Report on the Global Day of Prayer

Barbara Lachance, President of the Connecticut House of Prayer, gives this report on Sunday's Global Day of Prayer meeting in Hartford:

Greetings in the Name of Jesus:

The Global Day of Prayer at the Connecticut Convention Center on June 4, was a tremendous success. Approximately 4500 were present and the worship was wonderful. Cultures and denominations were represented and the unity far surpassed anything we have ever seen. THIS WAS A HISTORY MAKING EVENT.

There are so many who were responsible for making this event successful. First I want to thank all the Pastors and their churches who donated funds. Secondly, Danna Lichanec who worked endless hours to organize all the details. The Prayer Leaders and Worship Team led us into the Throne Room of God. The bowls were filled and I believe that our prayers were a sweet incense to God.

This was our second Global Day of Prayer but not our last. Next year I believe we will have many more. Thanks to all who attended and made this meeting such a wonderful, blessed time. Below are the testimonies of several people who attended:

• Last Sunday evening as we were praying I kept thinking of the Vision Statement for the CT House of Prayer....how the vision was to raise up an army of 5,000 intercessors crossing denominational, cultural and color lines to pray for the transformation of the state of Connecticut. This was fulfilled Sunday night! PRAISE GOD!!!
• Everything was sooooo good. The attendance (more next year), the people were serious about praying (not a lot of distracting behavior), the music was very well selected I thought, the sensitivity to the Spanish community was definitely there, the respect for the One Body of Christ and the intrinsic diversity in that Body, the pray-ers were VERY good, not drawing attention to themselves, but really praying for His glory. The little girl slayed me (she was the best). I liked the program very much, liked having a printed format to follow. I think that helped keep the distractions down, because it gave people something to focus on. Very good. ALL my family came and they all liked it. I know you will get thousands more next year because everyone will tell someone how GOOD it was. And we need it so much in our country and for the world.
• It was wonderful seeing the Church gather for worship, praise, prayer & repentance & a call for God to unleash His power in the State of CT - everything "appeared" to run smoothly & God's presence prevailed in the venue.
• The global day of prayer was God fab! Real freedom in the spirit. Great prayers. Unity. Glorious worship.

Let's all make this day a marker every year and believe God for a doubling or even tripling of the event's attendance!

Tags: Connecticut, Evangelical, Christian, Prayer

"Prayer in the Park" cries out for Hartford this Thursday

"Prayer In The Park" will take place at the Thomas G. Harris Pavilion in Bushnell Park (Hartford) at 6:30 pm Thursday, June 8.

Please note: this brave band of prayer warriors meets every Thursday night in Hartford's Bushnell Park for prayer, rain or shine. The only times this prayer meeting is cancelled is if it is too dangerous to be outside because of severe thunderstorms or state emergencies.

For information, contact the Connecticut House of Prayer - Hartford.

Tags: Connecticut, Hartford, Christian

When Connecticut Prayed... who noticed?

Someone heard every word that was uttered, indeed every thought that passed through the minds of the thousands who attended Sunday's Global Day of Prayer event in Hartford. It was not the press, or the great body of Connecticut's citizenry. But this means nothing. The people praying had the full attention of the One who matters most.

Still, I was amused to see Channel 3 refer to the crowd at the Connecticut Convention Center as comprised of "hundreds of Christians." Their brief, weirdly-angled shots could not disguise the fact that the worshippers were far more numerous.

Indeed, even the Hartford Courant, not known to be an ardent supporter of evangelical religion, confessed to a crowd of 4,300. Yet, unless they are planning a spot later in the week, they, too, are relegating this story to the nether regions of the Web. I give credit where it is due, as they did post a lovely photo - but it was alongside a story about the success of the new Convention Center! (To be completely fair, an earlier story was both positive and informative.)

There's a sign of growing maturity in the fact that most Christians of evangelical stripe no longer care as much whether the Courant or Channel 8 gives them good press. Those who gathered in Hartford yesterday were there to pray and seek the favor of God, not the favor of Web or TV pundits.

If the Connecticut press can't be moved at the sight of thousands coming to our troubled capital on a Sunday night with no agenda but prayer, so be it. We draw our strength from knowing Him who is moved by the devotion of lovers of His cause. We know that there are great stirrings all over our State and, as the old revivalists would have said it, there is a sound of an abundance of rain. Churches all over are reaching out, seeing conversions, and partnering together to bring in a great harvest of souls. There is an anticipation of an Awakening the likes of which we have only read about!

The fact that 1 out of every 800 or so Connecticut residents came into Hartford for the sole purpose of praying on Sunday night could make some policymakers do a little rethinking about the size of some constituencies. But more important than any possible political ramifications is the truth that when Connecticut prays, God hears...

Photo: (C) 2004, Matthew Trump

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical, Hartford, prayer

Connecticut Church News Launches!

We've launched out first sister blog, the Connecticut Church News!

Connecticut Church News will meet a real need and help us to specialize by creating a space for church news and events as opposed to this blog, which is more devotional and is centered on prayer, revival and outreach.

If you are a pastor or church leader and want to have your event or your news featured on the Connecticut Church News, please contact us. Take advantage of the power of blogging!

The new blog has e-mail subscription ability as well as RSS.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical,

Global Day of Prayer - largest prayer event in history!

Christians in nearly 200 countries participated in Global Day of Prayer events yesterday, including belivers from across Connecticut who gathered in Hartford to ask God's blessing on our own State.

Thank God for what He is doing in the nations of the earth!

Tags: Connecticut, Christian

One Week to Global Day of Prayer!

Be a part of what may be the biggest prayer event in Connecticut since the Great Awakening! On Sunday, June 4th, join us for When Connecticut Prays at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford for a statewide prayer gathering.

Join one-half billion people praying throughout the world -- including pastors, leaders and people from the entire state of Connecticut -- "that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14)

Event Information:

LOCATION:
Exhibit Hall A -- 2nd Level Adrien's Landing
100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford , CT
Click here for directions.

SEATING:
Free admission, an offering will be received
General seating -- first-come, first-served
Accessible reserved* seating for people with disabilities, one companion seat provided Senior Citizen seating throughout the hall and last two rows
American Sign language reserved* seating, audience center front on the left
Spanish language reserved* seating, audience left (consecutive platform interpretation throughout the program)
*Reserved seating open to the general public at 6:30 PM

PARKING: [No Drop-off Permitted]
CTCC Parking Garage and Bus Lot
Cars & Vans (up to 7'6") -- $2 per hour -- enter off Columbus Boulevard
Buses -- $32 per bus -- enter off Arch Street -- opens at 4:00 PM [No Drop-off Permitted]

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Rock the Sound Brings Top Christian Music into CT

Rock the Sound Concerts continues to bring top Christian artists into Connecticut. This November 4, Rock the Sound will feature Casting Crowns, Toby Mac, Pillar, Unspoken, and Stellar Kart.

For tickets, go to www.rockthesound.com or call (203) 261-ROCK.

For concerts and other Christian and church events in Connecticut, visit the Connceticut Christian Events Calendar!

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Music

"Connecticut Six" to get no help from Archbishop of Canterbury

For the moment at any rate. For the latest installment in this ongoing saga, read the press release from the wardens of the churches involved.

For a timeline of this controversy, go here.

Tags: Connecticut, Episcopal, Christian

Global Day of Prayer: May 17th Emphasis

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

Today, please pray:

For the June 4th arrangements — team effort to take place among the Convention Center staff, technicians and workers and the When Connecticut Prays staff and volunteers.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Global Day of Prayer: Weekend prayer emphasis

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

Friday, May 12: please pray...

For NEW HAVEN County - each city to be impacted through Christ’s presence in His people, with hundreds giving their lives to Him.

Saturday, May 13: please pray...

For FAIRFIELD County - our Lord to speak through His people to those who need Him, causing a great number to surrender their lives to Him.

Sunday, May 14: please pray...

For our churches to receive the fullness of Christ’s love, causing compassion and action toward those who need Him.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Global Day of Prayer: May 11th emphasis

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

Today, please pray:

For Hope for the Future... Hartford — God to guide the planning team and reveal His Will for the next phase of "90 Days of Blessing."

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical, Hartford

Connecticut Muslims reach out - what are Christians doing?

Saw this interesting article in the Norwich Bulletin about Muslims reaching out to their neighbors in Eastern Connecticut in an open house and interfaith service. As is typical for stories of this kind, the lead-in quote effectively lets you know what you're in for.

Carole Shores, a retired Bacon Academy teacher, said she realized just how much she didn't know about the rest of the world after the Sept. 11 attacks occurred in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

"I think it's very important we all learn about each other's religions and learn to respect each other," said the 59-year-old New London resident, who used to live in Norwich. "People fear what they don't understand."

While I'm willing to be proven wrong, I have to assume that Ms. Shores is speaking of the wrongheadedness of fearing Islam. I'm not sure what Ms. Shores taught at Bacon Academy, but it's odd that 9/11 made her feel ignorant about the world. I didn't think one had to be a certified news junkie to know that Islamic terrorists had already tried in 1993 to pull off a 9/11 at the World Trade Center before actually doing it to their satisfaction.

People never apply their hackneyed phrases about learning about other religions and respecting each other to members of those other religions. I can understand this, of course: it requires less physical courage to mock Bible-reading Americans than it does to engage sword-carrying Islamic death squads in a dialogue about respecting others' religions! When our culture actually taught history and critical thinking to its young, and when the culture was informed by a Christian consensus, it wasn't possible for adult human beings to utter such fluff and be taken seriously.

Perhaps, then, people don't understand the Gospel of Christ, and that's why they fear it? This line of reasoning could have been pointed out to the local imam in Groton, who offered his opinion on the case of Abdul Rahman, the man who was going to be executed for converting from Islam to Christ.

During a question-and-answer session after lectures and a prayer, audience members asked panelists questions about topics as simple as the reason for Muslim caps and veils to more politically-oriented ones concerning Islam's stance on those who convert to other religions. That question referred to an Afghan, Abdul Rahman, who may face the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity.

Mahmoud Mansour, the mosque's imam, its religious leader, said television coverage of the case did not explain why Rahman might have faced the death penalty, explaining Rahman made negative comments about Islam, which is considered sacrilegious.

Oh, well there you go. He was asking for it!

And notice how the question about Rahman is described as more politically-oriented. What alert Christians should realize take away from this is that people will never gain an understanding of Islam or the Gospel from reading America's newspapers.

In any case, what are Christians who still believe in the truth of the Gospel doing to reach out to their neighbors, as Muslims want to reach out to theirs?

Tags: Connecticut, Groton, Christianity, Evangelical, Islam

Global Day of Prayer: May 10th emphasis

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

Today, please pray:

For MIDDLESEX County—God to fill His people with compassion for those without Christ, resulting in prayer and the sharing of the Gospel.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Global Day of Prayer: May 9th emphasis

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

Today, please pray:

For New London County - God’s grace and mercy to become a topic of conversation throughout the region, causing a great outreach to those who have yet to receive our Lord Jesus.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Global Day of Prayer: May 8 emphasis

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

Today, please pray:

For your community - that those who do not know Christ would be led to Christians ready to share their faith.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Evangelistic meetings in Greenwich next week with Tommie Zito

Harvest Time Church in Greenwich is hosting evangelist Tommie Zito and his team for a series of revival meetings and school of evangelism classes next week, Sunday the 7 through Saturday the 13th.

For a schedule and directions, visit www.htchurch.com.

Tags: Connecticut, Evangelical, Christian, Greenwich

Global Day of Prayer: Weekend prayer emphasis

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

Friday, May 5: please pray...

For Tolland County - a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to come upon each church, causing God's people to reach out to those who have not yet accepted Christ.

Saturday, May 6: please pray...

For Windham County - God's love to fill each church resulting in love for one another and great compassion toward people who have physical and spiritual needs.

Sunday, May 7: please pray...

For our churches to be quick to forgive one another and build up one another with our words and actions. (Colossians 3:13)

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Pray for America today!

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and although the need is great, so are His mercies. Why give up now, when there are so many hopeful signs of revival and awakwening on the horizon? Jesus said that even Sodom might have repented if they had seen His mighty works. So reach out to Him in faith today!

The following is a prayer for the day composed by Dr. Henry Blackaby, the Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer.

Oh Heavenly Father, You have made Yourself known to us as a nation by Your mighty works throughout our history. From the beginning, You have been with us through many wars and conflicts; Your right arm has saved us. We have been amazingly and graciously blessed.

Today, we confess our sin of not responding to Your right to rule in our lives and our nation. Too often we have despised and rejected Your will while imposing our own, and we are now facing the consequences of our disobedience. Draw us back to Yourself, that we may return to Your ways once again. Without You we can do nothing. You have promised that if we honor You, You will once again honor this great nation.

That is our fervent prayer. For Your honor and glory we pray, Amen.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

National Day of Prayer Events in Connecticut

Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer... thank God there are too many events for me to list individually here...

For a listing of NDOP events in Connecticut, go here!

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Global Day of Prayer: May 3 Prayer Emphasis

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

Today, please pray:

For Hartford County; that God would work through His people whom He has placed in our educational, governmental and service organizations.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Fasting and Prayer leading up to the Global Day of Prayer

Please join us as we pray daily for the upcoming Global Day of Prayer events in Hartford on June 4th! Each day we will run a prayer emphasis from the When Connecticut Prays prayer guide. For your own copy of the prayer guide, you can download a PDF here.

MAY 2:
Please pray:

For those planning the June 4th prayer gathering - that God would guide them as they meet today and that He would be glorified.

Tags: Connecticut, prayer, Christian, evangelical

Just over a month to the Statewide Prayer Gathering!

From When Connecticut Prays:

Statewide Prayer Gathering
June 4, 2006 6:30 p.m. Pentecost Sunday
@ the New Connecticut Convention Center

"[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

On June 4th, 2006, The Connecticut Convention Center which can hold 7,000 people will be host to a Statewide Prayer Gathering. This will be a time for all the Churches within Connecticut to come together and seek the Lord God as one.

Come join your brothers and sisters as we assemble together to pray and seek the Lord for the state of Connecticut. Connecticut has one of the lowest percentages of believing Christians in the nation. Although we have a rich history of Christian love and service, today our legacy is of economic wealth, poor cities, liberal educational institutions and moral decline. The youth of today are bombarded with the darkness of the world and many are succumbing to overwhelming temptations and bondage. Now is the time to put aside our differences and come together in unity to seek and call upon our one Lord, by His one Holy Spirit, and ask Him to heal our land.

The Word of God promises, and history confirms, that the Lord brings revival and community transformation when His people come together to seek Him, pray and repent. And this is what we will do on this historic day in June - seek, pray, repent.

Tags: Connecticut, Prayer, Christian, Evangelical

Regional Prayer Meetings Tomorrow Night!

A final reminder to all of the regional prayer meetings coming up tomorrow, as we build momentum towards the Global Day of Prayer events on June 4.

For full information, including locations of prayer meetings in each county, please visit When Connecticut Prays.

Tags: Connecticut

Connecticut's Chief Justice retiring

Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court William Sullivan announced his retirement on Friday, and Governor Rell quickly nominated Justice Peter Zarella to fill the post. Justice Zarella faces a confirmation hearing. Please pray for everything connected with this nomination, and for God's perfect will to be done with this very important position.

Tags: Connecticut

Regional Prayer Meetings Coming On April 30th

A reminder to all of the regional prayer meetings coming up on April 30th, as we build momentum towards the Global Day of Prayer events on June 4. For full information, please visit When Connecticut Prays.


A current listing of prayer venues is as follows:

Columbia
April 30, 2006, 6:30 pm
Location: Baptist Fellowship, 195 Route 6
Contact: Pastor Dennis Reiter

Eastford
April 30, 2006, 6:00pm
Location: Congregational Church, 8 Church Rd (Directions)
Contact: Pastor Michael Moran, 860.974.0294

Enfield
April 30, 2006, 7:00pm
Location: Enfield Christian Fellowship, 139 Hazard Avenue, Building 4
Contact: Pastor Steve

Greenwich
April 30, 2006, 7:00pm
Location: Harvest Time Church, 1338 King Street
Contact: Pastor Nick Uva, 203.531.7778

Groton
April 30, 2006, 7:00pm
Location: Bishop Seabury Episcopal Church, 256 North Road (Directions)
Contact: Pastor Joe Paskewich

Hartford
April 30, 2006, 7:00pm
Location: House of Restoration, 1665 Main St
Contact: Bishop Jeremiah Torres, 860.525.2764

Middletown
April 30, 2006, 7:00pm
Location: Faith Christian Assembly, 46 Grandview Dr., 860.635.1781 (Directions)
Contact: David Scovel, 860.301.2807

Plainfield
April 30, 2006, 7:00pm
Location: Lighthouse Church of God, 33 Plainfield Pike Rd. (Directions)
Contact: Pastor David Gregg, 860.564.0445

Rockville
April 30, 2006, 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: Rockville United Methodist Church, 142 Grove St (Directions)
Contact: Pastor Weston Brooks

Shelton area
April 30, 2006, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Contact: Pastor Doug Steeves, 203.929.1222

Torrington
April 30th, 2006, 7:00pm
Location: Torrington Middle School, 200 Middle School Drive
Contact: Ron Boratko, 860.482.8147

West Haven
May 4, 2006, Time TBA
Location: Living Word Ministries, 225 Meloy Road (Directions)
Contact: Rev. Michael Bulkley, 203. 877.5464 Ext. 17

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical, prayer

Governor siding with emergency contraceptive foes, so far

Governor Rell is supporting existing law which allows religious hospitals to refuse to administer "morning after" pills which could terminate a pregnancy. This has generated predictable outrage from the usual quarters. Please pray against Senate Bill 445, and ask God to give us a culture of life in our State! Give thanks for the Governor's stance and support her in it. As we know, the anti-life forces are strident and becoming more so as they see pendulums swinging...

Tags: Connecticut, Evangelical, Christian

All the way down? All the way up?

Just in case you missed it, which is probably unlikely, former Governor Rowland is out of prison, and talking the talk. You know, dropping the "G" word. The AP quotes him:

I kind of have this blind faith that God will work a way in my life that will steer me down a different path. I'm not sure what that plan is, but I know that God has a different plan, a better plan for me...

Courant columnist Helen Ubiñas isn't buying it, at least not yet. In an article entitled "Jailhouse Transformations Face The Test of Time," Ms. Ubiñas is admittedly skeptical, despite her frequent brushes with themes of religion and redemption.

We should be suspicious of a conversion that sounds a little too much like the Christian best-seller "The Purpose-Driven Life."

In fact, some of his declarations sounded so much like the book that in a follow-up e-mail I asked him if he had read it while he was away. But he didn't answer me, and passed on a face-to-face chat. There was nothing new for us to discuss, he said.

I think we're all old enough to know that jailhouse transformations face the test of time. At least I am. But some of them are very real. Charles Colson comes to mind, of course. His life across the last thirty years should suffice to convinve anyone of the reality of his conversion. At this point, let's just pray for the ex-Governor; if his apparent profession is the real thing, he'll need God's grace on a daily basis - as we all do.

And, it seems like Ms. Ubiñas has been doing a bit of reading herself, so let's pray for her, too...

Finally, looking to the future of our spiritually-troubled State, we still have God's command to pray for all those who are currently in authority.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical, Purpose-Driven

A Call for 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer

Prayer Leaders Lou Engle, Mike Bickle, Dutch Sheets, and Francis Frangipane are calling for "40 Days of Fasting and Prayer from March 1 to April 9 for Revival, Reformation, Muslim nations, and Israel."

The release states:

We are fasting and praying for Revival, for the shifting of the Supreme Court and the ending of abortion, for the Middle East crisis and the freedom of a billion souls from the vise grip of Islam, and for the security and salvation of Israel.

This is worth reading and, if anything, the situation is more dire as it appears that Iraq may be headed for full-blown religious civil war. Interestingly, the last day of the fast, April 9, is not only Palm Sunday but is said to be the 100th anniversary of the Pentecostal outpouring at Azusa Street. Keep praying!

Money Money Money Money

Long before there was Donald Trump, or at least before there was The Apprentice, there were the O'Jays, and they used to sing about money and how it was the root of all evil. A slight misquoting of what Paul actually said to Timothy, but chock full of homespun wisdom anyway, at least for a Top 40 single.

Lately I find myself wondering where the merry-go-round of money will stop around our fair state. Is Connecticut going insane? Maybe this is Exhibit A in the case for madness:

GREENWICH, CT-Antares Investment Partners has purchased two rental apartment properties here in what is believed to be the largest single real estate transaction in Connecticut history. The locally based firm plans to convert a majority of the units into condominiums.

Antares acquired the Putnam Green I-III development and the Weaver’s Hill community here for $223 million from an affiliate of locally based Mill Management Group. The seller had owned both properties for more than 30 years.

Yes, that's $223 million. Add to this the story about the $3,000 martinis they're selling at Foxwoods and you may experience the onset of vertigo. To be fair, the martinis have a nice pair of earrings in them. Well, Dad always said something is worth whatever somebody's willing to pay for it. And that's life in Connecticut in 2006...

But I can't help thinking about the lady in Norwich whose electric bill doubled in the past 18 months. Or that the City of New Haven is so desperate for money that they're talking about putting cameras up all over town to catch and confiscate cars whose owners owe the City for parking tickets and taxes.

A New Haven Register reporter accompanied State Marshal Jerry Juliano on the first day of seizures under the new rules. An elderly man in a walker barely escaped being stranded for $216 in parking tickets because he drove away in his Toyota Camry just before the tow truck could take his car.

Similarly, a young mother with three small children also narrowly escaped, driving away in her Dodge Durango just before tow trucks could strand her. The 2002 Chevy Malibu belonging to John Gomez, 42, was flagged for towing as the system showed he owed $208.53 -- just as he was leaving City Hall with a "paid in full" receipt in his pocket. Gomez had placed a sign on his window, "Please don't tow -- paying tax now."

"If you're inside paying your taxes, who's to say they won't snatch you up while you're in there," Gomez told the New Haven Register. "I believe I have to pay my taxes, don't get me wrong. But what if I wasn't working? I'm lucky. I have a family and means to pay. Not everyone is so lucky."

The O'Jays told us not to let money rule us, or fool us. How are we doing?

Courant goes back to St. John's Episcopal

The Courant has done a piece today on the aftermath of Episcopal Bishop Andrew Smith's deposing the Rev. Mark Hansen. Check it out.

Note: If you're ever unable to tell where the Courant stands on something, the accompanying photographs usually help to inform us as to their point of view. In this case one of the pictures carries an explanatory note which actually seems libelous of Rev. Hansen.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Episcopal, Anglican

Bethany Dillon coming to Fairfield with Story Side B

Rock The Sound Concerts is presenting multiple Dove award-nominated 17 year old artist Bethany Dillon, making her first visit to Connecticut on Saturday, April 8 at Black Rock Congregational Church in Fairfield, CT.

Possible break-out artist Story Side B (currently #2 on the Christian music charts) will also be making their first visit to the Northeast. This is a benefit concert for World Vision.

Hurry! Seating is limited!

Tickets: $10 Prior to March 31, 2006; $20 thereafter.

For updated information on concerts and other events, check out our Christian Events Calendar!

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Praying for Connecticut's children

Connecticut's children need prayer - it seems there has been a rash of tragedies lately with our kids, and some have definitely lost their way. Eighth-grade girls allegedly draw 100 swastikas all over a middle school. Older teens are accused of attempted murder.

Can it be that we are teaching our children that life - and their lives - are meaningless? What message can kids derive when their churches celebrate something called "Evolution Sunday?"

The Rev. Woody Eddins of Bristol is one of more than 10,000 Protestant pastors who have signed a letter calling for clergy members to speak out against the anti-evolution movement that portrays science as a threat to religious faith. This [past weekend was] "Evolution Sunday" for more than 400 churches across the country, including six in Connecticut.

When people grow up learning that they are the products of blind, cosmic chance and an endless sequence of beneficial mutations, how else can you expect them to behave? When churches succumb to the fashions of the day and so cannot even offer a sense of the majesty of a Creator, where else in this society can children hear of Him?

Tags: Connecticut, Evangelical, Intelligent Design

First comment spam, and now...

It wasn't that long ago I was apologizing for requiring "word verification" before allowing comments - now I have to moderate comments. I thought about doing away with them altogether, but we do get some lovely ones from time to time and they perk up our day here at the Pray Connecticut country villa. Solution: I will now have to moderate comments before they go up on the site. What's prompting this? Someone making inappropriate remarks about a public official. People can't help themselves, I guess. Keep your comments coming, but don't expect them to appear instantly. Thanks!

"Will and Grace" won't show Spears episode

Apparently NBC has decided not to run the offensive item referenced below. Thanks for your efforts.

Will NBC30 run "Will and Grace" episode with Britney Spears?

Although I thought the story was too ridiculous to be true, I checked it out and saw that even the BBC was running it:

She [Britney] will appear as a talk show sidekick to Sean Hayes' character, Jack, in an episode to be shown in the US in April. Jack's fictional network, Out TV, is bought by a Christian TV network, leading to Spears contributing a cooking segment called Cruci-fixin's.

Cruci-fixins? Please consider writing a respectful letter to Ronni Attenello at NBC30 (which many of you just know as Channel 6) and asking them not to air this episode, which is slated for April 13 - the day before Good Friday no less! Obviously our readership isn't devoted to "Will and Grace" in any event, but is it asking too much to draw some kind of line here?

Please forward this around. I never do this kind of thing but something was stirred in my spirit by this. We know NBC would never do this to to persons revered by other religions. NBC dropped "The Book of Daniel" after an outcry - maybe they will drop this, too.


Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Regional Prayer Events tomorrow

Just a reminder that tomorrow there will be regional prayer meetings for Connecticut to be held at various locations across the State. Please be sure to find a location nearest you and join together seeking God's blessing on Connecticut!

For a list of locations, go here.

Tags: Connecticut, Evangelical, Christian

Episcopal Bishop of Conn. Defrocks Priest

The Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut, Andrew D. Smith, defrocked Bristol priest Mark Hansen over the ongoing dispute concerning Smith's support for the decision to elevate an openly homosexual man to the position of Bishop of New Hampshire.

Six Episcopal priests, including Hansen, have already filed suit against Smith in Federal Court for his alleged actions against them. According to the Courant,

In an e-mail to The Courant Sunday, Hansen responded to a request for comment, saying he made a good-faith denial to Smith that he had abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church.

Hanson said the canons of the church call for the bishop to withdraw the notice of inhibition once a good faith denial has been received.

"Obviously, the Bishop did not follow the canons," Hansen said.

A copy of the complaint in the Federal lawsuit is available on our website here. Keep praying for all involved.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical, Episcopal, Anglican

Across Connecticut, Regional Prayer Meetings coming up on January 29th

The following is a release from the Connecticut House of Prayer concerning a number of regional prayer meetings which will be held across the State on Sunday, January 29, two weeks from this Sunday. Please read the release and then check below for a listing of locations where you can pray with your fellow believers on January 29.

Prayer momentum is building for the Global Day Of Prayer! On May 15, 2005 more than 200 million Christians in 156 nations united in a day of repentance and prayer for the world. Christians came together in large stadiums, open fields, market squares, churches and other public venues to pray. It was broadcast by hundreds of radio and TV stations around the world. This was the first Global Day of Prayer.

This year, the Global Day of Prayer will be held on June 4, 2006. Many prayer networks, Christian organizations and prayer leaders support this initiative. Christians all over the world are invited to take hands in a Global Day of Prayer. The two key verses that are guiding our planning around the Global Day of Prayer are 2 Chron. 7: 14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” and Hab. 2: 14, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

In preparation for the Global Day of Prayer there will gatherings around the state on January 29, 2006 and April 30, 2006. These gatherings are going to be held to build momentum for prayer. They will be held in each of the 8 counties of Connecticut and you will find a location, and time listed below. Our hope is that 7000 will gather at the Convention Center in Hartford on June 4, 2006, the Global Day of Prayer.

For Information Call CHOP at 860.460.4716
Email: barbara@cthop.org

Go to: www.whenconnecticutprays.org

Sponsored By: CT House of Prayer, Inc., US Strategic Prayer Network, National Day of Prayer, and scores of Connecticut churches.


COUNTY PRAYER GATHERINGS

Fairfield County

Location: Harvest Time Church, 1338 King Street, Greenwich, CT (7:00)
Contact Person: Pastor Nick Uva, (203) 531-7778

2nd Location: Shelton - TBA
Contact Person: Pastor Doug Steeves, (203) 929-1222

Hartford County

Location: House of Restoration, 1665 Main Street, Hartford, CT
Contact Person: Bishop Jeremiah Torres, (860) 525-2764

2nd Location: Wellspring, 222 Lincoln Street, Kensington, CT
Contact Person: Pastor Rick McKinniss, (860) 225-0661

Middlesex County

Location: Victory Tabernacle
Contact Person: David Scovel, (860) 301-2007

New Haven County

Location: Kingdom Life, 597 Naugatuck Avenue, Milford, CT 06460
Contact Person: Pastor Michel Bulkley, (203) 877-5464

New London County

Location: Connecticut College Chapel, Rte 32, New London, CT
Contact Person: Pastor Joe Paskewich, (860) 848-7400

Tolland County

Location: River of Life Christian Fellowship, 384 Y Merrow Road, Tolland, CT (7:00 PM)
Contact Person: Pastor Weston Brooks, (860) 871-1070

Windham County

Contact Person: Pastor Dennis Reiter, (860) 456-3757

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Prayerwalking at State Capitol

In 2006, concerned organizations such as Mission Connecticut, National Day of Prayer, Connecticut House of Prayer, and the Family Institute of Connecticut will again sponsor prayerwalking at the Capitol in Hartford.

These ministries and organizations have a vision to fill the atmosphere at our state capitol with prayer for 1 hour a day, 5 days a week while legislature is in session. There will be a training session Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 7:00pm.


You will need to pre-register to attend this meeting. For more details, please contact Audrey Church McIntyre. Keep praying for Connecticut!

Tags:Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical
Photo courtesy State of Connecticut.

Upcoming conference to explore a life of worship

On March 31 - April 1, St. Paul's Darien will host the Reviving Worship Conference, featuring speakers Jamie Wilson, Michelle Wilson, Caleb Maskell, Christopher Leighton, and Mark Jonas.

Featured worship leaders are Lamont Hiebert of the band Ten Shekel Shirt, Matt Croasmun, and Caleb Maskell.

Cost is $35 and includes continental breakfast and lunch. All proceeds above costs will go to Justice for Children International.

This conference is not just for worship leaders and musicians but for everyone who wants worship to make a difference. Check out the conference website (under construction) at www.revivingworship.com.

Contact Phyllis Schlemmer for more information, or you can view the event flyer on our website here. Be sure to also check in frequently to our Christian Events Calendar, which is always linked to on the right.

Tags:Connecticut, Christian, Worship

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

It's been fun (and, for me, educational) rolling out the Pray Connecticut blog and website in 2005. Thanks for your support and encouragement along the way. The crack staff and I are going to take off a few days and will resume blogging right after the New Year.

Have a great 2006!

6th Circuit says enough already to ACLU

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals struck terror into the hearts of the ACLU today by paying attention to what the Constitution actually says on the matter of church and state.

Specifically the Court noted

The First Amendment does not demand a wall of separation between church and state.

The ACLU had sued to prevent Mercer County, Kentucky from displaying historical documents which included the well-known subversive text, the Ten Commandments. In a rare display of "I've had enough," one of the judges said that the ACLU's

repeated reference 'to the separation of church and state' ... has grown tiresome.

This is a victory and early Christmas present for those of us who have actually read the Constitution (and yes, your author is a lawyer, before anyone asks) and know that the First Amendment was designed to prevent there being established an official government supported church or denomination. In this vein it will interest you to know that Connecticut had an official state religion supported by tax dollars until 1818 - the Congregational Church. Note that 1818 is almost 20 years after our current Constitution went into effect. That will scramble your mind a bit if you think about the implications for Federalism, etc. But that is a story for a different blog.

Get the full opinion of the case, entitled ACLU v. Mercer County, here.

Tags: Christianity, Evangelical, Connecticut, church and state

Top religious trends in '05 ... where do we go from here?

George Barna, perhaps the leading church researcher in the U. S., has come out with his review of the top trends in the church world in 2005. Among the more alarming things he mentions is the rise of Biblical illiteracy, particularly among youth, which he traces in part to the decline in family devotions.

Let's work and pray to reverse that trend, which could lead our nation to become like Europe, completely secularized and without hope to pass on to the next generations. Seeking purpose and meaning in life, some ethnic Europeans are converting to radical Islam - one Belgian girl, Murielle Degauque, even blowing herself up as a suicide bomber in Iraq recently.

Chuck Colson writes in a recent "Breakpoint" commentary:

This shocking incident reminds us that Islam is no longer confined to oppressed and angry Arabs. It is in our midst and deadly dangerous. But there’s something else going on: that is, the cultural setting in which people like Degauque make their choices....

The effects of European secularism, you see, are not limited to the children of Muslim immigrants. A culture where barely half the people believe in God, and far fewer practice any religion at all, cannot compete with Islam’s vitality. While Europeans have ceased believing in God, they and their children have not stopped needing Him: Their need for meaning and purpose has not gone away. They have just been convinced that these will not be found inside a Christian church.

I don't believe this has to be our future; indeed, there are signs of life for the American Church. Nor does the weakeness of faith in Europe negate what God is doing all over the world, shaking Asia, Africa, and Latin America with powerful revivals. Let's press in together in prayer to see a mighty outpouring of God's grace in our region in 2006 and beyond!

Tags: Christianity, Evangelical

Some Media Insensitivity in Nilan Murder

Because of the emphasis of this blog I typically wouldn't comment on particular crimes except as they highlight the need for prayer for a particular region or a situation in the State. However, I was provoked when I read about the death of jogger Judith Nilan and saw the insensitivity on the part of some of the press. First, it's debatable whether we need all the lurid details. It may be our CSI-crazed society that wants to know or picture these things, but a little self-policing can hurt no one.

A second aspect: as most will have heard, Ms. Nilan's body was discovered on property belonging to Carroll Spinney, who plays Big Bird on Sesame Street. So it was more than a little disturbing to see Yahoo! News pick up a story from E! Online with a headline that read, "Body Found at Big Bird's Nest." Imagine this being your loved one found in such a state and then encountering that. Headline writing can be difficult, but certainly one could have incorporated the fact of Mr. Spinney's ownership of the property, if it were necessary, without resorting to such a stunt. Will anyone apologize for this?

Tags: Connecticut, News, Yahoo

Ronald Reagan on Christmas

"Our coins bear the words 'In God We Trust.' We take the oath of office asking his help in keeping that oath. And we proclaim that we are a Nation under God when we pledge allegiance to the flag. But we can't mention his name in a public school or even sing religious hymns that are non-denominational. Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers but there must be no mention of the Man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas."

Nothing I can add to that.

Tags: Christian, Evangelical

ABC News spotlights students praying for Supreme Court

View this video from ABC's Nightline about student interns in Washington, D.C. praying for the Supreme Court and asking God to intervene in our nation. Includes an interview with Lou Engle, author and founder of their prayer ministry, known as Justice House of Prayer. It's rare to see a news spot that doesn't make all believers, especially the ardent ones, look like they're off their rockers.

Tags: Christian, Evangelical, Supreme Court, Abortion

Revamped Pray CT Website Launches!

It's not that I can't make up my mind, I just want the site to look nice and be easy to use. So, with those two principles in mind, we relaunched our website Saturday night.

Just one glitch that I am aware of: the Church Google Map does not work properly in Firefox browsers. Internet Explorer seems just fine, though. Please let me know if you spot anything else squirrely.

Thanks to all of you who have encouraged and complimented us on the site and this blog. I'm praying they will grow into a great resource for Christians in our State in 2006!

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

Christmas notes from The Christmas City... and services for the depressed

From the "It Had To Come to This Eventually" Department: A California Methodist church is holding a "Blue Christmas" service for people who get depressed during the holidays.

Pastor Barbara Smith says, "It's designed for all of us to acknowledge in the midst of all these activities that we have this sadness."

In the same vein, and closer to home, the First Congregational Church of Kent will hold an alternative Christmas service tomorrow.

“The purpose of this worship service,” explains the church’s pastor, the Rev. Melinda Keck, “is to provide a setting where people can come together, acknowledge their pain, be reassured that they are not alone in their feelings and to experience the message of God’s unconditional love, which is at the heart of this season.”

Not a bad idea to be sure, but I can't help wondering how many people would be helped a bit in their emotions if the entire society would embrace the joy of Christmas, instead of turning it into the annual war it has become.

What do I mean? Read this touching and nostalgic piece by Bill Stanley in the Norwich Bulletin about the days when Norwich was called the Christmas City. And have a Merry Christmas!

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical, Christmas

Christian education gets a boost

More signs of warming towards the evangelical community: some favorable press for Grace Christian School in Stamford. Grace Christian is the only independent, non-denominational Christian school in lower Fairfield County, drawing from a population base of 300,000 or more. Pray for this school and all the Christian schools in the State, especially in areas lacking any significant evangelical representation.

Tags: Connecticut, Christian, Evangelical

A few money notes

A few items of interest on the State's economic front for prayer and reflection:


Lost wages

Connecticut has the highest wages in the country, with a median household income of $56,409. This is good news, although as we all know, it is certainly not distributed very evenly. Still, we give thanks. As a State we are bored with the fact that we are richer than our cousins, so the media was more excited about the fact that Fairfield County (usually called the Gold Coast in these stories) dropped to No. 3 in income, behind Middlessex and Tolland Counties. Cute comments:

We'll pray for them," quipped Fred Carstensen, director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis. "Obviously Fairfield County should probably file for some emergency relief."

I'm glad to see that Pray Connecticut is having such an impact on society!

"Hard times down here is when people buy the 500 series BMW instead of the 800 series BMW," said defense attorney Mickey Sherman, who has represented some of the area's well-heeled residents.

The funny thing is, he's right.


Window Windfall

New London picked up a cool $400,000 from the sale of a Tiffany window. They'll use the money for police cruisers. Or legal bills from eminent domain cases, I guess.


This isn't news to some of us ...

Turns out the Stamford-Norwalk metro area is the second most expensive in the country, beat only by San Francisco. You have to make just over $60,000 to afford a two-bedroom apartment. So if you are not making $29 an hour, forget it.


Sub fight veterans back to fight for jobs

Continue to pray for the economy of the eastern shore, as Electric Boat is facing the loss of about 2400 jobs.


Tags: Christian, Connecticut, Evangelical

Close your eyes, kids... we're getting onto 91!

Peter Wolfgang is blogging over at the Family Institute of CT about the profusion of so-called "adult" billboards in our State in recent years. He also talks about Kingdom Life Church evicting a bookstore selling the stuff. Let's pray against these over-the-top ads and the effort in society to make all this normal. Not sure that such imagery hurts anybody? Read this by the Canadian Insitute for Education on the Family.

Tags: connecticut, evangelical, christian

New Haven clergy uniting to do good

Pastor Todd Foster from Church on the Rock - New Haven and other area pastors were inspired to work together in the aftermath of Katrina and decided to continue to do good "near and far." Pastor Todd has launched a blog connected to the effort called New Haven 828. Check it out; this looks like a noble work. What force in society is equal to the compassion of Christ Jesus within His Church?

Tags: Connecticut, New Haven, christian, evangelical

Or do we? Keeping the flu away...

At the risk of drawing some chuckles from our more secular readership, it's important that we as a State begin to pray and claim the promises of Psalm 91, particularly where we are promised that "no evil shall befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling." (Ps. 91:10) What's up? Simply this: more and more little outcroppings of the bird flu.

A ninth man has died in Indonesia from the virus, and some continue to fear the bug will mutate into something easily transmissible between human beings.

Closer to home, the New Britain Herald had a great piece about how plain awful things were around here the last time there was a flu pandemic, including this terrifying bit:

In Connecticut, approximately 8,500 people died in a four-month span, between Sept. 1 and Dec. 28, 1918. More locally, 466 people lost their lives in New Britain during this time frame, more than 200 in Middletown died and more than 100 died in Bristol, according to the Connecticut Health Bulletin, A Journal to Promote Public Health, dated April 1919, which was put out by the state’s public health department.

Read the whole story here.

In 1918 our State population was approximately 1.4 million, so 8,500 deaths would equate to a proportional death toll of about 25,000 today. This is truly frightening and requires the thoughtful prayers of every believer in the State.

For more on bird flu in general, check out the BBC's flu page here.

Tags: connecticut, christian, evangelical, bird flu

At least we've got our health...

A mixed bag of blessings this week, as they say, in the news that we are the seventh-healthiest state in the US. Read the very interesting snapshot, which includes the bad news that child poverty is up about 20% - bringing our rate up to about 12%. On the brighter side, teen pregnancy seems to have dropped subtantially.

Danbury Mayor spearheading immigration push

Danbury's Republican mayor Mark Boughton has been gaining increased visibility over his efforts to bring immigration issues to the forefront of our political discussions. This past week, Mr. Boughton, together with the Democratic County Executive of Suffolk County (Long Island), announced the formation of a coalition to push for reforms. Boughton has recently claimed that Danbury's population is not really 70,000 but actually 90,000 owing to the presence of numerous undocumented workers from central and South America.

The left-leaning blogger ctblogger has posted this video of the press conference on Google.

Let's pray for wisdom and solutions to these issues, both in Connecticut and nationwide.

Tags: connecticut, evangelical, immigration

Animal Mutilations Mystify DEP

No, there aren't any chupacabras in Connecticut, but what is killing animals in Bethany? Theories abound, but nothing is certain yet.

Tags: connecticut

Notes from here and there...

• Despite running a surplus that some are estimating at $500 million, the Governor says state government cannot contribute its full share towards the funding of teachers' pensions. Right now the fund's liabilities exceed its assets by over $5 billion dollars. Pray for wisdom for this situation, which looms in our fiscal future.

• The US Justice Department is accusing Connecticut of taking $750 million under the No Child Left Behind law without while trying to avoid the requirements of the law. Federal officials said, "Now, on the eve of the deadline for implementing one of the central conditions of the act, the state seeks - first through a set of waiver requests and now through this lawsuit - to keep the funds while jettisoning the accompanying obligations." Pray for wisdom on this one as well.
  

• Mrs. Rell will be pleased to know that she has been determined to be the most popular Governor in the US. She probably received a big boost from the fact that she is not John Rowland, but she does have her own strengths or else she would not have maintained that spot. Let's pray that she will use her political capital wisely. (If you were wondering, Gov. Bob Taft of Ohio is the lest popular governor, with an approval rating of 18% compared to Mrs. Rell's 77%.)

• On the lighter side of life, try sending your Christmas cards from Bethlehem this year. I mean Bethlehem, Connecticut. It's a postmark with a little extra meaning.

Fined for cussin'

The Hartford Police are actually fining students for using bad language while they defy their teachers.

One girl, a sophomore at Hartford Public,

said she was ticketed for shouting an expletive in an officer’s face while handcuffed for taking a swing at him. “It’ll stop me from swearing,” she said. “Well, it won’t stop me from swearing, but I won’t cuss at the teachers.”

The AP has picked this up and is running it all over the country. I am curious as to whether people think this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it seems interesting enough to newspaper editors to carry it. The story has a certain Rudy Giuliani - no graffiti - no broken windows quality to it. However, as usual, the slices of life the press shows of Hartford do not enhance our State's reputation. Keep praying!

Big name political figures hit UConn

The firebrand conservative writer and speaker Anne Coulter stirs up trouble before even getting to U Conn. Cindy Sheehan is also coming. It's not dull up in Storrs.