This was an event hosted by the Quiet Hour Prayer Group on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th March 2015.
This one was a reflective experience based around Psalm 139.The concept is to arrange a number of exhibits around the church that people can simply look at, yet the more you look the more you see.It can be a time to think about how God is engaged on our lives by thinking, meditating and/or praying.There were seven pray stations set up around the church, each having a theme and resources set out to stimulate thoughts.
The first station was ‘In the Beginning’.We were asked to think of our earliest memories of our lives.Visitors were encouraged to think about the birth of a child and their baptism.
Station two asked people to reflect on their early years at school.What made us happy/sad?Who were our friends, and who influenced us?Could we see God at work in our lives?
The third station asked to think about our teenage years.The table had school certificates displayed to help us think about how we perceived school and our parents.What did we expect for our future and were the excitements, traumas and disappointments which influenced our future prospects and prepared us for our adult life.
The following station concentrated on family life and employment.Who had inspired us in our mature years.
The resources on table number five helped us to think about our interests and leisure.Perhaps we discovered a talent/gift that surprised us and we found out that we really enjoyed.Maybe we should think about sharing the gifts we have with others so that they may be encouraged to think about their leisure times.
The next table asked us to think about the difficult times we had experienced during our life, and how we dealt with it.Illness, bereavement, unemployment, broken relationships, disability or addiction.These are times when we need friends who will help us to pray to God for healing, and feel his love around us.
The last station was entitled ‘The Present’.This was where we could think about our lives and remind us of the forgiving nature of a loving God.
The event brought the circle of life around, for each table gave us food for thought.Each station having materials to stimulate our thoughts to help our focus.Visitors were able to take as long as they needed, there was not any pressure.
Often in our busy lives we need to stop, think and pray about our lives and thank God for all his goodness and love.We had very positive feed back, so this has encouraged the Prayer Group to do a similar event in the near future.
Mrs John Mullins.
Mrs Kath Edgerton.
Prayer and Pastoral Care Team
We have a new team of people who are willing to be involved in caring for our community. The team will be visiting church members who are unwell and where possible take them extended Holy Communion. (This is so called because it is part of the Holy Communion administered in church.)
If Kath and/or Joan are aware of people who have a problem, or who are sick, they will pray with people in the Lady Chapel during the morning service during the administration of Holy Communion. All that is said to the Prayer Team is kept in strictest confidence. The team also pray for urgent emergencies as a prayer chain.
There are many people in our church family and the community who need prayer in their time of sickness and bereavement. Please continue to send in your prayer requests. There is a Prayer Request Book where you can write the name of the person who needs prayer. It can be found on the brass Lectern in the Lady Chapel. Alternatively you can telephone the church office and leave a message for Kath or Joan to contact you.