Praying for Synod 2023

Dear Congregations and members of the Christian Reformed Church,

Greetings in Christ’s name.

It has been a great source of joy and encouragement to see more and more of our members, congregations, and leaders prioritize prayer in their daily lives. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

40 Days of Prayer before Synod 2023

I would like to personally invite you all to share in 40 days of prayer in preparation for Synod 2023, beginning on April 30 and concluding on June 8, 2023. Each day, readers will receive a Bible text, a prayer, and some suggested questions for reflection or conversation. All of the prayers are intended to reflect the theme of Synod 2023: Longing to be Like Christ, which is based on Philippians 2:1-11, summarized by verse 5: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” More information can be found by checking links on The Banner and the CRC Network. A daily or weekly email or pdf can be sent to you when you sign up here.

Prayer during Synod 2023

During synod, an emphasis on prayer will continue with focused times of prayer by delegates and morning prayers with those who are interested. For those who’d like to pray but aren’t at synod, there’ll be opportunities to sign up for half hour prayer time slots each day with a provided prayer guide. There will also be an opportunity for prayer each day on social media via Facebook. 

I am thankful to our CRCNA leaders, and especially our Prayer Shepherd, Jon Hoekema (the pastor of Horizon Community Church), for their work in making these prayer times and materials available.

Yours in Christ,

Zachary King