UABC 2010, The Year of the Fast

A proclamation by the Pastor of Upper Alton Baptist Church.

As the Shepherd of our church family and with the blessing of the Church Board, I am proclaiming 2010 to be the Year of the Fast in the life of Upper Alton Baptist Church. Similar to proclamations by US Presidents, who set aside special days of remembrance, and similar to biblical leaders proclaiming special days of prayer and fasting—this proclamation is a call to such a unified effort.

As we endeavor to re-envision who we are as the people called Upper Alton Baptist Church and to what Our Lord is calling us to do in our time, it is essential that we are listening for the leadings of the Holy Spirit. It is imperative that we set ourselves apart for this task of listening in both spirit and in practice. Our heritage of faith is rich with men and women who have sought the Lord’s guidance through the discipline of prayer and fasting. It is a fitting time for us to learn from those before us who have drawn closer to Jesus through such disciplines.

All UABCers are invited to join me thoughout 2010 in growing in the discipline of prayer and fasting. There are two explicit goals for this emphasis:
1. First of all, the Year of the Fast is an invitation to the entire church family to support and participate in the work of envisioning, which the Church Board intentionally began in 2009. The work of envisioning is a process of discernment—gradually figuring out together what the Head of our Church wants to do with us down the road. The Church Board will continue to lead us through this phase, but it is not their work alone.
2. Secondly, the Year of the Fast is an opportunity to develop a new spiritual skill. During 2010, we will get acquainted with some guidelines for making sure our fasting efforts are grounded, straightforward, and life-giving. Especially for some who are fasting “rookies”, this will be a chance to experiment with a new a way of getting to know Jesus.

The Year of the Fast will entail a monthly Day of Prayer of Fasting, beginning in February. This day will align with the day of the Church Board meetings, which normally occur on the Wednesday after the first Sunday of the month. Three options are suggested, depending on an individual’s experience with fasting, health, eagerness to help with the work of envisioning, and/or desire to receive a word from Our Lord:
• all-day, alternative fast (going without something besides food)
• one-meal, water-only fast
• all-day, juice-and-water-only fast.

If sometime in the past you’ve written off this ancient practice as too legalistic, too difficult, or just too weird, please reconsider and be willing to learn. When done humbly and appropriately, learning to pray with fasting can be a new way we learn how to listen to God.

Done this seventeenth day of January, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and ten, and of the founding of Upper Alton Baptist Church the one hundred eightieth.