“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together” (Ps 34:3 NIV). Prayer in the Park is an opportunity for all Christians in Waterloo Region to connect in one place and seek the Lord together. For in Christ, we form one body (Rom 12:5). Come and seek the Lord for renewal in the church and the inhabitation of God’s Spirit in our Region. Please join us at Prayer in the Park and together we will “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name” (Ps 29:2 NIV) and “Look to the Lord and His strength” (1 Chr 16:11 NIV).
Prayer in the Park is a joint initiative for all Christians in Waterloo Region, because we are one. Jesus prayed for us saying, “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” (John 17:22, 23). Our unity impacts the world for God’s glory!
The vision for Prayer in the Park came out of a reflection on King Hezekiah and the passover celebration he initiated in his first year as king. Hezekiah was a king like no other in Judah, because his heart was fully devoted to God. He called all of God’s people to come together in unity and they celebrated the God of heaven with great joy. We read that nothing like this had happened since the days of Solomon when God’s glory descended on the temple.
Prayer in the Park was started as a response to the question, what would it look like for us in Waterloo Region to come together in unity like never before? When Hezekiah and the people celebrated, it says, “the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 30:12). Our prayer is that the hand of God will be on the Churches of Waterloo Region to give us unity of mind to carry out the word of the Lord here in Waterloo Region.
Throughout Hezekiah’s reign, God was powerfully at work and showing all people that He alone is God and with Him all things are possible. Their hearts were devoted to Him and He responded by protecting them from the vast Assyrian army who had conquered all the other kingdoms surrounding Judah. God even responded to Hezekiah’s prayer and made the earth spin in the opposite direction to move the shadow backwards on the steps. May His power be at work here, as it was in the days of Hezekiah.
Let us assemble together in response to Joel 2:15, ”Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.” Our prayer is that God’s presence will be experienced in an awe-inspiring, powerful way in our midst, both at Prayer in the Park, and as we go forth and serve God in Waterloo Region through the works of service we are equipped to do (Ephesians 4:12). We pray that times of refreshing will come on the Church of Waterloo Region, that God will show His power and glory here. We pray “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you” (Ephesians 1:18).
God’s call to draw His people together is clear throughout the Bible. We see it through the feasts, sacred assemblies, and times of renewal, even in the early church. Prayer in the Park is about unity in the church. However, an annual event is not unity. Connecting in one place encourages us to make every effort to keep the unity we already have in the Spirit, and then walk and live in that unity. Drawing together refreshes us and renews and reminds us of God’s presence with us and that we are all part of the body of Christ. Jesus said, “How I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Matthew 23:37). Christ longs to gather us and God is honoured when when come together as one, so please join us for Prayer in the Park.
What if there was a movement to change Waterloo Region beginning with prayer? Be part of the experiment and let’s find out!
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor 13:14).