"The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast”

Matthew 9:15 NASB.

In the fall of 2004, the Lord spoke to my heart, “Babylon refuses to mourn” Revelation 18.  In St. John’s Revelation, Babylon represents the spiritually evil city opposed to New Jerusalem, the city of God. If Babylon refuses to mourn at the end of the age, then God’s people, God’s city will mourn before Jesus returns.

Jesus Himself says as much in Matthew 9. He predicted that after He ascended to heaven, His disciples would fast and mourn because of His absence from the earth. This type of mourning is the essence of A Time to Mourn, a longing for the fulfillment of the ages to come as Jesus Christ returns to earth and all our prayers are answered, “Your Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

A Time to Mourn will be held from the evening of September 29 (Rosh HaShannah), to the evening of October 9 (Yom Kippur) in Northfield, Massachusetts in a retreat setting. Space is limited to 40 adult participants, families and children are encouraged to come. The cost of the 10 days is $400, please register before August 31st to avoid late fees. Daniel, juice, and water fasting options will all be available and regular foods will be available for children, infirm, and pregnant or nursing mothers.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, we will leave Northfield to attend When New England Prays, 2008 sponsored by the New England Alliance (www.newenglandalliance.us). A Time to Mourn is a supporting piece for When New England Prays 2008.

Entering into a time of mourning and repentance willingly is wisdom. No one enjoys discipline, however, by submitting to it voluntarily, we can avoid many of the trials and frustrations that