1. Communicate clearly and inspiringly
Tell why you organise this week of prayer. People catch on quicker when they see the bigger picture.
- Use our sermon outline on the starting Sunday in the context of (the theme of) the week of prayer or the importance of prayer for your environment.
- Share in the newsletter (or another news channel like churchbook , whatsapp or social media) an invitation with explanation, theme, dates and how church members can participate.
- Make use of the inspiration video To encourage congregation members. Possibly also share testimonies from congregation members about what they have experienced in praying for neighbours/neighbourhood.
- Make use of the poster To make prayer week visible.
2. Make it practical
- Explain how church members can join the week of prayer integrate in their own daily lives, e.g. by using the prayer booklet after dinner at the family table or in their own time with God.
- Send a daily reminder To pray through a WhatsApp group with a short inspirational encouragement. This can also be a short video or audio, possibly prepared by several church members.
- The prayer for Sunday 21 September can also be shared together during the Sunday meeting do by leading the congregation in prayer from the pulpit/stage, with space for congregation members to also silently speak things out to God themselves and listen to Him.
3. Do it together
- Praying together motivates! For specific tips, see here How to shape this.
- Create a 'sense together' by e.g. having church members put up post-its or cards on a wall during the Sunday meeting with names or streets of neighbours they (want to) pray for.
- If relatively few people live in the neighbourhood where you meet as a church, you can offer congregation members or house groups a street have 'adopt' To bless them in prayer for a week.
4. Creative encouragement
- Give church members a 'bless your neighbourhood'candle along to light at home as a symbol of prayer for the street/neighbours. You can also provide 2 tea lights for them to use on Tuesday 23 September during the moment of prayer for neighbours (see prayer booklet).
- Let community members have a ticket to a neighbour writing something along the lines of, "This week I am praying for you. If I can pray for anything, feel free to let me know."
5. Involve children and young people in the week of prayer
- Let children drawings for the neighbours or something else creative.
- Create a 'prayer-challenge' to pray for their neighbours, neighbourhood and friends. This challenge can and should be different from the handout in the prayer booklet! Above all, make sure it is short, concrete, creative and connecting.
- Organise a 'Prayer & Pizza' night for young people: combine an evening of good food, fun and joint prayer for their friends, school and street.
6. Share experiences
- Ask some church members to speak on stage or via videos tell On how they pray for their neighbours and neighbourhood. What has changed since they started praying for neighbours? And what has it done to them themselves? In what other ways do they live out their faith in the neighbourhood? For example, by helping out, through a neighbourhood garden, through hospitality or something completely different.