Greetings!

Welcome to Week Four of our month of prayer and fasting. This week, we will focus on listening and talking with Jesus about the Last of St. Albert Alliance’s (StAAC’s) four growth areas: Serving Sacrificially. At StAAC, we desire to increase our capacity to experience the presence and power of Holy Spirit in every area of life. This email and the enclosed video will guide you through the fourth week of this church-wide initiative. To fully engage in this week’s activity, you will need a piece of Lego or a puzzle piece.

Philippians 2:5-8  describes the heart posture we should have for one another. Modelling our own lives after that of Jesus, we should humble ourselves as Jesus humbled himself. Jesus gave up his privilege to function as a servant of the Father, not for his benefit but for ours. This is the idea of sacrificial service, giving up our power, privilege and rights for the benefit of others without expectation of a return.

As we seek to grow in our capacity to experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives, I invite you to join me in reading and meditating on passages throughout the New Testament that remind us of Jesus’ model of humble service, and the call on each of us to serve each other humbly.

The following reading plan will guide you through these passages.

• Day 1 - Philippians 2:5-8
• Day 2 – Romans 12:3-8
• Day 3 – Matthew 20:20-28
• Day 4 – Hebrew 12:1-3
• Day 5 – 1 Peter 3:15-18

As you read and meditate on these passages, ask the following questions:

1. What does this passage reveal about Holy Spirit?
2. What does this passage reveal about my need for Holy Spirit’s presence and/or power in my life?
3. How should what I’ve read shape my prayer time today?
4. Who can I share what I’ve learned with?

After you have finished reading and meditating, spend at least 5-10 minutes in listening prayer and then move into a time of contending prayer using the prayer prompts mentioned in the video and listed below. As you begin your time of listening and contending prayer, take out your piece of Lego or puzzle piece and remember that you and your sacrificial service are a part of building something larger; it is part of revealing God’s kingdom here in St. Albert.

During the time you spend in listening prayer today, ask the Holy Spirit the following questions:

1. Who do you want me to serve sacrificially today?
2. How do you want me to serve sacrificially today?
3. What do you want me to sacrifice so I can serve those around me today?

As you pray, take time to consider the divine appointments God may have for you. It may be a specific individual, a specific place, or even a time that you feel God is calling you to be prepared for. Listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as he calls you to humble yourself and serve those around you.

Also, take time to listen for places you are already serving, where God may be calling you to take another step, to humble yourself more, or to give up something else to better serve those around you.

Pastor David

Greetings!

Welcome to Week Three of our month of prayer and fasting. This week, we will focus on listening and talking with Jesus about the third of St. Albert Alliance’s (StAAC’s) four growth areas: Multiplying Disciples. At StAAC, we desire to equip, empower, and release people to reproduce disciples, leaders, and churches. This email and the enclosed videos will guide you through the third week of this church-wide initiative. One video will introduce the prayer engagements for the week, and the other will introduce. You will need a piece of paper to fully engage in this week’s activity.

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave his disciples one more thing to do before he ascended to heaven. Jesus said to his disciples,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus’ desire for his disciples, both then and now, is that we would be disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus. Being disciples of Jesus is not a passive activity; it is not just about learning. We are to be people who learn the way of Jesus and then pass on what we have learned. It is about being sent and sending. We are to be people who are sent to constantly seek out new people, new disciples, to teach the way of Jesus. At StAAC, we desire to become a multiplying movement, which means becoming disciples who make disciples who make disciples. We are sent to make disciples, and we are to send those disciples to make disciples themselves. We are sent people who are to send others. Sent and sending is how the way of Jesus changed the world; a group of people heard Jesus say, “Go and make disciples,” and he took him seriously and made disciples who made disciples, who made disciples. I wonder if we are taking Jesus just as seriously today? Becoming a multiplying movement is about taking what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20 seriously.

As we seek to become a multiplying movement that makes disciples, I invite you to join me in reading and meditating on the following Scripture passages this week.

• Monday – Acts 1:1-11
• Tuesday – Acts 3
• Wednesday – Acts 10
• Thursday – Acts 11:19-26
• Friday – Acts 17:16-34
• Saturday -- Acts 19:1-22

As you read and meditate on these passages, ask the following questions:

1. What does this passage reveal about Jesus’ plan for spreading the Good News?
2. What do I need to do in response to Jesus’ plan for spreading the Good News?
3. Who needs to hear what I have learned about Jesus and his plan through this passage?

After reading and meditating on the Scripture passages above, spend 5-10 minutes listening to prayer. As you begin your time of listening prayer, light a candle to remind you of the tangible presence of Holy Spirit as you listen and to help you focus on listening for the Spirit’s whisper. During your listening prayer time, ask the following questions: Jesus, who are you sending me to today so I can be Good News? Then, about halfway through your time of listening to Jesus, ask this question: Jesus how can I live as a sending person today? (To understand more about these two questions, please watch the videos above)

After you’ve listened to Jesus, take some time to contend for St. Albert Alliance Church in prayer that we would become a multiplying movement, people who make disciples, who make disciples, who make disciples. Here are some things you can pray for this week:

• Pray for the leaders of our church. Pray that our leaders in every ministry will embody this goal and become equippers, empowerers, and releasers. That the multiplying movement that Jesus envisions for StAAC would begin in our leadership community.
  
  
• In prayer, commit yourself to becoming a multiplying disciple and a disciple of Jesus who makes disciples. Ask Jesus to bring to mind one person he wants you to help grow in their faith. Ask Holy Spirit to give you the courage and boldness to approach that person and ask them to walk with you as together you grow in your faith and love of Jesus.
  
  
• We want to be a church that equips, empowers and releases 1000 multiplying leaders into the capital region and beyond. Ask Jesus to help us become this. Ask Jesus to begin identifying those who will be sent. Maybe there’s a young person attending Bible College or thinking of going into vocational ministry. Pray for them that Jesus’ call on their life would be clear. Maybe there is someone in university or working in the marketplace that Jesus brings to mind because he wants them to think about going overseas to work and embody the Gospel in the marketplace in another country. Pray that that person will hear the call of Jesus to be a marketplace missionary.

One last thing you can do is find a piece of paper. Any piece will do. Because this week is about being a sent and sending person (sent to make disciples and sending others to make disciples in places you will never go) take the piece of paper and fold it into a paper airplane. Then, take that paper airplane and put it somewhere that you’ll see it throughout your day. Whenever you see your paper airplane, I want you to pray about making disciples and becoming a sent and sending person. Then, when you are done praying, give it a toss, just for fun. You’ll have to go and pick it up and bring it back to the place of prominence you keep it in so it can be a reminder later on in the day to spend more time in prayer.

May Jesus lead you and our church in becoming a movement of people who make disciples who make disciples.

Peace be with you,

Pastor Kirk

Greetings!

Welcome to Week Two of our month of prayer and fasting. This week, we will focus on listening and talking with Jesus about the second of St. Albert Alliance’s (StAAC’s) four growth areas: Growing in Community. At StAAC, we desire to create space in our lives to experience authentic relationships and grow in community. This email and the enclosed videos will guide you through the second week of this church-wide initiative. To fully engage in this week’s activity, you will need a piece of string, yarn, twine or something that can be tied into a loop.

In John 17:20-23, Jesus is praying for his disciples, both those in the room that night and us today, and he prays, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Jesus desires you and me to experience an uncommon unity, a unity in connection and a unity in mission. This uncommon unity reflects the unity of the Trinity—one God eternally united and existing and collaborating as three persons in community:  Father, Son and Spirit. As we pursue unity with each other, we fulfill the prayer of Jesus, reveal the wonder of our Triune God to each other and partner with the Spirit in expressing the love of the Father to the world.

As we seek to grow in our experience of unity and community by creating space in our lives for authentic relationships, I invite you to join me in reading and meditating on the following Scripture passages this week. Each passage reveals God’s heart for unity and community amongst his people.

• Monday – Matthew 12:46-50
• Tuesday – John 17:20-26
• Wednesday – Acts 2:42-47
• Thursday – Romans 12:3-8
• Friday – Hebrews 12:14-17
• Saturday – 1 John 4:7-21

As you read and meditate on these passages, ask the following questions:

1. What does this passage reveal about God’s plan for community?
2. Does how I live reflect God’s vision and commitment to community, as expressed in this passage?
3. What is Holy Spirit saying to me through this passage about being part of the community of St. Albert Alliance Church?
4. What do I need to do in response to what I have read?
5. Who can I share what I’ve learned with?

After reading and meditating on the Scripture passages above, spend 5-10 minutes listening to prayer. As you begin your time of listening prayer, light a candle to remind you of the tangible presence of Holy Spirit as you listen and to help you focus on listening for the Spirit’s whisper. During your listening prayer time, ask the following questions: Jesus, what would you like me to do to experience greater community today?

After you’ve listened to Jesus, take some time to contend for the community of Christ that we call St. Albert Alliance Church; intercede in prayer for the community that is your small group or the ministry you are a part of; contend for your community of friends. Here are some things you can pray for this week:

• As believers in Jesus, we are one family, but sometimes, there are differences, disagreements and disputes within families that threaten the oneness of the family. When we experience differences, disagreements, and disputes that threaten to tear our family apart, we must commit to the unity of the church and the unity of the family of God. Pray that everyone who is part of StAAC will commit themselves to the unity of the family. Commit yourself in prayer to the unity of the church. Ask Jesus to draw us together as one people, united in him and growing closer in community.
  
  
• We are to be people with a common unity around the mission of God. Will you pray for our church that we would grow in our common unity and be witnesses of Jesus everywhere we go and invite the spiritually hungry to come and see Jesus? Then, commit yourself in prayer to the common unity of the mission of God.
  
  
• Pray for your small group or the ministry you serve in. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal himself in your group and to make his presence known every time you meet so that together, you will grow to be more like Jesus.
  
  
• Lastly, pray for those who are new or not connected to community in St. Albert Alliance. Ask Holy Spirit to work in the lives of those who are not connected so that they would find acceptance, belonging and connection in the church. Then, ask Jesus what you can do to partner with the Spirit to help the unconnected find community and commit yourself in prayer to do those things.

There’s one last thing I’d like you to do this week. I’d like you to take a piece of string or a rubber band and tie it around your wrist. As you go through your day, each time you feel the string or rubber band around your wrist, take a moment and ask Holy Spirit to help you and our church family grow in unity and community.

May you experience deep fellowship with the Spirit this week. Peace be with you.

Pastor Kirk

Welcome to Week One of our month of prayer and fasting. This week, we will focus on listening and talking with Jesus about the first of St. Albert Alliance’s (StAAC’s) four growth areas: Embracing Holy Spirit. At StAAC, we desire to increase our capacity to experience the presence and power of Holy Spirit in every area of life. This email and the enclosed video will guide you through the first week of this church-wide initiative. To fully engage in this week’s activity, you will need a candle.

In John 14:15, Jesus promises that he and the Father will give his disciples, which includes you and me, a helper, an advocate, a counsellor—Holy Spirit who will be with them and help them to practice the way of Jesus forever. In Acts 1:8, Jesus makes another promise to his disciples; this time, the promise is the gift of Holy Spirit to empower them to live on mission with Jesus everywhere they go. These promises are not just for the disciples gathered at that moment; they are promises for all disciples at all times; they are promises Jesus makes to you and me. To seek the presence and power of Holy Spirit is to embrace the promises of Jesus and the gift your heavenly Father offers.

As we seek to grow in our capacity to experience the presence and power of Holy Spirit in every area of our life, I invite you to join me in reading and meditating on John 14, 15 and 16. John 14-16 are the core teachings of Jesus concerning the person, purpose and presence of Holy Spirit in our lives.

The following reading plan will guide you through the passage.

• Monday – John 14:1-13
• Tuesday – John 14:15-31
• Wednesday – John 15:1-17
• Thursday – John 15:18-26
• Friday – John 16:1-15
• Saturday – John 16:16-33

As you read and meditate on these passages, ask the following questions:

1. What does this passage reveal about Holy Spirit?
2. What does this passage reveal about my need for Holy Spirit’s presence and/or power in my life?
3. How should what I’ve read shape my prayer time today?
4. Who can I share what I’ve learned with?

After you have finished reading and meditating spend at least 5-10 minutes in listening prayer and then move into a time of contending prayer using the prayer prompts mentioned in the video and listed below. As you begin your time of listening and contending prayer, light a candle to remind you of the tangible presence of Holy Spirit and to help you refocus your attention when you become distracted. Depending on the size of your candle, you could keep the candle lit all week to continually remind yourself of Holy Spirit’s presence throughout your day.

During the time you spend in listening prayer today, ask Holy Spirit the following questions:

1. What do you want me to know today?
2. What do you want me to do today?

Write down whatever you hear. Holy Spirit could bring a Bible verse, phrase, or word to mind. Holy Spirit could cause you to see an image or a picture. Holy Spirit will speak in a way that fits with who you are and is easily recognizable to you as his voice. Share with a friend what Holy Spirit said to you at some point during the day.

During the time you spend in contending prayer (speaking with Holy Spirit about what is on your heart and mind), let the following prompts guide you as you pray. As a church, we desire to see Holy Spirit transform people’s lives through his presence and power. We have a goal of celebrating 5000 stories of life transformation by 2030. As you pray this week,

1. Ask Holy Spirit to transform the areas of your life where you are struggling, experiencing conflict or difficulties. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal himself in your life and fill you a fresh with his presence.
2. Ask Holy Spirit to bring to mind a person who needs to encounter the presence and power of the Spirit. Pray that this person will become open to the Spirit, be drawn close to Jesus, and experience the transforming work of the Spirit in their life.
3. Ask Holy Spirit to be tangibly present in our church—in our children, teens and adults. Ask the Spirit to fill our elders, pastors and staff a fresh with his presence, wisdom and power as they lead the church in 2025. Ask Holy Spirit to lead us into seeing and celebrating 5000 stories of life transformation by 2030.

This week, open yourself to the personal presence of Holy Spirit in your life and ask him to transform you and the lives of the people around you.

May you experience deep fellowship with the Spirit this week. Peace be with you.