Join us for these simple gatherings centered on the deep hope that Easter brings. All are truly welcome.
4.2 | PALM SUNDAY – 10AM // 15 Hayes St
4.2 | WORSHIP & PRAYER NIGHT – 6PM // location tbd
4.7 | GOOD FRIDAY – 6PM // 15 Hayes St
4.9 | EASTER SUNDAY* – 9:30AM // 15 Hayes St // Picnic & Egg Hunt to follow
*full KidCity program; check-in at 9:15am
We know that as we seek God through worship, prayer and fasting we raise the sails of our souls, making room in our hearts and lives for God to move. Every Tuesday & Thursday we are inviting you to align your desire with others to see “the fame and deeds of God renewed and known in our time.” (Habakkuk 3:2)
The Providence Prayer Room is a simple space to do this: To seek God and His presence, be transformed by meditation on The Word, and to intercede for renewal/revival/awakening.
These spaces come from a resolve to create more and more opportunities to meet with God through corporate prayer and worship. It is our desire that these gatherings would usher in the power and presence of God in our hearts, our homes, our church community, and our region.
We invite you to join with us, and make this pursuit a part of your daily life.
IN-PERSON
12 Bassett St, Providence, RI (except where noted)
Every Tuesday morning you will receive a text that will link you to a short devotional and prayer prompt that will align our hearts for the week.
– sign up to receive text prompts
– find them here
We want to invite you to fast from a meal (or something substantial if food is an issue) during the season of Lent while praying through our weekly prompt.
Throughout history incredible seasons of prayer and fasting have been recorded. Of course, in the eyes of those who prayed they may not have been remarkable at all. They sought God in simple and honest ways. They touched the heart of God in one way or another and changed environments, cities, nations and history itself.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. – 1 John 5:14
What if the greater Providence area continued to be transformed by the good news of Jesus and became known as a place where God is alive and at work? God placed us in one of the least churched cities in America, and through us the God of the miraculous is on the move. Our prayers aren’t as ordinary or unremarkable as we think.
Prayer and fasting touches the heart of God and reorders our values.
Prayer and fasting are critical disciplines in joining God in the renewal of all things.
“History is the story of God giving away power. After entrusting the human species with the gift of free choice, God invited its representatives to act as partners, even to argue and wrestle with the One who created them. Yet, virtually everyone God picked to lead a new venture – Adam, Abraham, Moses, David – proved disappointing in part. Apparently God committed to work with human partners no matter how inept. Jesus stayed on earth barely long enough to assemble a dozen followers (no less flawed), to whom he handed the keys of the kingdom of God. Against all odds the movement took off, and the human partnership has not stopped since. We are “God’s fellow workers,” the apostle Paul said. We collaborate with God’s actions in the world. And as God’s coworkers we are encouraged to submit our requests, our desires, and our petitions in prayer.” – Yancey
Learn more about our regional prayer & worship movement
Sanctuary Music has released a new song – It’s Time To Dream Again
Below is list of current links related to what’s
happening across our church this week.
If you are just beginning a spiritual journey or are interested in exploring Christian spirituality in a safe and open setting, Alpha might be for you.
WHAT IS ALPHA?
Alpha is a place where anyone can explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open, and informal environment. We share a meal together, watch a short film, and have an open and honest discussion about what it means to have faith. Alpha is an 8 week dinner and discussion series designed for people who wouldn’t describe themselves as Christians. Our team provide Alpha guests with exceptional hospitality and a friendly and respectful environment in which to discuss the big issues of life and the Christian faith.
WHO IS ALPHA FOR?
Alpha is for anyone who would not describe themselves as a Christian.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Alpha runs across ten weekly sessions with an optional weekend away midway through. Each session includes food, a short video and a discussion where guests can share their thoughts. The talks are designed to encourage conversation and explore the basics of the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment. No question is out of bounds and everyone is free to discuss as much or as little as they wish. There’s no pressure, no follow up and no charge.
Sunday Watch Parties & Home Churches…
are a great way to experience church online together. Join with friends near and far to watch and discuss the Sunday sermon, build community and make new friendships.
The way of Jesus is meant to be walked together, and we are eager to – safely – provide ways to do this on Sundays.
There are 3 types of Watch Parties
SUNDAY HOME CHURCH
Some of our midweek Home Churches have begun meeting in person on Sunday mornings. Following a home guide we sing, pray, and take communion together, streaming the message only.
Times and locations will be up soon – sign up below to be notified!
Everyone is on a spiritual journey. Whether you are new to the way of Jesus, just beginning to explore spirituality, or have been following Jesus for as long as you can remember – you are on a spiritual journey.
Every journey is unique, but we believe that no matter where we are starting from, Jesus is inviting each of us deeper and further into his life as we learn to walk in his path.
At Sanctuary, we believe that the way of Jesus is the best possible way to live and we seek to be his disciples – his apprentices – learning to walk in his ways. We describe this journey of discipleship as being lived out in four directions – Upward (being with Jesus), Inward (becoming like Jesus), Outward (doing what Jesus did), and Withward (doing all this together).
Explore what your path might look like this season as you we practice the way of Jesus together
The FUTURE BUILDERS GALA is our thank you to all those who give regularly to help build the future of Sanctuary. Join us for this special night on November 22 to build a legacy together through our generosity.
The gala is where all 3 of our congregations come together for a night of new vision, dinner, dancing and stepping out together as a church to dream for PVD and beyond.
Let’s keep dreaming | 11.22 | 7pm
*Pvd location and special guest speaker to be announced
July 20th, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landing of the Apollo 11 mission, when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon.
It’s interesting that a few minutes after landing on the surface, before they actually stepped out, Buzz Aldrin, who had been a Presbyterian minister before he was an astronaut, actually took communion there in the lander.
Retelling his experience, he says,
“I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.’”
“I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.”
“Perhaps, if I had it to do over again, I would not choose to celebrate communion. Although it was a deeply meaningful experience for me, it was a Christian sacrament, and we had come to the moon in the name of all mankind… But at the time I could think of no better way to acknowledge the enormity of the Apollo 11 experience that by giving thanks to God.”
I think we would be hard pressed to find any human who has not at some point been struck with awe and wonder at the sight of the moon. It has inspired art, literature, music, and poetry religions throughout history and across the world.
And this man who was able to experience the moon in ways that very few have, this man who was at the literal zenith of technological advancement and human achievement, found his awe and wonder culminated in partaking in a simple and ancient ritual: REMEMBERING the sacrifice of Jesus through communion.
This man who was able to experience the moon in ways that none of us have, this man who was at the literal zenith of technological advancement and human achievement, was moved to worship.
At the height of scientific progress, he is not overcome by his own accomplishment, but rather reminded of his absolute dependence. He is moved to consider and meditate upon what is perhaps the ultimate underlying, most fundamental reality of the universe – the self-giving love of the God who created it all.
Psalm 136:4-9
Give thanks to the Lord of lords…
To him who alone does great wonders…
Who by his understanding made the heavens…
Who spread out the earth upon the waters…
Who made the great lights…
The sun to govern the day…
The moon and stars to govern the night…
His love endures forever.
May we dive deep into the beauty and mystery and grandeur of the cosmos, letting it lead us to the cross. May we take pause at the both moon hanging in the sky, and at everything down here on the dust of this earth below, and be moved to wonder at the grace of God.
May we lift our eyes to the heavens and remember the one who set them in place.
May our response be one of joy and gratitude, of awe and of praise.
We have created a INOURTIME.CO as a resource to help catalyze the church to seek God for awakening. On it you will find a prayer guide, fasting resources and upcoming gatherings, trainings and more.
Join us
Sanctuary Church Providence, Rhode Island 