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Our
Passion: a church
which prioritises prayer
Prayer is a crucial part of life for a Christian – spending time in
dialogue with God, bringing concerns for ourselves and those around us,
and in turn receiving his love and his direction for our lives. Prayer
can be done quietly and alone, or with others, either in small groups or
in a service setting. We believe that prayer changes events and more
importantly changes us – seeking God’s will for difficult
situations and giving us the resources to cope.
As a church family we pray in a variety of different ways:
- Set written
prayers as part of our worship together
- Intercessions
– one person gathering our prayers and giving them to God
- Prayer
ministry – where experienced Christians offer a confidential
time of listening and prayer with an individual
- Prayer
Chain – where urgent prayer requests are swiftly passed around
the church family for immediate prayer
- PrayerForce
& Mother’s Union prayer – monthly small group
meetings to pray for the needs of the parish and the world
- Personal
prayer – when each person spends private time with God.
For more information on our prayer activities, please see PRACTICAL/prayer meetings
ACTS – is a good way to remember how to pray:
A = adoration
C = confession
T = thanksgiving
S = supplication
For example
Adoration - You are a great and mighty God – thank you for
sending your Son to break the power of sin and death and to give me the
promise of new life.
Confession – I am sorry for the things I do that separates
me from you – like being selfish, thoughtless and angry. Give me a
new heart that seeks to love you and others above myself.
Thanksgiving – Thank you for all you bless me with –
my home, work, family and friends. Thank you that I have enough to eat and
things and places to enjoy.
Supplication – I bring to you all those things that worry me
– the people I know who are ill or in trouble. Please give me the
courage to trust you with the future and the strength to endure.
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“Struggling with self doubt and insecurities,
convinced others were coping better, keeping my fears to myself till it
became too painful – I poured it all out to God in prayer and
then sat and waited for Him to show me exactly where I was failing! Instead, in the silence I am aware of
the presence of God, all mighty and all powerful, yet lovingly stooping
down to listen to me, passionately caring about my deepest fears and
smallest concerns, unconditionally loving and accepting me just as I
am, till I am able to accept myself too and feel at peace.”
Marianne
Bailey
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