Fourteen Local Churches Host The First-Ever New Year’s Day Unity Service.  The Cambridge Unity Sunday Morning Service, sponsored by churches in Cambridge, marks the first time in the city’s history that fourteen different congregations representing various Christian denominations will come together for a single Sunday morning worship service. The event will take place on Sunday, January 1 at the historic First Baptist Church, 5 Magazine Street Cambridge, MA, and will begin at 11 a.m.

This service marks an important step not only for the congregations involved, but also for the neighborhoods they serve. Pastors, individual church members and welcomed guests will be setting aside more than just denominational differences during this time; they will also set aside race, class, ethnic and age differences toward the common purpose of uniting the body of Jesus Christ. “Revival cannot come, until the church is one,” says Bishop Brian Greene, pastor of Pentecostal Tabernacle and a member of the organizing committee. While many people hope to begin the New Year with renewed promises and goals, one community in Cambridge is not waiting too long into 2012 to begin making its resolutions a reality.

In a city that is traditionally known for its intellectual institutions and high real-estate market, the sponsoring churches hope to put Cambridge on the map for a new thing, which is putting the unity back into community. In a social and political climate in which every issue seems to be polarizing, this service is aimed at bringing people together initially for Sunday morning service. Eventually, it will act as a gateway for addressing social issues that collectively affect the church and individual communities such as poverty, faith and family.

“This is above and beyond what any of us could have dreamed even a year ago,” says Greene. Thus, while the service may be a first, it follows in the wake of many years of prayer and partnership among the participating congregations. 

In addition to a full Sunday service including a worship band, an inspirational message and communion, the morning will conclude with a prayer of blessing for each person for the New Year, as well as refreshments following the service. For more information on this event please visit www.ptspice.org. 

Participating Congregations:
A Place to Heal Ministries
Abundant Life Church
Calvary Praise & Worship Center
Cambridge Community Fellowship Church
Cambridge First Church of the Nazarene
Cambridgeport Baptist Church
Christian Mission Holiness Church
First Baptist Church
First Holiness Church
Journey Church
Pentecostal Tabernacle
RUSH Memorial AME Zion Church
Spirit of Power Living Word Ministries International
Union Baptist Church

Speaker: Reverend Lawrence A. Ward, Senior Pastor, Abundant Life Church
Worship Director: Austin Marks, Pentecostal Tabernacle
Communion Service: Pastors of Cambridge
New Year’s Day Prayer/Blessing: Pastors of Cambridge

By Rebecca Nelson of Fenway Church

 

As we celebrate the gift of God’s Son at Fenway Church this season, we are reminded that God came into our world to be present with us.  Thus, we want to serve and be especially present among our neighbors, friends, and those in need this season.  Our community groups have mobilized to demonstrate the love and hope that the story of Christmas represents to the communities around us. 

Community groups served the city by delivering presents to children whose parents were in prison, making blankets for homeless veterans, and hosting dinners for neighbors.  

 One night, I was in a group that packed bags of stuff for homeless people around Back Bay (granola bars, pen, flashlight, socks, gloves, hand warmers, paper, etc..).

As we did “listening prayer” and asked God where we should go, I saw a picture of the steps of Trinity church.

We were led to pray that “God would reach someone whose family has been praying for them, and who seems like the last person who might come into God’s family”. It was a prayer for lost sheep, especially those who no one really believed could return to God.

Off we went.

We went to the church and didn’t see anyone who needed one of the bags we had prepared. But when we walked around the side of the church and there was a man kneeling in prayer and another man standing nearby. As we had prayed in the apartment, “Johnny” had been praying outside. While two others prayed for his friend’s knee, I sat on the ground and talked with Johnny. He recently left a halfway house where he was required to stay after a jail sentence. In the bitter cold, we talked for quite a while and he told me all about his family, his father and sister who love Jesus and pray for him. We prayed and he promised with much sincerity to come to church Sunday if we’d get him from Copley. 

Lost sheep at the church, just like God said.

When we returned to warm up and debrief, we found that the 3 other groups also had successful evenings. They prayed for a blind man to receive sight (we are still looking for him to see if it has happened), they felt great boldness, much more than usual, an answer to prayer. Even those who had never done this kind of thing were deeply encouraged and used by God.

When we returned Sunday with a car to get Johnny, he was nowhere to be found. I checked Finagle a Bagel, Burger King and all the surrounding stores, and he was gone. He had been so excited for church! We prayed for him together, that he would know we looked for him, and went to “friend Sunday” at Fenway Church.

Towards the close of service, who walked in but Johnny? First this shaking, weak man took a guitar and played a beautiful song of praise to God. Then, we prayed for him to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to turn and live a holy life, and he laughed with joy as we closed the prayer.

He got a warm meal, lots of cookies and a hot shower with men from our church. And when I checked my email late last night, I found that Johnny was spending a few nights off the streets with a church member who had offered a spare room.

Today I am thankful for our church family, God’s guidance, and his love for every single person in Boston.

For more information on Fenway Church visit www.fenwaychurch.org 

by Megan Footit

The Greater Boston One-Day Prayer Summit is an event that unites ministers across denominational and cultural lines to worship God, seek his face and develop the relationships that foster functional unity throughout the city. The Summit does not have a set schedule or agenda, but centers around times of corporate prayer and worship. It is through this experiences that genuine community is fostered and people encounter the almighty God.  

             It was a Tuesday afternoon, one month before the Summit, when the planning team sat around a table, considering what theme the Lord would have us use to guide our corporate worship. As we sought God’s guidance, “harvest” came to mind. The word was not spoken again until the day of the summit, when one minister, deep in prayer, asked the Lord that we see his work be done. In following sessions the theme of harvest emerged, not by the direction of the leadership, but the movement of God’s spirit. Scriptures such as Luke 10:2 and 2 Kings 6:17 were spoken, encouraging us to reap the harvest that is here and walk in the victory the Lord has given us.

            In the hours that followed, ministers wrested with these words, examined their hearts, and received instructions on how to prepare for the harvest. The reality is that we’ve heard about God’s harvest over and over again, at times, it would seem, to no avail. As the call was made, some responded with enthusiasm, others wondered if it would be the same hype and disappointment they’ve experienced, all over again.  Despite initial reactions, people were drawn into times of self-reflection and prayer, where God worked on our hearts and prepared us for the next season. In such times, themes of grace arose, reminding us that whatever is accomplished is only because of what God has done. People were encouraged to have faith, and believe that God is faithful to his promises. Bishop Thompson encouraged people to proclaim or, “speak the same things” as God so we could see his will be accomplished on Earth. Times of extended fellowship and small group prayer also ministered to leaders needs and helped bring healing and encouragement. It would seem, as one minister commented, God was doing a work in us, so he could do a work through us, and lead our congregations and communities in the work of the Lord.

            If God is preparing us to reap a harvest, the question becomes, how must we change our relationship with the Body in order to accommodate the harvest to come? What if God really was to bless our city in a way no single church or denomination could contain? Would we be ready for it? As we continued to seek God’s heart, it was suggested that we be intentional about looking beyond our usual points of connection and spheres of influence.  We were encouraged to humble ourselves and commit to working together with those different from us unto something greater than ourselves. Though this is just a starting point, and much hard and rigorous work must be done, it was encouraging to see the Lord preparing people’s hearts, and in doing so, calling us unto unity.

For more information about the Greater Boston Minister’s Prayer Summit, upcoming events, or prayer groups throughout the city of Boston please visit our website at www.bostonprayersummit.org. 

Have you visited the UniteBoston forums lately?  New volunteer opportunities are posted everyday. Here are some highlights, for all the important details visit uniteboston.com

Mentors in Dorchester: The mission of Quincy Street Missional Church is "To develop leaders within the Quincy Street community who passionately follow Christ and live out God’s mercy and justice for the poor. We believe in the strength of a community and growing, suffering, and striving together. We are a unique program in that many of our mentors and children have come to feel more like family.“  Quincy Street Missional Church has been running a tutoring program for four years out of their home after finding a lack of resources in their community. Currently serving 30-35 children/youth in the community, they are in need of more qualified tutors to work with children ages 6-10 for 1-2 hours weekly for up to 6-12 months. 

New England Sarau: New England Sarau is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to support the community revitalization plans in the varies areas: Education, Social Services, Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Media/Communication, Technology, Spiritual and others. Current needs include: teacher’s assistants/tutors for Adult English Class (Beginners ESOL) Beginners music class (drums & piano)

Making Roots: Making Roots is a faith-based organization that functions through the local church with the purpose to see holistic transformation in the lives of Haitian people through sustainable relationships that serve and empower them. Through 180 Degrees Church in Myrtle Beach, SC, Making Roots– started by Leah Beidler and Caitlin Beidler in 2006– works towards this mission through Camp Hope, Redemption Art, Planting Project, and Mercy Relief in Northwest Haiti and Cite Soleil, Haiti.  Seeking volunteers to fundraise, network, market and support the long-term vision of building a home for boys living on the streets.

Emmanuel Gospel Center: The mission of the Emmanuel Gospel Center (EGC) is to understand and help nurture the vitality of the church in the context of the broader urban community, particularly in Boston’s low income and immigrant communities where the work of the church is so critical. Intercultural Ministries (IM) focus on connecting the Body of Christ across cultural lines to express and advance the Kingdom of God in the city, region, and world.  2 unpaid Intern/Volunteer Opportunities: Intercultural Ministries: New England’s Book of Acts Research Associate & Intercultural Ministries: Administrative Assistant

Samaritans Suicide HelpLine: Opened and operating since 1974, Samaritans is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of suicide in the community by alleviating despair, isolation and suicidal feelings. We do this through services that emphasize compassionate, empathetic, and non-judgmental listening. Their most widely known service is a 24 hour, 7 day a week helpline. The helpline provides unconditional and non-judgmental support to those who are alone, depressed or in crisis. Whatever the challenge or struggle, anyone who is suffering can find a caring, empathetic ear at Samaritans. This service is free, confidential and anonymous. Seeking volunteers from teens to older adults, who are ready and willing to answer a call and compassionately listen to someone in need. "Having more volunteers allows us to not only connect with more people in need, but to save more lives.”

UniteBoston: Do you have at least one hour a month to help better connect the Christian community in Greater Boston? We always welcome new volunteers to help better unite Christians through shared experiences. Volunteers are key to our success and gain valuable real-world experience while helping us achieve our goals.  The time commitment to volunteer is as much (or as little) as your schedule allows. Seeking a variety of volunteer skills and interests including: social media savvy, fundraising, grant writing, event promotion, internet research, newsletter editing, website updating, web development and more.  Tell us your interests and we’ll help you find the best way to get involved.  Click here for our volunteer questionnaire.