Weeks 9 & 10: Our Covenant With Christ to Pray for Centennial Covenant

December 27-January 9 (Note: this guide is for use over 2 weeks.)

Let’s use the next two weeks in our praying for Centennial to look back on 2011 and look ahead to 2012.  “My times are in your hands” is what we can pray with David (Psalm 31:15). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) is the great reality we can dwell in as we remember and reflect, as we anticipate and plan.

• What about the last 365 or so “yesterdays” for yourself and especially our church family? How do you see that time as “in God’s hands”? At a year’s end, I myself find it helpful to set aside time with God to do a review of events, blessings, disruptions, and connections – letting it stir thanksgiving, confession and lessons. 
• What about the next 365 or so days into “forever” for yourself and especially our church family? I’m not sure “resolutions” on their own get us very far. But what hopes and plans, desires and fears for 2012 would you submit to God, asking that his Spirit fill you and us together?

For both looking back on 2011 and ahead to 2012, take some time with the “Covenant with Christ for Centennial Covenant” that many of us entered in October. Here it is:

To glorify God by following Jesus on our shared journey of transformation in his mission to our broken world…

1. I will PURSUE GROWTH WITH CHRIST in my relationship with God as he reveals himself in his Word, gives himself in his Spirit, and draws me more into his love and life.
2. I will PRAY for Centennial Covenant at least weekly.
3. I will CONNECT regularly in at least one “face-to-face” group of 2-20 for our shared journeys and mission with Christ (e.g. mentoring relationship, Life Group, Equipping Class, Ministry Team), as well as our Sunday Worship Gatherings.
4. I will consider my daily WORK as God’s Calling – his opportunity to  grow me and bless others.
5. I will REACH OUT beyond Christ’s Body to at least one person or group through building relationships, prayer, serving, and witness. 
6. I will FINANCIALLY GIVE an off-the-top proportion of my income back to God and his work, including support for Centennial’s mission and ministries – growing toward or beyond 10% (“tithe”).    

Let’s ask God to use these specific dimensions of self-offering as a guiding light on our reflections and intercessions for our church and for ourselves. Our times are in his hands! And Jesus is the same -- yesterday and today and forever!