WAKE up! It’s time to rub the sleep from our eyes, blink a few times, step out of bed and draw back the curtains, because in a little over three weeks Brisbane will be “opening its windows” to the Catholic youth of Australia to let the Holy Spirit come pouring in.
Hosted by Brisbane’s Emmanuel Community, the theme of this year’s Ignite “AWAKEN”, is inspired by the early Christian mantra: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)
Who of us doesn’t enjoy a good sleep in?
If we do for too long, however, our metabolism becomes sluggish and we need a proverbial “splash of water in the face”.
If we sleep for too long we miss out on the joy and activity of the daylight.
Of course, we’re not really talking about physical sleep at all.
This “splash of water”, this “light through the windows” is the Holy Spirit.
“Awakening” is what we all need from time to time, and what we are praying will happen for the Church of Australia.
This year, when as a Church we are praying for a “wave of Grace” to wash over our nation, this process needs to start with us.
Each one of us is called to “wake up sleeper and rise from the dead” if we want our Church and country to experience the same.
And so we are putting the invitation out “for anyone with ears to hear” – come to Ignite.
The Ignite Conference 2012 will be held at Mueller Performing Arts Centre, Redcliffe, north of Brisbane, from Thursday, September 27, to Sunday, September 30.
If you know someone young or “young at heart”, sign them up to experience being “woken up by the Lord”.
God wants to do something exciting in His Church and in this nation, and we invite everyone in the Church of Brisbane to come be a part of it.
“Come, Holy Spirit. Pour in through the windows of our hearts and our Church, and awaken us to your presence in the world around us. Amen.”
PAT KEADY
Worship Director
Emmanuel Community, Brisbane
