Description of The Boston Noon Hour

In 1857 America was in crisis. What had begun as a cultural divide over slavery had deepened into a spiritual rift. Had God created blacks to have the same self-evident right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as whites? Or did He intend them to be intelligent beasts of burden, put on earth to serve whites? In both North and South, hearts had so hardened over that question that resolution by force of arms seemed inevitable.

Then the stock market crashed, the economy collapsed, multitudes were thrown out of work, and no one had any answers.

But one man thought God might.

Jeremiah Lanphier invited anyone with a heart for God in the business district of New York City, to gather for prayer at Noon on Wednesdays. The first Wednesday, there were six. The second Wednesday, twenty. The third, forty, and they started coming every day.

The Great Prayer Revival of 1857 had begun.

Today, America is again in crisis. The cultural divide has become a spiritual rift, and no one has any answers.

But perhaps God does.

What if – we were to accept the challenge of Jeremiah’s example? What if we were to go and do likewise? And follow his model exactly?

Two years ago, a few of us began meeting for prayer at Tremont Temple at Noon on Wednesdays. Now we are 70.

Ask Him, if He’d have you join us.

Jeremiah’s Rules

1. All who desire to seek the face of God in meekness and humility are welcome.

2. Come to pray, not to preach or proselytize, or be entertained. Just to pray.

3. Avoid controversial subjects and divisive prayers. The hour is God’s, not ours. Ask Him to guide your prayers.

4. As you pray, be sensitive to those around you, who might not come from the same prayer tradition as you.

5. Personal prayer requests and praise for answered prayer are welcome, as are reports of what the Lord is doing elsewhere. Exhortations are also welcome, but no more than two in a row, and none should exceed five minutes. A bell may be rung to announce the next person’s turn.

6. Promptness is vital. The hour should begin at Noon and end at one. If you can give Him the whole hour, fine. If you can stay only a few minutes, that is also fine. Linger afterwards if you like, but the closing benediction will be at one.

7. Throughout, be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit of God. Let Him give us the concerns and the words, for we’ve come to please Him, not ourselves.
Guiding Principles

For he was looking for the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. – Hebrews 11:10

Abraham was looking for a far city, whose foundations were already laid by the Master Builder. So it is for the Boston Noon Hour. Erected on the firm foundation of the Word and Will of God, it has His Spirit hovering over it, guiding the preparation.

From its inception, it has been His. When He determines it is ready for all of Boston, He will speak that into existence, and it will continue to be His, until its completion.

Meanwhile, we are living stones that He is shaping to fit into His temple of prayer – watchers on the wall, awaiting His command:

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shall come upon you.
– Isaiah 60:1

Jesus revealed that the glory the Father gave Him is also given to us, that we might be one – in spirit and purpose, in one accord.

As God re-digs this great well of revival, Tremont Temple in downtown Boston, and the work gathers momentum, let us always remember:

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. – Psalm 127:1

Reflections

At different times, as we have prayed in Tremont Temple and sought the Lord’s face, we have sensed Him speaking into our hearts. We do not claim it is Him, but what follows is the gist of what has come to us.

The first time we prayed together, Alex felt God was calling men and women of kindred spirit to form a unified front, for His Word says that while one could set a thousand to flight, two could set ten thousand to flight.

The coming Revival would involve thousands of watchmen and witnesses—but first it would begin in two’s. In God’s Word He called two, Peter and Andrew, as they were casting their nets. All He said was, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Without hesitation they left everything and followed Him.

Similarly, James and John were mending their nets with their father, when Jesus called them to follow Him. They, too, at once left their livelihood to do so. And He sent the seventy out, two by two.

This new move will begin on a foundation of two’s – multitudes of groups of two’s. They will serve as prayer partners to accomplish what He is about to do. If the prayers of a righteous man availed much, how much more will prayers of many righteous avail? The foundation, then, would be 2 x 2 x 2. . . .

During the same Noon Hour at Tremont Temple, David felt God was pleased.

They had begun.
They should not shrink back.
They should not lower their voices,
for fear of offending men.
They should sing and speak boldly
and fearlessly, because
They would know it was not them
speaking, but His Spirit speaking through them.
They should have patience with one
another, but not tarry. The wave
was already gathering.

God intended them to be on it,
not observing it from afar.
He was calling them to
stand up for Jesus, and
He would stand up for them.

At the first public prayer hour, God seemed to encourage them that He would fill each one of the 1850 seats in that sanctuary, with men and women whose hearts longed for His heart. He would renew their strength and would lift them on the wings of His Spirit.

They would soar with Him,
and they would rejoice with Him,
and when He returned them to earth,
their joy would be magnified
and would spread throughout the city
and throughout the land.


The
Boston Noon
Hour

An invitation to
an open prayer gathering
on Wednesdays
at Tremont Temple
Noon till one o’clock
88 Tremont Street






For more information, call or email:

David Manuel, 508-364-7644
DavidBMjr@aol.com

Alex Canavan, 617-435-2636
alexc55@comcast.net