#pledge2pray - Thy Kingdom Come
“If you want to change and if you want the world to change… Pray”
Presiding Bishop
Michael Curry
Today, on Ascension Day, the Anglican Communion and the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) invite people around the world to participate in Thy Kingdom Come and to #pledge2pray, specifically over the next 11 days until Pentecost. Why? Because, in the words of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, “If you want to change, and if you want the world to change…Pray.”
#AdventWord
I have a special affection for the SSJE because of #AdventWord, a participatory global Advent calendar. Three years ago, #Adventword gave me my first glimmer of understanding of the power of digital ministry. #AdventWord shifted my paradigm, helping me to recognize that the virtual space could be used to build authentic relationships and engagement, rather than merely serve as broadcast channel for resources, formulaic prayers, and sermons (not that these aren’t all good uses!). Since then, I’ve participated in #Adventword, sharing my prayers with people of faith around the world, each of us responding uniquely to the word prompt of the day, sharing a bit of our soul. The power of being part of something so personal yet so global is indescribable, and I truly think it makes manifest that little spark of the divine that lives in each one of us.
#prayersof
Likewise, another SSJE initiative, the #prayersof campaign in which Episcopalians were invited to submit prayers that were then included in the daily prayers of General Convention, gave me and so many others a sense of being part of the historic proceedings that elected Presiding Bishop Curry. In no small way that virtual connection emboldened me to stand for election as a Deputy to General Convention – and in 2018, I will humbly and joyfully represent the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Woohoo!
Prayer, whether in the digital space, in private contemplation, or offered communally, has the power to change lives. To change the world.
Today, I invite you and your congregation to participate in Thy Kingdom Come, and to #pledge2pray using the many resources offered here. In a hurting and broken world, we are in need of transformative change. As much as we need to think, write, speak, and roll up our sleeves, all of these actions are infinitely enriched and enhanced when substantiated with prayer.
I hope you participate, and I hope you find palpable joy, peace, and purpose in doing so. And specifically check out the Facilitator's Guide for teaching the 11 types of prayers included in Thy Kingdom Come - I am pleased to have contributed to its creation!
- Lisa Brown, Director of Digital Ministry
Our goal at Membership Vision is to help churches and other faith communities to tell their stories in the digital space. Each church, irrespective of size, has a living and active story to tell, and technology provides an opportunity to share that story in a way that is welcoming and engaging. We ease the burden of keeping communications current, by leveraging content, and harnessing the many ways that members of our communities connect with each other, both inside and outside of the church walls. We aim to remove technological hurdles and allow churches to communicate online in an effective and sustainable way. Contact us at connect@membershipvision.org or call (805) 626-0143 to talk about the ways we can help your church build a digital presence.