All members of the Christian Reformed Church in North America are invited to join in prayer for Synod 2025.
For 40 days before synod begins, prayer participants will receive daily emails with a Bible text, a prayer, and suggested questions for reflection or conversation. All of these prayers will reflect the theme of Synod 2025, “Journey with Jesus,” based on the Emmaus Road story of Luke 24, the theme also used at the 10 Gather events throughout Canada and the U.S.
“The 40 days of prayer are written by CRC members, missionaries, pastors, and staff,” explained Jon Hoekema, the denomination’s prayer shepherd. “They are written by young and old, in various languages, with English translations for all, reflecting the beautiful diversity of the CRCNA.”
Writers include pastors, chaplains, church planters, missionaries, university and seminary students, young adults, and people with disabilities from CRC congregations and ministries around the world.
“What these writers have in common is a commitment to the themes of the Emmaus road story,” Hoekema said. “They reflect on where we have had disappointments or unmet expectations, the times we’ve failed to see God at work or didn’t trust what he was doing, and also a celebration of those times when we did recognize Jesus in our midst and have been clothed with power to share the good news with others.”
The 40 days of prayer will begin May 4 and will conclude as delegates gather in Ancaster, Ont., on June 12 for Synod 2025. During synod there will be focused times of prayer by delegates and morning prayers with anyone who wishes to participate. For those who aren’t delegates, Hoekema will offer daily opportunities to pray with a prayer guide during 30-minute prayer vigils and with daily prayers on Facebook.
To learn more about how to participate in prayer for synod, receive the free 40 days of prayer as a weekly PDF or as daily emails, or sign up for the 30-minute prayer vigils, visit crcna.org/pray.
About the Author
Kristen deRoo VanderBerg was part of the World Renew Communications team from 1999-2016. She now serves as director of Communications & Marketing for the Christian Reformed Church.
