Jesus, we thank you that you are the good Shepherd. We ask that many in our community will follow you. Bread of life, will you please meet the needs of our community on every level, just as you multiplied the loaves and fish to those who were hungry? We know that only you can satisfy the hunger of the soul. Amen. Way, Truth and Life Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) Remembering this truth, will lead us in prayer for our nation. (Ask someone ahead of time to select and pray for 3 current national issues or concerns. Prayer should be no longer than 2-3 minutes.) Light of the World Jesus said, I am the Light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12) Let s pray for the needs of the world. Feel free to say a brief prayer for a specific global concern or you can call out the name and country of a missionary serving abroad or international friend you know. God knows their names, their hearts and their needs. Let us seek to understand and pray knowledgeably for the needs of others throughout the world. (pause for sentence prayers) (Note: For specific information regarding countries of the world see True Vine Jesus said, Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Consider a grapevine. The fruit does not grow on the stem, but on the branches. But branches that are not attached will not produce fruit. Jesus is no longer on this earth to do the work of spreading the good news. He has given us that job. But if we do not depend on him, all our efforts will amount to nothing. 6

7 That is why we want to pray for RSVP. Because we need God s help and blessing to see women come to faith in Jesus and grow in their knowledge of him. Let us begin by praying for those people who have been identified as needing salvation. Their names are in the bottle from Activity Station 6. (Distribute names and have people speak out those names in prayer.) Feel free to also pray for RSVP volunteers, groups (both traditional and new RSVP groups), staff and ministry projects (like the production of new films). If the Holy Spirit brings to mind the name of a specific volunteer or staff member, pray for them by name. Let s pray for RSVP, confident that God knows every volunteer, every staff member and every person who is being or will be impacted through this ministry. May God give you boldness to share his name with others so that many more may come to believe and to walk in intimate relationship with the God who promises a new name to those who listen to the Spirit and who are victorious: And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:17) Lord God, we thank you for the time that we have been able to share together today. Thank you for your Word that helps us to know you better. Thank you for your people, who also help us to know you better and to experience your love in tangible ways. Thank you for the gift of prayer and the promise that if we ask anything in your name, you will do it. May our prayers and our lives bring glory to you. We pray in the lovely and powerful name of Jesus. Amen. D. Closing Thank you for coming. Before you leave, there are three things you are invited to do: 1. Thank at least one person by name for coming to pray with us today. 2. If you would like to receive more information about RSVP Ministries, please complete the RSVP Communication Sign Up sheet on the table to receive our monthly e-newsletter, our monthly Prayer Force prayer request letter and/or our Magazine that arrives in your mailbox 2-3 times a year. 3. Remember to drop your Reflections forms in the box on your way out. 7