BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:icalendar-ruby CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260313T014524Z UID:52-944070@runnymedechurch.org DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260222 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260228 CLASS:PUBLIC CREATED:20260111T133626 DESCRIPTION:The Week of Prayer &\; Fasting is an annual week dedicated t o seeking the Lord's presence and His good plans for us. We meet nightly i n the sanctuary for prayer\, worship\, and to share what we sense the Lord is saying to our church. Join us for one or any night that works for you\ , even if you're new to Runnymede. All are welcome as we spend time togeth er in the Spirit. We'd love to have you join us in person at the times lis ted below.\nDates/Times\nSun 22 7:00pm\nMon 23 7:00pm\nTue 24 7:00pm\nWed 25 7:00pm\nThu 26 7:00pm\nFri 27 7:00pm\nSat 28 7:00pm\nWhat is Fasting?\n What it means to fast:\n\nNot eating - the New Testament word literally me ans\, “without food” or “empty”\nIt is by choice – a voluntary p eriod where you don’t eat (not the same as missing a meal!)\nIt is limit ed – for a set amount of time (length of Biblical fasts vary)\nIt is pur poseful - to focus on God\nFasting is part of our wider worship experience s - always coupled with repentance and prayer\n\nThe central idea of Chris tian fasting is to train our whole selves to understand what Jesus affirme d from the Old Testament: “man does not live by bread alone\, but man li ves by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deuterono my 8:3\; Matthew 4:4). We remind our appetites that our true fulfilment is not a full stomach\, but to be obedient to our Heavenly Father. Consider what Jesus said: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God\, who sent me\, and from finishing his work.” John 4:34 (NLT)\n“Fasting conf irms our utter dependence upon God by finding in him a source of sustenanc e beyond food.” -Dallas Willard\nWhat fasting is not:\n\nFasting is not commanded in the NT – it is not a necessity\, but is used as one means t o grow in holiness\nIt isn’t a guarantee of getting an answer – it’s about changing us\, not changing our circumstances\nIt is not meant to be public (Matthew 6:1) – focus on God\, not our practices\nIt isn’t int ended to give us spiritual superiority – we don’t compare how much we fast\nFasting is not an end in itself – not to be used as a diet tool\n\ nFasting as worship:\n\nFasting from food is not necessarily for everyone\ nConsider your health when making choices about whether to fast and how lo ng (1 or 2 meals\, or a full day?)\nAlways drink plenty of water or juice whenever you are fasting\nConsider fasting from television\, computer\, so cial media\, or some other regular enjoyment\nWhat occupies your time that you could offer up this week in order to read God's word\, seek His prese nce\, and pray to the Father?\n\n \nAdapted from Kingsview Free Methodist Church\, 2017 LAST-MODIFIED:20260111T133626 LOCATION: SUMMARY:Week of Prayer and Fasting URL;VALUE=URI:https://www.runnymedechurch.org/events/week-of-prayer-and-fas ting/2026-02-22 ATTACH;FILENAME=alexander-grey-62vi3TG5EDg-unsplash.jpg;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg: https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2022/12/08/09/54/49/aca2756a-57a7-414 8-a4e2-30bcbde0099f/alexander-grey-62vi3TG5EDg-unsplash.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR