What to expect at a Mizpah Worship night...
Welcome to Mizpah!
We are so blessed to have you join us. Mizpah is a place for the Church to gather in unity, regardless of denomination and with one thing in common... the pursuit of Jesus. As Ephesians 4:4-6 says:
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
As one, we look to the only One deserving of all our affection.
Our heart for these nights is to journey together in seeking and waiting on God through humbling ourselves in united worship and prayer. Prayer is central to everything we do, as is a heart to serve God and each other. Our one motive on these nights is to lift up the name of Jesus. Philippians 2:1-13 is a foundational scripture for us regarding who we long to be and why we gather. We encourage you to read it!
While we use music as a focus and a means to come together, it is just one of the expressions of worship that we are called to by scripture. As Paul wrote to the Romans:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Our prayer is that all our lives lived in obedience to the Holy Spirit will be our act of worship, including everything we do here together at Mizpah.
What you can expect
Open/Prayer
We open for prayer at 6pm, you are welcome to join in. Sometimes the doors are closed (usually in winter) but that is only because it is cold so please feel free to come in. We are not prescriptive of what happens during this time, although often we find it’s a time of reverence which is gentle in tone.
We have team members who are leading this time and being sensitive to what the Spirit of God might be saying or doing. We ask that if you are arriving for prayer or before 7pm, you come sensitively to what is happening in the space and be aware of what God is doing. If you would like to mingle and chat, there is plenty of space outside the front of the barn, with a welcoming open fire in winter.
Continuing…
We usually start singing together around 7pm, with the night typically finishing around 10pm. Often we will start with a scripture and share what we believe God wants to do and reveal that night.
We do not have any firm plans for what will happen during this time. While sometimes we will sing together for the entire 3 hours, often we take communion, and as of late we have been stopping intermittently throughout the singing to pray, reflect and wait on the Lord. In late 2024 we included a prayer walk around the property for anyone who wanted to partake, ending at the beautiful chapel. We will offer this as the weather permits.
Some have asked why we at times repeat song lyrics. It is a good question and here are some things we have come to understand:
- Sometimes we do this for our own hearts so we can wash ourselves in the truth of the words.
- Sometimes it is simply providing the Holy Spirit time and space to minister to us through those particular words as He brings insight and revelation or healing or breakthrough.
- Sometimes it’s because our praise and the truth of those words might be breaking through into the spiritual atmosphere in that moment. As Ephesians 6 reminds us, we battle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, and so at times our worship is rising up in warfare against the enemy.
Throughout the night there can often be moments where nothing seems to be happening or we literally stop to listen or wait on God or just linger with instrumentals only playing. As a team we are asking the Holy Spirit to lead us and sometimes that requires us to pause, listen and discern what He is saying and doing in the moment. If this is not something you are used to, we invite you to open your heart and ask the Father to help you lean in. Posture your heart in surrender and listen for what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. Being uncomfortable is ok.
Along with our worship and prayer, we have people come with flags, people who draw and paint, people who journal, parents with newborns and small children and so many others. All are welcome. We are the family of God.
What to bring
Please bring your bible (the paper one), a notebook and pen, come dressed warm (in winter) and a camping chair (if you have one) just incase the seating fills up inside. There is lots of space in the parking lot for picnic rugs and camping chairs.
Coffee/tea/nibbles/community table
We have a coffee and tea station set up to the right of the barn with some light snacks on the table. We invite you to both partake and contribute to this community table. Mizpah runs off donations and contributions so we humbly invite and welcome anything you would like to add (for example crackers, biscuits, cake, dip, fruit, platters etc.) If you would like to provide either financial or practical donations (drinks, cleaning products, etc.) please find one of our team and they can let you know how to do that. The team generally have a Lanyard on or you can ask one of the Band members.
Transport & Parking
The property is a private residence that is also surrounded by other homes, so we ask for your support in honouring and respecting the neighbours.
There is parking on site but it’s very limited so we recommend meeting up somewhere close by and then carpooling up in 1 car. After the spaces have been filled, we do have to start sending cars away. Parking on the street will not be allowed.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are located to the left of the barn, we ask that you help the team by keeping these clean during use and even offering to help clean them.
How you can help?
Mizpah is not a church or typical community organisation and doesn’t have all the background support and resources you might expect. We are a unique group of people from a broad range of churches and personal backgrounds who come together for a common purpose, drawn together to serve by our love for God. We would appreciate your support both in prayer and in practical terms and would be very grateful for any help that you might want to offer.
On the practical side, we would particularly appreciate help with managing parking, setting up the hospitality station, cleaning toilets, stoking the fire in winter and a range of other areas. If you would like to be a part of the team or help out, please have a chat to any of our team on one of the nights.
Donations
If you would like to make a monetary donation please see the below bank details. All donations go towards continuing to improve and maintain the grounds and facilities at Mizpah. We do have a team that manages the finances and keeps a transparent record of all the expenses.
We humbly receive anything you feel lead to give.
You can deposit a donation direct to our bank account:
Mizpah Pty Ltd
BSB: 086131
ACCOUNT: 304176769
2025 Dates, Time + Location
LOCATION: These nights are held in the barn on the Mizpah property (600 Albany Hwy, Bedfordale).
TIME: As mentioned above, we start the night at 6pm and run till approximately 10pm.
DATES:
21 JUNE
26 JULY
9 AUGUST
30 AUGUST
20 SEPTEMEBER
18 OCTOBER
08 NOVEMBER
Testimonies or Questions
If you have any other questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to ask us. If you have a testimony of anything God is doing in your life through your time at Mizpah, we would also love to hear and join you in giving glory to God! Please email your testimony to info@mizpah.au.
Blessings
The Mizpah Collective
