How do you measure the impact of a Revival?
Is it to be seen
in the seventy-five professions of commitment to God which have been written on
the fabric tiles we are taking around the Diocese? Each commitment is an object for prayer as we
carry the tiles to the next venue, culminating in a full offering to God at the
Diocesan Convention Eucharist in October. Is it in the shared testimonies on
Facebook? In many ways I think such
measuring is out of line. What I am aware of is that God has been visiting us in
so many different ways, and that each time has manifest a holiness of its own
that defies our description. There was a reason why the name of God is
sacrosanct in Hebraic tradition. And we are getting to understand as we
participate in the various Revival 2017 gatherings.
It is sufficient to be able to give thanks to God for the
continuous blessing of God’s presence as we gather. This blessing has a
different appearance in the varied congregational sites. And of course, the
true manifestation may be years from now when it is certainly my prayer that we
will hear people refer to seeing God at work in their lives stemming back from
Revival 2017.
On March 5th, we concluded the first phase of
Revival 2017. In basic terms, it is eight down and thirty two to go! Already
the core team has been given new insights as to what to expect and present.
Prayer stations have become increasingly creative – offering alongside prayers
for healing and discernment, and the one on one baptismal renewals, new
stations for reflection in journaling or conversation, or even prayer coloring
which seems like an activity similar in terms of its centering properties to
the Anglican rosary. In the early weekends, we have been seeing visitors from
other churches wanting to get a sense of what to expect. One such visitor
suggested that we invite people to a fuller life in the Spirit, and so we have
developed a station of prayer “for a closer walk with God”. This has turned
into powerfully deep conversation about our life in God, culminating in prayer.
We know that music is a key, though God showed us at the
first evening in Durant that acapella music can inspire and be a source of
praise. We are grateful for the musicians who have joined with us in the
planning of music. Though we have sought to develop a song book, Ottumwa and
Chariton proved to us how uplifting well tested hymns such as “Holy, holy,
holy” and “Tell out my soul” can be alongside old chestnuts like “How great
Thou art.” In Bettendorf it was Taize chants that held our attention in prayer
and praise.
It is wonderful to see congregations preparing to make their
Revival 2017 evening their own. This month we hear that St Paul’s Indian
Mission will host the Siouxland congregations on Saturday afternoon. They are
planning prayers and testimony according to their native culture, including the
importance of extending hospitality to all who come. St Paul’s Grinnell has a
local band on tap; St Stephen’s Newton has created their own prayer station
emphases to accompany what the core team might set up.
God is sovereign over Revival – those were the words of
Bishop Peni to us at Convention. We pray to not get in God’s way. These are
different and testing days as a people of faith. God is stirring the baptismal
waters. Revivals often are vehicles for God to equip new leaders for new times,
as well as bring all of us closer to the Spirit. My prayer is that we become
more determined followers of Jesus – and in the words of the Jesus Movement
that the Presiding Bishop proclaims- this means “following Jesus into a loving,
liberating, life-giving relationship with God, with each other and with the
earth”. The journey has just begun. What more has God got in store for us. Be
not afraid for, as promised, He is with us.
+Alan
