Dear Friends
In June all the clergy in the diocese were invited to a three day conference. There was worship, workshops and plenary sessions by invited speakers. The topic was a favourite of mine: prayer. The last session in particular inspired me – the subject was prayer and mission. The speaker Bishop Sophie asked us whether we were praying for not only the people who come to church, but also for the people who are not yet coming. Do we ask God to bless our church, and send us new members of the congregation, and do we pray for those people, not knowing who they are, but asking God to work in their lives, before they ever walk through our doors? Do we pray for the children who come to Rhyme Time, Sunday Club and Messy Church? And I don’t mean do we remember them in our intercessions during services, and by ‘we’ I don’t mean the clergy alone — I mean all of us.
Prayer is a very natural human response to our own needs and the needs of others. Many people who are not sure whether they believe will pray when life gets very difficult, and most people of faith will pray regularly for those they love. It means sharing with God our deepest needs and concerns. So to pray for our churches, for their growth and for those who might join us is an expression of how much our church life means to us. We believe in prayer – that is why we do it.
It is an enormously encouraging sign that there are plans to set up a Vision and Growth group, mentioned elsewhere in the magazine. Its remit is to look at ways to help our church grow and thrive. It’s for lay people only – and there are two good reasons for this. One is that it is easier for someone to have an idea, and to express an opinion in an environment where there are no experts, people who have been specially trained. The other is, because few of the clergy are likely to be here in ten years’ time, never mind twenty. The continuity of mission and strategy must come from the lay people. If this is going to be a fruitful enterprise, we need to start praying for it now, asking for God’s blessing and guidance.
In Acts chapter one we read about the first Christians after the Ascension. There were one hundred and twenty of them – that’s the total number for the whole of Jerusalem. What were they doing? They devoted themselves to prayer. And from that tiny number grew the whole church. We know that prayer isn’t a coin in the slot – we cannot make things happen by praying. But by praying we are offering our church community to God.
You can use your own words, of course, or pray this prayer.
Lord God, We pray for Prestwich and Simister. Send your Holy Spirit on all your people, strengthen us to be your light and love in our communities. Revive your churches, help us to grow and see your plans for our parishes. In Jesus name we proclaim: Let Your kingdom come! Amen.
With every blessing. Rev Sue.
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 