‘The first was an elderly couple that I was trying to contact in order to arrange a pastoral visit. I phoned them several times over 3 days and decided to just call on the off chance, not something i would normally do. The couple welcomed me and discovered that their phone had not been replaced correctly, meaning that they could not receive any incoming calls. Not only were they grateful as they'd been awaiting a call from their GP Surgery but the lady said it was a very quick answer to prayer as they wanted to see me.A second incident was after the annual memorial service when we'd handed out several ‘prayer squares' (knitted squares that we give to people who are unwell or bereaved to remind them that God loves them and we are praying for them). As I was travelling to church the following Sunday, I suddenly thought that I needed to replenish our stocks. Although thatwouldn't be too arduous a task, it was 'another thing' that I would have to make time for. I sent up a quick prayer asking for help to find the time to do this. However when I arrived at church, another church member gave me a bag containing 10 or 12 squares that she had knitted.Another very quick answer to prayer!' Shared at our 2024 church prayer breakfast.
Margaret says ‘Her prayers are very much appreciated and are obviously working since we are seeing signs of God at work. In the past year, we have been gradually making the session more God-focussed. We have a short talk after the story, whether it is a Bible story or not, a prayer before snack time and some Christian action songs at the end of the morning. We also introduced a Prayer Request box which was used by a few of the adults. Now they simply ask us to pray for their particular needs, which is even better.We’ve seen an increase in the number of families who regularly attend our monthly Messy Church events and in requests for infant and adult baptisms. One child, aged just two, has been asking to sing “Our God is a great big God” at another group she attends.’Shared by Margaret at our January 2024 Church Breakfast.
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday It is called Ash Wednesday because we use ashes in liturgy that day. During the worship service we mark our foreheads with ashes in the sign of the cross. Ashes have typically been used as sign of repentance. The ashes also remind us of our mortality. The words spoken during the imposition of the ashes are “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words echo the Word of God to Adam and Eve after the fall. They remind us that life is short, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Therefore we should live our lives today and every day in light of eternity. We mark our foreheads with ashes in the sign of the cross to remember our baptism after which we are also marked with the sign of the cross. Marking the forehead with the sign of the cross reminds us that we belong to Him. This centers the focus our Lenten journey on the Lord Himself, who has marked us as His own. The Ash Wednesday Liturgy reminds us that if we bring the ashes of our life to the Lord, in faith, that He will bring us to new life.
‘Highlights that stuck out for me were A’s talk of just being with God, … the great conversations on our table and the quiet and stillness during the last five minutes of prayer. It felt like everyone in the room was praying as one in the stillness, amazing.’‘I very much appreciated having the opportunity to spend time with members of our church family over breakfast and to pray together in a relaxed and informal setting.’‘The though of leading kept me awake in the night hours. As i prayed, the thought came to me that if teenager Mary could give birth to the Son of God, then I could chair one and a quarter hour breakfast! There was a real sense of God’s presence in the stillness at the end.’‘I really enjoyed the discussion and prayer time'.
