Revival Prayer
Gracious God, we pray for our diocese as we prepare for our Fearless Faith Revival on April 27th in Roseville and right here at Christ Church Eureka. May this time of revival bring renewal and transformation. For these and all your blessings, we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
While hundreds of NorCal Episcopalians as well as Episcopal Church leaders from around the country gather at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Roseville CA for the Diocesan Revival, we will be offering a special Revival gathering right here at Christ Church Eureka, where we will debut our new prayer labyrinth, sing favorite hymns, eat delicious food, celebrate local artists, enjoy each other’s fellowship, and be revived together by the Holy Spirit.
April 27th is the day of the Rhododendron Parade which passes right in front of our church. So, at 10 AM in the morning, we will open the church, set up some tables and chairs, and offer coffee and snacks to people passing by while telling them about all our exciting church events, including the Revival later that day.
We will also have a Christ Church Eureka crew participating in the Rhody Parade, walking alongside a 1930 Model A Phaeton Ford, loaned to us by Harper Motors, and driven by Royal McCarthy!
The Revival program will begin at 4 PM when we will bless our new portable Chartres cathedral prayer Labyrinth in the Heritage Room, where you can walk prayerfully under the gentle guidance and direction of our very own Veriditas-certified Labyrinth facilitator Kathryne DeLorme. During the Labyrinth Walk, local harpist Linda Dionne will provide the perfect music for our walking meditation.
Then at 5 PM, Merry Phillips, David Powell, Elizabeth Taufe’ulungaki Smith, and Michael Gibbs will lead us in singing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” inspired by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s excellent book Songs My Grandma Sang, classic hymns like “How Great Thou Art” and “There is a Balm in Gilead.” Perhaps we will even dim the lights for a bit and sing “This Little Light of Mine” while waving candles in the air.
As we conclude our Hymn Sing and prepare for the Revival Worship, we will hear local spoken-word artist Rashad Hedgepeth recite a poem written especially for this occasion.
Throughout the Hymn Sing, guests will be welcome to continue walking the labyrinth and/or visit the diocesan merchandise table, featuring books, t-shirts, mugs, hats, and stickers. Also, some of Laura Rose’s pottery pieces will be on sale.
Finally, at 6 PM, we will gather in Lewis Hall, where delicious food will be waiting for us. At that time, we will join our friends in Roseville virtually for the Revival worship service, featuring worship music led by professional musicians from across the country, testimonies from people throughout the diocese (including our own newly baptized Linnea Hill!), a video greeting from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, words of hope and encouragement from Canon Stephanie Spellers, and a powerful sermon from Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez (one of the nominees for our next Presiding Bishop).
Since it’s a Revival, the worship service will conclude with an altar call, during which time you can walk the labyrinth and/or pray silently in the nave or meet with Prayer Leaders, including Mother Lesley, Elizabeth Harper-Lawson, and Fr. Daniel.
In order to help us prepare for this event, please register here: https://www.fearlessfaith2024.org/register-here. When you come to the page that asks, “How will you be attending the Revival?” Please indicate that you prefer to attend the simulcast presentation at Christ Church, Eureka.
This event is entirely free, and you can come to all or part of it, but please do come! And bring a friend or two or three! And be prepared to be REVIVED!
Read Times-Standard article here: “Christ Church Eureka hosts ‘Fearless Faith Revival’”
Christ Episcopal Church Eureka 