Two people were out hiking in the mountains when they came across a hungry, angry bear. The first person immediately dropped to their knees and started frantically praying, "God, please make this bear a Christian bear!" The second person raised an eyebrow and said, “You can't just pray for a bear to become Christian." But the first insisted, "I have faith! With God, all things are possible."
Suddenly, a miracle happened. The bear stopped dead in its tracks, crossed its paws, and began to pray, "Thank you, Lord, for this delicious meal I'm about to receive…"
Prayer changes things! Sometimes obviously, sometimes gently, but usually, it changes us. Every Sunday we Pray “Thy Kingdom Come” – so what does that mean?
It means that we want God - his love, his justice, his peace, his influence to be in this world, in Jersey and in our wonderful Parish of St Martin. That this world will be lit up by light rather than darkness.
I would like to invite you to join with me in praying with more than a million Christians, in nearly 90% of countries worldwide, across 85 different denominations and traditions, between Ascension Day (9th May) and Pentecost (19th May) that “Thy Kingdom Come”.
Here in St Martin’s, we can do this in several ways over the 11days between Ascension and Pentecost.
1) Pray at Home – Hopefully (Ferries willing!) Thy Kingdom Come Booklets with prayers for the Morning, Evening, Day and Night will arrive by Thursday 9th May for you to pick up and use in your own time.
2) Sunday 12th May at 6pm we will gather in the Lady Chapel and have a time of Prayer.
3) There will be some Prayer Stations set up in church for you to pop in at anytime and pray.
4) Feel free to use the Labyrinth in the Lower Cemetery, there are some prayer guides on the Welcome Desk.
Prayer has many ways, it is not just closing your eyes and keeping your hands together and saying the correct words in the right order.
Prayer in its most simple form is talking to God, it is allowing our hearts and minds to express our desires for our family, friends, neighbours, and those things in the news around the world, where we want to see change or peace or justice. Thy Kingdom Comes unites Christians around the world to pray for these things.
Practically, some people use a list, some use liturgy, such as the Prayer book that will be coming. Some use silence, some use drawing or colouring. You can download the Thy Kingdom Come App from the Google Play Store or Apple App store if that helps, but whatever way you pray, its about bringing what is on your heart to God. Over the page are some ideas of what to pray for.
Prayer is not always easy, we get distracted, we can get disheartened, we can wonder if it makes a difference, but it does. It’s a bit like throwing a stone into a pond, there are ripples because of our prayers.
A Prayer Diary Suggestion:
If you are wondering what to pray about then here are a few ideas:
Thursday 9th Liberation Day:
Thanking God for our Freedom and that we will use it for the good of all. For those who protect it and those who long for it.
Friday 10th Our family, our friends & neighbours:
Pray for their wellbeing, and God blessings and peace on them, and the healing of any broken relationships.
Saturday 11th The Parish:
Praying for our Connétable Karen and Deputy Steve, and all who serve and support us in the Parish, and for the many groups that meet in the Parish. Pray God’s peace on those who live and work in the Parish. For those still recovering or rebuilding after the Tornado.
Sunday 12th The Farming Community:
Pray for God’s Blessing on those whose livelihood involves working on the land or connected with agriculture. Ask God for resilience and wisdom.
Monday 13th The School:
Pray for God’s Wisdom for Headteacher Chris and Deputy Head Karen and the staff and God’s joy and blessing on the children.
Tuesday 14th For the charities, we support:
Dairy for Development: Pray that the project will help alleviate poverty and bring hope to those in Rwanda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Zambia.
Hands Around the World: Pray that God will bless the Schools we support The New Life Centre, Sarberia, Western Bengal, India and Pamozi Ndi Ana (PNA), Chipata, Eastern Province, Zambia
Mustard Seed: Pray for its ongoing work in supporting those in need in Romania and Ukraine
Wednesday 15th For our world:
Pray for Peace and Justice in the areas of this world where there is none or a situation important to you.
Thursday 16th S'Marteenies:
God will bless the Children and carers and help the team as they lead.
Friday 17th 3rd Jersey (St Saviour) Scout Group and St John’s Ambulance Cadets:
Pray for the Leaders and Scouts, Cubs and Beavers and Badgers and Cadets as they learn new skills in the Parish.
Saturday 18th St Martin’s Honorary Police, and RNLI at St Catherine’s:
Pray for them as they support the community.
Sunday 19th Our Church Family:
Give thanks for our Church Family, and that God will bless and guide us as we follow Him and seek to grow, spiritually and numerically. Pray for our fellow Christians at St Martin’s Methodist and St Martin’s Catholic Church, and those who worship from our Parish but worship elsewhere.