You know the verse (and have feelings about the song). Paul asks God to strengthen believers in Ephesus by the Spirit, give them power to grasp the scope of Christ’s love and be filled with the fullness of God. Then his prayer turns to praise: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” (Eph. 3:20)
I am startled by what comes next. Paul’s prayer/doxology ends with the ultimate hope that God would be glorified “throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Here’s the surprising part: On par with the glory due to God for all he has done in Christ is the glory awaiting God for all he will do “in the church” (3:21).
I can wrap my head around why God should receive glory (i.e. praise or renown) in Christ. But the church? People like you and me? Churches like Church of the Apostles? The matter-of-fact equivalency Paul draws between God’s flawless Son and all-too-flawed people serves as a powerful reminder of the inseparable bond between Christ and the Church - God counts us as one, as it were, like a husband and wife. It’s also an invitation to boldly dream about all the good God wants to do through us.
Over the last few months, a team from Apostles at large has joined the staff and Leadership Council (LC) in a series of conversations about our identity and purpose as a congregation. This spring we’ll be sharing our sense of what God is calling (and/or reminding) us to be and do over the next decade. However, before we wrap up this stage of the planning process, I want us to come together into the presence of God to “ask and imagine” what that future might be.
Would you please make every effort to attend this prayer event on
Wednesday (1/12) from 7-8:15 pm?
Here’s the plan. We’ll start in the sanctuary for about 20 minutes of worship. We’ll then spend 30 minutes praying for the key ministry areas that comprise our church: worship, next gen (children and students), discipleship, missions, and our presence in the North Hills. We’re going to set up stations that represent these areas in order to give you the opportunity to record what you’re “asking and imagining” for them. We’ll close with some more worship and a concentrated time of prayer for the LC, staff, and members of the planning team. I hope to see you there!
Praying alongside you,
Nick
