During our church services there are times of prayer, when we pray together as a church community. For many years there has also been the opportunity for personal prayer during the 10am services. In recent years the prayer room to the south of the chancel has been available for prayer during services, with someone rostered on most Sundays for this prayer ministry. On the first Sunday of the month Graham Button has offered prayer together with anointing near the font during Communion.

While people have taken the opportunity to receive anointing and prayer, not many have made their way to the prayer room. Therefore the prayer group has decided to see whether we could change the format. While the anointing and prayer on the first Sunday of the month will continue as before, on other Sundays the opportunity for individual prayer will be offered after the 10am service at the front of the church near the baptismal font (north side of the church). I encourage you to make use of this opportunity. It is a privilege to bring our concerns to God together with others.

In addition, we plan to come together once a month to pray for the parish, pastoral needs, the community and the worldwide church. It is difficult to find a time that suits many people. So I thought I’d make a stab in the dark and try a time at about 11.15 am on the first Tuesday of the month. This would be just after Musical Play in the Lounge. I think that we would wrap up by 11:45 am, so that those who come to prayer can go to lunch in good time.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18