Awakening Mission Resources
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Category |
Prayer Vigils
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AIM |
The aim is to acknowledge our great God together, and to pray that the Easter message will take root in the hearts of individuals, and in the fabric of our city and nation. |
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TIME |
Prayer vigils are traditionally held on the night of Good Friday, from 6pm to 6 am Saturday. |
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PLACE |
Somewhere neutral where people from all denominations will feel welcome and will have a sense of ‘vision’ for their locality. A park overlooking the area is especially suitable |
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PROGRAM |
The evening is usually broken up into 6 segments of 2 hours each. Each segment will provide opportunity for worship, a speaker focussing the group’s thoughts, and then plenty of opportunity for prayer. (See form in Appendix) |
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PERSONNEL |
There needs to be a small team of people who take responsibility for the vigil; Hospitality people who welcome and care for those who come and go; a Site Coordinator who oversees the program for the night and a Site Manager who attends to the resources needed. |
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BREADTH |
Approximately 100 prayer vigils were held during Easter 1994. They included participation by all major denominations, youth groups, Christian dance or drama groups, Aboriginal & Islander churches as well as many varied ethnic churches. |
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LINK UP |
Communication with other vigils around Australia by mobile telephone or two way radio increases awareness of the event being nationwide. |
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VARIOUS FORMS OF WORSHIP AND INTERCESSION |
Prayer can be in one large group or a number of small ones or individually. It may be aloud, or silent. Bible passages and prayer books may be used, or prayers written by school children as part of the Reclaiming Easter Schools Package (My Prayer for Australia) may be used as a basis for prayer. Children’s participation in the first session can be encour-aged. People might like to sit or stand or walk around. Singing and various forms of accompaniment may be used, dance expressing worship, or responsive reading of psalms, meditation on Bible passages, or waiting on God. A basic format for prayer is the ACTS model; adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. |
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SENSITIVITY |
A commitment to sensitivity and acceptance of those participating from different backgrounds, so as not to cause offence, is most important. |
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SYMBOLS |
An Awakening 2000 or Easter ‘97 Banner (see Appendix) and a giant 3 wick candle (representing God’s justice, mercy and compassion). |
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