Thanksgiving for:
1. The collegial and warm spirit which exists among the Calvin planning team
2. The churches and individuals who are pledged to pray regularly for our college and for the Riders in the days ahead.
3. The general and steady sense of Christian kindness and generosity of spirit which currently prevails among students, faculty and staff as we (must) face an issue that has (already) polarized and divided Christian churches and communities.
Intercession for:
1. For Physical and Spiritual Safety for the Entire Campus on April 22-24
2. For the Equality Riders:
Safe travel
Protection from injury to their spirits through hateful words, looks, and gestures, already hurled against them
Openness to receive gestures of understanding and goodwill, offered in Jesus’ name
3. The Calvin ER Planning Team
Spiritual and physical stamina
Wisdom "to discern what is best" as we plan for an event that carries potential for great blessing for our entire campus (especially for our homosexual sisters and brothers among
us), but also the risk of bringing great hurt and harm.Ability to confide in God's promise to be with our campus and to guide us through, and thus also an accompanying ability to replace our tendency toward frantic work and control with quiet hope and trust.
4. Our college's alumni and constituency, who tend either toward apathy regarding the matter of homosexuals within Christian fellowship, or who sharply divide themselves over it:
For goodwill, understanding, acceptance, trust, and ( where necessary) forgiveness toward us as we strive to mark out a faithful Christian course.
For willingness to see that addressing complex issues such as the ER visit now brings our way belongs to the very mission of this college
5. Our administrators, and especially for President Byker and his cabinet, as they shall almost inevitably be challenged to give account by college supporters for how they have handled the ER visit. Our Faculty to seek to learn, and then willingly to obey, God’s will as declared in his Word.
6. The Evil One's sinister power to be kept at bay, and our awareness of our Lord's promised presence and power among us to be strong.
May our central and common desire be to bring Him great delight and high honor as we prepare to give Christian welcome to our ER visitors, and then as we try to care for one another in the days which follow.
