43
Global Day of Prayer set for Sunday
By LINDA M. LINONIS
cortland
Dan Barker, pastor of Cortland Trinity Baptist Church, envisions Sunday’s Global Day of Prayer as an activity of self-reflection that has the potential to impact communities and nations.
“The Bible is clear ... God hears and answers prayers,” Pastor Barker said. But, he cautioned, “going through the motions” of prayer won’t work. “God is the solution,” he said.
The pastor said people must examine their lives, acknowledging whether they work toward solving a problem or contributing to it. “It crosses denominational lines ... as we all can impact the future,” he said.
Pastor Barker said a rallying Bible passage about how prayer will help improve everything from the economy to social problems is from 2Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
“God should be first in our lives,” he said, adding that when we have God in our hearts and seek his presence, then other things fall into place.
Cortland Trinity Baptist Church, 2576 McCleary Jacoby Road, will have a special prayer service from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, which is Pentecost.
The church has observed a 10-day period of prayer leading up to Sunday’s service.
The pastor said he learned about a website, www.waymaker.org, that offers various prayer guides.
The church began using such a guide on June 2, Ascension Day.
Pastor Barker said that prayer idea was similar to the 40 days of prayer during Lent and leading to Palm Sunday.
He said the Lord’s Prayer, a central prayer among Christians, is at the heart of the prayer movement. It acknowledges the power of God “on earth as it is in heaven,” asks for sustenance, “give us this day our daily bread” and notes the importance of forgiveness in “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.”
At Global Day of Prayer services, “A Prayer for the World,” will be recited.
It notes God as the creator and us as his children, that the world is “gripped by the power of sin” and asks for the transforming power of God’s love to be in our hearts.
Visit www.gdopusa.com for more information.