From Steve Schusett, Teaching Presbyter, Lehigh Presbytery and the Steering Committee of AEPS

Grace to you all, and peace.
 
What a blessing it has been over the last days to receive the devotions of the “40 Days of Prayer”! Thank you to the Association of Executive Presbyters (AEPS) and all of the writers for this wonderful ministry. At the last General Assembly many of us were able to meet for a period of communal prayer, and it was an incredibly powerful time that I hope we will make time for again in Minneapolis. These have been great gifts for those of us in middle-governing ministry.
 
The question is, how can we share this ministry of prayer with others at the Assembly?
 
In Lehigh Presbytery we have established “Presence Keepers,” two to three individuals who attend each meeting not as commissioners, but as pray-ers. Their responsibilities are simple: to lift up the assembled in prayer, and to be a witness to Christ’s presence among us.
 
With this example, I proposed to AEPS that those of us in middle-governing body ministry play a similar role at the General Assembly. In consultation with Tom Hay of the Office of General Assembly, a chair in each committee room and every plenary session will be marked and set aside for a Presence Keeper. If you participate, you will be asked to pray for a one to two hour period (depending on the number of volunteers for a time period) in any non-disruptive fashion that is natural to you. That is to say, methods that are silent and unobtrusive such as reading Scripture, using a finger labyrinth, journaling, drawing, using a prayer rope or beads, or sitting contemplatively are welcome. Liturgical dance, singing prayers and hymns, or walking prayers, however, will be more interruption than help. Please use good judgment!
 
As a follower of Jesus Christ, what you pray is between you and God. God alone is Lord of the conscience. At the same time, however, as folks blessed to work with not one congregation but many, you understand the need to look beyond ourselves and our desires. I ask you to pray in good conscience, not for one position to win out over another during your time as a Presence Keeper, but for God’s will to be done. It is a sad state of affairs that prayer is too often used or perceived as a political tool to gain advantage. This is an opportunity for those of us in middle-governing ministry to live out our own prayerfulness, witnessing what it is to live in the light of the steadfast love of God.
 
Each Presence Keeper will be asked to sit and pray for a time period not to exceed two hours. The more people who sign up, the more one hour prayer periods. Sign up for as many time periods as you are available for; if you cannot make your period (once assigned) PLEASE find your own substitute or make alternate arrangements. I promise not to “overbook” you without your permission! Please note that at this point times are approximate. Committees may choose to break early, or things may go late. If you get there late, just enter unobtrusively; if the meeting runs late, please stay if you can and don’t feel guilty if you can’t.
 
If you are able and interested, please go to the following website www.doodle.com/pa3ai2wi78e24656 to find "Doodle," an online scheduling program. By clicking this link you will be taken to a screen on which you can indicate your availability. Please respond by Wednesday, June 23, so that a complete schedule can be sent out through AEPS and the OGA. If you have staff attending, or know of others who might be interested, you may pass this on to them, but you will have to inform them of their time. At that time any further details will also be shared.
 
Thank you for considering this ministry of prayer at a time when it is so dearly needed.
 
God is all in all,
Steve Shussett