A New Format for the Special New Year’s Prayers
Dear COAH,
The Special New Year’s prayers have been an essential part of our church tradition. Started by the late Rev. Suk Hwan Lee in 1990, we have always gathered for early-rise prayer meetings to start the new year. Initially, it used to be a grueling 40-day prayer meeting. I remember getting excited to start the 40-day prayers but then getting increasingly tired and running out of steam by the finish line. But looking back at those years, those prayers defined who we are as the Young Nak community of believers.
When I became the senior pastor in 2004, I shortened the prayer meeting to two weeks, emphasizing the importance of relaying prayers. Each member would sign up for one hour and pray for the church in the intercessory room in the church. This relaying prayer would go on 24 hours during the first two weeks of the new year. More recently, family prayers were added. At 9 p.m., our church members would pray at home.
In the new year (2024), we will have a new format for the new year’s prayers. We will come to church for one week, twice each day, to pray. Starting with the early rise prayer on January 2nd (Tues), we will then return to church the same evening for a time of praise and praise. Here is how it will look:
Jan. 2nd (Tues)
COAH Early Morning Prayer (6am @ Agape Chapel)
COAH Evening Praise & Prayer (7:30pm @ Agape Chapel)
Jan. 3rd (Wed)
COAH Early Morning Prayer (6am @ Agape Chapel)
COAH Evening Praise & Prayer (7:30pm @ Agape Chapel)
Jan. 4th (Thu)
COAH Early Morning Prayer (6am @ Agape Chapel)
COAH Evening Praise & Prayer (7:30pm @ Agape Chapel)
Jan. 5th (Fri)
COAH Early Morning Prayer (6am @ Agape Chapel)
COAH/KM Evening Praise & Prayer (7:30pm @ Main Sanctuary)
Jan. 6th (Sat)
COAH Early Morning Prayer (7-7:30am) & Breakfast with KM
In the coming year, the whole congregation has a particular reason to pray together: we are about to embark on a final round of screening for our fourth senior pastor, and we need a lot of prayers for the search committee and for the members of the Session who will be making the final decision to bring the candidate to the Congregational approval. We will emerge more robust and connected in Christ from the year of leadership transition. We will live missional lives as salt and light in the world. Please plan to attend the special prayer week.
Blessings,
Pastor Minho Song