Dear Bearcreekians,

I invite you to pray and fast with me. This invitation is an answer to prayer. God told me to stop talking and to listen. So that is what I am going to do. In worship this Sunday I will invite you to join me.

Why am I doing this? I previously told you about the Four Efforts we are making at Bear Creek. We want to be better at worship, at Children’s Ministries, at the “E” word (evangelism) and at getting the word out of God’s love lived at Bear Creek (marketing). Four teams have been assembled to lead us.

But there is a new twist. Instead of our usual Type A Bearcreekian behavior of problem solving and action plans, we are first seeking God’s guidance. It is the habit of many good folks to give a nod to God in prayer and then do what they think. I have asked the Four Teams not to take big actions or set big directions yet. I have asked to them to study their area and to pray for guidance. The next few months are to be listening time, or a Time of Discernment. I was praying about how I might best assist them in their discernment and God said to stop talking so much. God said to pray and fast for the people of Bear Creek that we might discern His way for them.

So this Sunday I am beginning the spiritual discipline of prayer for Bear Creek’s discernment, and fasting to join with God’s mercies and sacrifices in Jesus that I might be open to the Holy Spirit. I will daily pray for the Four Teams, for their discernment and my faithful service to them and to you.

And I will fast. I will eat Tuesday supper, skip Wednesday breakfast and lunch, and then eat again Wednesday evening at the Midweek@Bearcreek supper. I do this to be in solidarity with Jesus as he makes sacrifices for us, and I do it to be in solidarity with those who are hungry in body and soul so that I am taking action to be open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

I am inviting you to join me. This is not a program from any committee or publishing house. I don’t know the results and I don’t know how long it will take. I just know that if we discern the resources and will of God among us for the Four Efforts, then as a God-centered community we would be best served by a Time of Discernment.

The folks with whom I have consulted to make sure my hearing is not impaired have advised me that you will have lots of questions, especially around fasting. I have made a little booklet to guide us and that will be on the welcome table. And I welcome you to ask me whatever you will.

Remember this is not a program we have adopted at Bear Creek. It is simply my invitation to join me in a Time of Discernment.

Shalom,
Dave O