So lets all gather at our house on Sunday!   Service will begin at 10:30 a.m. but feel free to stop by from 10:15 a.m. for fresh Bagels and Coffee.

Thanks
Stephen

Prayer alone conquers God

If you ever wonder whether it is worthwhile praying, and whether it makes any difference, here is a bit of early Christian theology that might help. Tertullian was a Latin-speaking theologian of the C2nd with an ear for a good phrase and a great delight in shocking people. How about this:

“Prayer alone conquers God. But Christ has no desire that it should do any evil deed; he has conferred upon it every power of doing good. Therefore it knows only how to call back the souls of the departed from the journey of death itself, to strengthen the weak, to restore the sick, to cleanse the possessed, to open the doors of prison, to loosen the chains for the innocent. The same prayer absolves sins, repels temptations, puts down persecutions, strengthens the weak-hearted, delights the high-minded, leads wanderers home, soothes the waves, confounds robbers, feeds the poor, governs the rich, lifts up the fallen, supports the unsteady, holds firm those who stand. Prayer is the buttress of faith, our armour and weaponry against the enemy that watches us from every side. So let us never set out unarmed. Let us remember the station (times of fasting) by day and the vigil by night. Let us guard the standard of our emperor armed with prayer, awaiting the trumpet of the angel while we pray. Indeed, every angel prays, every creature. The herds and the wild beasts pray and bend their knees, coming forth from byres and dens looking to heaven, giving movement to the spirit after their fashion with animated mouths. And even now the birds arise, lifting themselves to heaven, spreading out their wings like a cross whilst uttering what appears to be a prayer. What more can be said on the duty of prayer? Even the Lord himself prayed, and to him be honour and might for ever and ever.”

I don’t know many theologians who would dare the phrase ‘Prayer alone conquers God’. It is striking how these early Christians believed that the way in which God’s will works out in the world might be changed by our prayers, that he chooses to unite his work in the world to the prayers of his people, that he recreates the world at least in part through the prayers of the church. I can usually see how my work for God might contribute to his purposes in the world. I see less clearly how my prayers do exactly the same. I would be ashamed if I didn’t turn up to work for the wider purposes of God’s kingdom, but am I similarly ashamed if I don’t perform the other part allotted to me - to pray, along with the whole creation, that God would “strengthen the weak, to restore the sick, to cleanse the possessed, to open the doors of prison, to loosen the chains for the innocent?”

I have been putting links to the blogs on our Facebook Fan Page and the Long Hill Website, please have a look.

Thanks
Stephen

Please join us for our next course beginning Wednesday, June 1st at 7:15 p.m., where we will explore the question “Is There More to Life than This?” through the Alpha Course. This is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions. Every evening we begin with dinner, followed by a short talk. Then over coffee and dessert we discuss the talk along with any and all questions that you might have.

The Alpha course is designed both for people who aren’t churchgoers and and those that are. Guests attend for a wide variety of reasons - some want to investigate whether God exists; some are concerned about what happens after death and others want to get more connected to their faith. Some people have particular questions that they would like to discuss; others want to understand other peoples’ beliefs or would like to explore what the purpose of life is. Many guests have never been to church, others may have attended church occasionally but feel they have never really understood the basics of the Christian faith and even for those who have been to Church for a number of years have found the course to be a great way of deepening their faith and becoming more connected. Please  email us for locations details and to register.

In the mean time, check out the video below and read the biographies on the three people featured, Linvoy Primus (Premier League Soccer player), Bear Grylls (Adventurer and presenter of Man vs. Wild) and Kim Johnson (Model).

And if you had the chance, what are the questions that you would have of God?   We want to connect with people, get the chance to talk with them about these questions, their views and their ideas, and share some of our own.   The Alpha Course (startingJune 1st) is a great opportunity to explore these questions, as outlined in this video.

The main event of the conference will be Project Experience, a guided walk-through exhibit showing the many issues our missionaries encounter on the field, as well as the ministries we support both globally and locally. We believe God is going to speak powerfully through this experience and look forward to it with great anticipation. Unlike ever before, the conference will provide a hands-on connection to our local and world-wide partnerships.

We encourage you to participate in one or more events during Missions Week, March 12 - 21. Please see the schedule below for events and times when you can hear from and interact with our speakers and missionary guests and tour Project Experience. For more details pertaining to LHCyouth.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 12

• First Choice Women’s Resource Center - 9:00 am, leave from LHC
  ~ Space limited. Contact Ruthann Wichelman, 973-635-5303

Sunday, March 13

• LHC Worship Services - 9:00 & 10:30 am, Sanctuary
  ~ Bill, Director - Marketplace
  
• Project Experience (Guided Tours) - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Webber Hall
• LHC Adults - 10:30 am, Fellowship Hall
  ~ Austin & Darcy Bonds, NYC Relief
  ~ Ron Schober, Goodwill Rescue Mission

Monday, March 14

• Prime Timer’s Missions Luncheon - 12:00 Noon, Fellowship Hall
• Project Experience (Guided Tours) - 2:00 - 8:00 pm, Webber Hall

Tuesday, March 15

• Project Experience (Guided Tours) - 9:30 - 11:30 am & 4:00 - 9:00 pm, Webber Hall

Wednesday, March 16

• Project Experience (Guided Tours) - 4:00 - 7:00 pm, Webber Hall
• Prayer w/ LHC Missionaries - 7:00 pm, Fellowship Hall
• Project Experience (Guided Tours) - 8:30 - 9:30 pm, Webber Hall

Thursday, March 17

• Women’s Missions Brunch - 9:30 am, Fellowship Hall
  ~ Michelle DiSarno
• Project Experience (Guided Tours) - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm & 4:00 - 9:00 pm, Webber Hall

Friday, March 18

• Project Experience (Guided Tours) - 4:00 - 9:00 pm, Webber Hall

Saturday, March 19

• Project Experience (Guided Tours) - 10:00 am - 9:00 pm, Webber Hall

Sunday, March 20

• LHC Worship Services - 9:00 & 10:30 am, Sanctuary
  ~ David Dunbar, President, Biblical Seminary
• Project Experience (No Guided Tours) - Exhibit Open, Webber Hall
• Closing Meal Experience - Following the 10:30 am service, Webber Hall
  ~ Like Project Experience, we will end with an interactive opportunity to hear what God has been speaking to us as individuals and as a church. You won’t want to miss this time of prayer, sharing and worship!

We change lunch venues so please check with Sarah (email here) if you would like to come, so she can let you know where we are meeting.

All you need to do is to arrive and be ready to read the passage of the day and then reflect on the following questions:

• What did you like about what we just read?
• What didn’t you like?
• Was there anything you didn’t understand?
• What did you learn about God?
• Regardless of where your faith is right now, if you were to apply what we learned about God to something in your life this week, what would that look like?

Hope to see you there.

Sarah & Stephen