Hopper says he and MacLeod are concerned about recent bad news, such as Bowater and White Point, and they want to help to lift people’s spirits.
Hopper and MacLeod came up with the idea to hold the concert of prayer, and the two have invited the other denominations to participate.
“A concert of prayer is directed prayer through different stages,” says Hopper. “It will culminate in a period of time where we get to listen to God speak to us around the theme of hope.”
Someone leads the service to consider “various aspects of prayer,” says Hopper.
One of reasons the church community is holding the service is because many people are concerned about the future, says the reverend.
“What Kirk and I realized we’re dealing with is people’s lives, individuals’ lives,” says Hopper. “People are wondering, ‘How am I going to pay the mortgage? How am I going to pay my car payment? What does my economic future look like?’”
It’s the right time in the Christian calendar for the service because it’s when Jesus was born and brought hope into the world, says Hopper. He says this shows a natural tie.
“True hope is still available for people,” says the reverend.
He says he hopes people are able to rise above the economic woes.
The service will begin with worship and singing, followed by personal preparation, meaning congregates will ask God to come and listen.
The third stage is dedication, the place in which people examine their hearts. Next is experiencing hope, through acknowledging God is the one who ultimate controls the future, says Hopper.
“The next part we transition into is where we actually seek God’s blessing upon our community in light of the economic situations,” he says.
Hopper says the final part involves listening to God through a meditation, which MacLeod will lead. The meditation will be on the theme of hope.
He says prayer involves much more than speaking with God individually. It also means singing and being introspective.
“We’ll specifically be praying for political leaders and business leaders,” says Hopper.
He says the congregation will be praying for the community’s decision makers.
“I guess the main thing is … we want to pray for the effected families, the half of the workforce that will lose their jobs and are really in some cases in a time of crisis,” says Hopper.
The reverend says though churches may not be able to change situations, they can help people react to them differently.
