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Dearly Beloved CPC Family, 

As Laura and I were engaged in the search process with CPC, we found ourselves thinking, talking and praying about many things. Along the way I often found myself pondering, 'if we were called to be the Pastors of CPC and could only focus on leading the church to focus on 5 things, what would they be?" 

Let me be clear, CPC doesn't need to do 'only' five things. However, focus and clarity do benefit an organization incredibly. And it may help you to know what we carry in our hearts and what kind of things are at the top of the list of priority and attention. Over the next several weeks I am going to use our "Dearly Beloved" letters to share these 5 things with you. 

So, without further ado,

1) PRAYER 

I have appreciated how CPC has through the years carried a high value and practice of prayer. As we move into our shared future together, we want to build on this foundation and see it develop into an even stronger priority and culture in CPC. At a personal level, I think almost all of us would like to experience growth in our prayer lives. I also think that we would all say that we love the idea of a praying church - a church that gathers together across generations for dynamic, Spirit-led corporate prayer gatherings. Imagine with me a day when your personal times of fellowship with the Lord are the highlight of your day. Imagine with me a church family that is eagerly anticipating its next prayer meeting. Imagine children, youth, parents and seniors walking into our building with eyes glistening in anticipation of encountering the Holy Spirit together in prayer and discovering what surprises he holds for us. Anything great that God will accomplish through CPC will most certainly be first birthed in prayer. So as we turn the calendar into 2021 we will be giving priority to prayer to begin the year. Stay tuned! 

In Luke's account of Jesus' baptism it says that Jesus prayed, "and as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Spirit descended upon Him." (Luke 3.21-22). I believe that as we collectively give ourselves to increasing prayer in our personal lives and church-wide prayer initiatives, we will also experience an opening of heaven among us and greater Spirit work upon and through us! 

May it be, Lord. Amen.

- Pastor Mike