Dear First Pres,
   One of the priorities of our Session (elder board) for this year is that we would grow in the area of Preemptive Prayer. As I've said before, preemptive prayer is kingdom-minded, mission-minded prayer that lifts up the ministries of the church ahead of the ministry activity. It's prayer like Jesus told the 72 sent-ones to pray in Luke 10:2 - "the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." 
   One of the regular and primary opportunities to join with others in that kind of prayer is on Friday mornings from 6:30 - 7:15 am in The Commons. I really encourage you to join me at this time. The group has doubled in size over the last several weeks, but there is still plenty of room for you.
   But now, Chester Goodale, our Deacon leading the FPC Prayer Team, is launching another opportunity for corporate prayer. For 3 Sundays, starting this Sunday morning, there are going to be prayer opportunities before each worship service. For many years, there have been members of our church praying during both worship services in the Prayer Room (through the door at the front of the Sanctuary on the pulpit side). Now we're going to expand that to include a short prayer gathering in the Prayer Room before each service. The first gathering will be from 7:45 - 8:15 am and the second gathering will be from 10:25 - 10:50 am. If you'd like to join with others in prayer for our church's mission and ministry, please feel free to come this Sunday and/or October 8th or 15th.
   I also want to encourage any of you who are meeting in smaller groups during the week. Whether you're here for WednesdayNights@FPC or you have another group that you regularly meet during the week, please consider adding preemptive prayer to your regularly scheduled activities. Take time to pray for the upcoming worship services and ministry activities. And pray for the congregation as we seek to live our everyday lives on mission with Jesus.
   The more we pray like this, the more God will align our hearts with the work He wants to do for redeeming transformation in our city and world. There is no greater joy than joining God in that redeeming work.

Blessings,
Jeremy