LUNCH WITH THE LORD: COMMUNITY GATHERS FOR MONTHLY NOON PRAYER SERVICE (WAYS WE WORSHIP)

At a time of day when most other people are scurrying to beat the rush at their favorite restaurant, a group of Cape Girardeau residents gathers for a prayer and praise service.

The noon worship service, sometimes called "Lunch with the Lord," is held on the first Tuesday of the month at a different church each month, which helps ensure that people from many congregations are given the opportunity to attend.

The group met Tuesday at Cape Bible Chapel, and about 60 people attended. The noon meeting is suspended in May because of National Day of Prayer services scheduled that week.

"The results we are seeing in our prayers are from our obedience," Sherri Mehner said recently at an organizational meeting for the National Day of Prayer. "Prayer isn't about a day but about a discipline."

Mehner has been the leader in organizing the monthly prayer services and finding churches to act as hosts. She and her husband, Jack, have organized National Day of Prayer services and the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast for the past five years.

Building unity

The services show how Cape Girardeau churches are working to build unity but putting a measure on answered prayer can be a difficult task.

"Prayer is the foundation of the Christian church," said Ralph Sharp, a member of Cape Bible Chapel who led music for the Tuesday prayer service. "When Christ established the church, he said it would be a house of prayer."

It's good to know that people recognize that and follow through with the prayer services, Sharp said.

"Church leaders have always eaten together, visited, become friends or had an Easter service together," said Mike Woelk, pastor of Livingway Foursquare Church, "but when they humble themselves enough to actually pray together consistently, things change. More importantly, when church leaders begin to pray for the success of other churches and leaders next door, God moves."

Woelk expects there to be great changes in Cape Girardeau because Christians are praying for the city, its schools, leaders and churches. Of the 20 or so churches regularly represented at the meeting, Woelk said the group is "growing in their love and honor of each other."

When diverse groups who don't always gather together, pray together consistently, there is a spiritual effect, he said.

It is becoming obvious that there is a tremendous spiritual power being birthed in the city, Woelk said, and there is a growing respect for lay leaders, like the Mehners.

Although Jack and Sherri Mehner are members of one particular church in town, they are considered by many pastors as having an authoritative voice on issues of prayer, Woelk said, adding: "When she speaks about prayer, I listen because I know she is specially called by God in this one area."

Lifeline to God

The Rev. Hal Greene, pastor of Cape Bible Chapel, said prayer is a lifeline to God.

"If we have a heart for God and want to see his work go forward, you can do all the mechanics but if you don't have the spirit of God you don't have anything," he said.

Greene said it is gratifying to see the number of people who give up a lunch hour to come for prayer. For many, the service is about prayer and fasting because they won't get a second lunch hour.

Over the course of the service, people come and go as their obligations allow. Some only have a short lunch period and must leave early, while others arrive later or midway through the service.

The hourlong service begins with a greeting and then praise songs or choruses, often led by a pastor or minister from the host church. As different topics for prayer are introduced, a pastor or community leader will offer a corporate prayer. Others in the audience are also invited to pray aloud.

Prayer is an expression of our dependence on God, Greene said.

The community prayer and praise services, held for nearly eight months now, began after a prayer emphasis in the community linked to the National Day of Prayer.

In Cape Girardeau, the National Day of Prayer, which is held each year on the first Thursday of May, is actually built around a week's worth of prayer services sponsored by different churches. The services begin on the Monday before the Thursday observation.

Woelk said he envisions a time when Cape Girardeau slows down and truly seeks the Lord in prayer.

Several churches -- sometimes representing an area of town like the downtown or west end -- play host to evening prayer times geared toward a particular topic. The monthly prayer services also have a topical focus when pastors or leaders pray. Tuesday the group offered prayers for thanksgiving, reconciliation, Easter worship and youth.

Of the 50 or so people who regularly attend the service, a fourth are pastors at local churches. The next service will be June 5 at Centenary United Methodist Church.