Feasting on the Word

Prayer and Fasting for the EYN (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria)

Many in the Church of the Brethren are preparing to participate in a Prayer and Fasting week for Nigeria.  The Hagerstown Church of the Brethren is also participating in this week and we have developed a guide to help us focus our prayer time.  

Here is an excerpt from the Church of the Brethren resolution past at the 2014 Annual Conference which gives some background for the situation in Nigeria and the Church of the Brethren's understanding of fasting.

“Grieving with each new word from Nigeria, we as the Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren resolve to walk with our sisters and brothers in Christ by entering a season of fasting and prayer. We commit ourselves to the practices of lament, prayer, fasting, and bearing witness 

“In lament we turn to the rich tradition of our faith witness to by the Psalms. We bring to God the realities of evil and violence, knowing that they bear no resemblance to the ways of God.

“In prayer we intercede for our sisters and brothers, asking God for protection, justice, and communities, seeking to embody the peace so graciously given through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the one who calls us to ‘love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44). Thus, we pray also for the perpetrators of violence, for the softening of hearts and for right relationships among neighbors.

“In fasting we let go of a little in order to accompany those who are losing so much, and stand before God with them. We name our longing for the day when life overcomes death, justice and peace meet, and love drives out fear.

“In bearing witness we share the stories of our sisters and brothers, bringing atrocities to light, confident in our faith that the Good News of Jesus Christ is indeed light in a world covered in darkness.”

~ A Resolute Fast and Fervent Prayer: A Resolution Responding to Violence in Nigeria passed by the 2014 Annual Conference delegate body.

 Below is a schedule of scriptures that we are using at the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren in this time of prayer and fasting!  Feel free to use this as a guide too if you would like to join in prayer.  

August 17 - Fasting 

Esther 3:13- 5:8

August 18 - Power of Prayer

James 5:13-18

August 19 - Suffering

2 Corinthians 4: 7-18

August 20 - Lament

Psalm 44

August 21 - Solidarity

John 17: 20-26

Ephesians 4: 1-6

August 22 - Love of enemies

Matthew 5: 38-48

August 23 - Hope

Romans 12: 9-21