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On April 24-25, members of the Spirit of Love prayer community at St. Paul the Apostle parish in Schenectady will gather to do what they've been doing for more than 40 years: Ask God to help them "live in the Holy Spirit" as the early Christians did.

A free "Life in the Spirit" seminar sponsored by the group that Friday evening and all day Saturday will welcome anyone interested in developing a deeper relationship with Jesus, said Marguerite Marsh, one of the prayer group's original members.

The seminar is "to prepare people to have a closer walk with the Holy Spirit," she told The Evangelist.

It includes seven talks - on loving God, salvation, new life, receiving God's gift, praying for the release of the Holy Spirit in one's life, growth and transformation - plus small-group discussions and an opportunity for participants to be prayed over, as well as asking for prayers for others in need.

"We have praise and we sing; there is a time when we share what the Lord has been doing in our life; we have a few minutes to raise petitions, to lift someone up for prayer," Ms. Marsh noted.

She has been involved with the group since 1974. "I go back to praise the Lord; I go back to get refilled," she said. "I've been prayed over and prayed with. It gives you the power of the Holy Spirit."

Many participants struggling with health issues ask during the seminars for prayers of healing for themselves or a family member. Ms. Marsh well remembers the many times she has requested prayers regarding the situation of her daughter, who deals with addiction.

"I was asking for prayer quite frequently. It just gives you the strength to go on. It puts you more at peace with the problem," she said, adding: "We've had people prayed over where the prayers were answered. We've had a few little miracles in our group."

A core group of about eight people organizes the seminar and does the talks; membership has reached as high as 40 people. Ms. Marsh said the group maintains that it's ecumenical, although it's associated with the Catholic charismatic renewal and most members are Catholic.

"It's about coming into a deeper relationship with Jesus," she said simply.

When people come to one Life in the Spirit seminar, she said, they tend to come back. "We've been in existence since the early '70s. I think it's just the love of community. We have people come that say they've experienced such love from the members."[[In-content Ad]]

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