Calvary Lutheran Church will have some great opportunities for worship and study around the theme of prayer starting in March with Ash Wednesday and continuing on Weekday evenings Monday-Friday up to Easter.
Congregational leaders would like to "Raise the Bar" on our spiritual journey of faith for members and friends of Calvary Lutheran Church. It is often too easy to "coast along" in our faith and the Lenten season is a great time to deepen our spiritual walk.
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are
being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:14-19
MONDAYS, pastor Niemi will lead a bible study on prayer in the A & B room that will include prayer time each week. Starts at 6:45 PM. March 10 - April 14
TUESDAYS, the youth will spend part of their time around the theme of prayer. This promises to be a creative time for the theme of prayer. Starts at 6:45 PM
WEDNESDAYS will host the
traditional soup supper 6 pm, with a beautiful Evening Vespers (prayer) 7 pm in the sanctuary. March 5 (Ash Wednesday) - April 16
THURSDAYS will be led by various worship leaders of the congregation for a short and simple service of prayer also in the Sanctuary. Starts at 6:45 PM. March 6 - April 10
FRIDAYS will be a Taizé style prayer service of meditation, song and scripture led by How Majestic
in the sanctuary. Starts at 6:45 PM. March 7 - April 11
The Evening classes will be a time to study the Word of God, discuss our prayer practice and pray together every Monday Evening. The now classic book by Pastor Bill Hybels: "Too Busy Not To Pray" will be the guide for the class.
Pastor Stan K. Niemi will lead the class in a short bible study, time in the book and prayer around the differing aspects of prayer each Monday night. This class is being designed to be practical for the
ordinary Christian "Joe" or "Jane" to encourage their life of prayer in the midst of the busy world in which we live.
If you are looking for some direction and have some questions about prayer this is a class for you. Members and friends of Calvary Lutheran are welcome to attend.
Class meets in the AB Room at 6:45 pm.
Wednesday evening at Calvary Lutheran starts with prayer; prayer of grace for the food we are about to eat in the soup, bread and dessert. You can come to church right from your busy day and receive a break since you don't have to cook an evening meal. The meal fare is simple but filling for the day. All are welcome.
At 7:00 pm the evening worship starts in the sanctuary with one of the most beautiful (musically) services I have ever heard (pastor Stan Niemi is writing this). The evening prayer is one written specifically for a Lutheran retreat center (Holden Village) in Washington State.
The worship follows the traditional order of evening prayer that has been
The service will include a time of hearing the word of God and a time of simple discussion on that word centering around the question:
"What is God saying to me in this word?"
Starting at 6:45 PM on Thursday evenings in the sanctuary simple services of prayer and prayer in song will be led by various leaders of the worshipping community of Calvary Lutheran Church. Many of us don't often think of songs as prayer but this service time and day will focus on singing as a form of prayer.
Come nurture your life of prayer and commitment to Jesus Christ. All members and friends of Calvary Lutheran Church are welcome to attend the Thursday evening offering of prayer and song.
Taizé refers to a style of simple worship started in Taizé, France by a order of Christian monks. The service style called Taizé uses: psalm singing, Bible readings, silence, prayer, and prayer around the cross.
On Friday evenings a simple service in the Taizé style will be held in Calvary's sanctuary and is open to all people seeking the presence and healing of Jesus Christ.
The style of service is simple, quiet, and meditative in its form and feel. The songs sung will have few words and sung repeatedly to reinforce the meditative quality of prayer. The scripture readings will also be short and times of silence will be given to reflect and pray God's Spirit would speak to each heart, soul and body.
"God could do without our prayer. It is a mystery that he sets such store by it"
"God understands every human language. Remaining close to him in silence is already prayer: your lips remain closed but you heart is speaking to him. And by the Holy Spirit, Christ prays in you more than you can imagine."
"In common prayer, the spirit of praise gives glimpses of the invisible. In it your receive a kind of 'shock and meaning.' and within you comes welling up the wonder of a love."
Brother Roger of Taizé, France.
If you are looking for an alternative to prayer, worship and hearing the word of God this is a service for you.
The service will be lead by Calvary Lutheran's song worship team: How Majestic.
The Taizé Starts at 6:45 pm. All members and friends of Calvary are welcome.
