Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San) will host 24 hours of praise, prayer and fasting from Friday evening June 23, as an expression of gratitude for the way God has blessed the organisation in the past and faith in His leading for the years to come.
A 24-hour prayer chain will start at 5pm on Friday with a program in the San chapel, and go all the way through to Saturday evening. The San chapel will be the hub of this event, with music, prayer and Bible readings led by one person each hour, however, those who can’t be there in person can participate via Zoom, and via the hospital’s in-house TV channel for patients and staff on the wards.
“This is the first 24-hour prayer and fasting event of this nature held at the San in living memory, and it will be a very uplifting and unifying occasion,” said San CEO Brett Goods. “We know God has richly blessed the organisation every day since 1899 when He led Ellen White to choose the site the San is built on. We’ve been especially grateful for His protection during the pandemic, and we are also thankful for the way our community supports the San. This event is an opportunity for us to pray with, and for, our community.”
As well as participating in the 24-hour prayer session, people are invited to fast in a way that is appropriate for them.
“There is a notion in some regions that fasting is old fashioned, or that it is only done to move the hand of God to do something we want,” said Dr Steve Stephenson, Acting Director of Mission Integration at the San. “However we believe fasting is a way to show the Lord that we love Him: that we’re keeping aside this time to very mindfully and purposefully fellowship with Him, deepen our relationship with Him, and not be distracted by the routine things we do every day of our lives.”
“There are good reasons why some people cannot fast from food, so they may choose to switch off their devices for 24 hours, or refrain from a favourite food, beverage or a particular pastime–it is entirely up to the individual,” added Dr Stephenson. “The Bible tells us that if we choose to fast, it is not to be a display of piety or sombreness for other people to notice; it is to be done with a spirit of gladness and thanksgiving.”
The San’s 24-hour season of prayer, fasting and thanksgiving is open to all who would like to join.
“The hospital looks after more than 200,000 patients each year,” said Mr Goods. “We have a deeply loyal and supportive community, and this is our opportunity to pray for them and our patients, staff, doctors, volunteers, families, and suppliers. We welcome you to join us in person or online. Together we can experience the profound source of peace and hope that comes with community in relationship with God.”
We welcome you to join us!
Date: From 5pm Friday, June 23 to 5pm Saturday, June 24.
In person: San Chapel, Clifford Tower, 185 Fox Valley Road Wahroonga
In hospital: Via the San’s in-house TV channel 502
Via Zoom: URL: https://sah.zoom.us/j/86783467637?pwd=M0M1QlVzMy8wQ0pnWjhtOEd0b1Fudz09
Meeting ID: 867 8346 7637
Password: 7777
For more information, contact San Spiritual Care Services: phone +61 2 9480 6160 or email SpiritualCare@sah.org.au
About Adventist HealthCare
Adventist HealthCare Limited operates Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San) and San Day Surgery Hornsby. The hospital has been a leading healthcare provider for 120 years (since opening in 1903) and has grown to become NSW’s largest not-for-profit private hospital with more than 700 beds. The San is the biggest employer in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai region. www.sah.org.au
