TAKING TIME TO PRAY IN THE RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS
Lectio365 helps us to reflect on the Christmas story every day – try it!
Praying for persecuted Christians
Let’s pray together: Here are the 10 countries where Christians are persecuted the most. This list includes Nigeria and Iran.
Middle East Emergency: Praying and Helping
Right now, thousands of people in Gaza and Israel and the wider region are experiencing devastating loss, trauma and overwhelming need. The situation continues to worsen on a daily basis, increasing the number of people being displaced from their homes.
Our mission partner Tearfund is working with local churches and partners to support their preparations and help them respond to the needs of people across the region.
Praying Together: How should we respond to Israel and Gaza?
As we follow the harrowing news about conflict in Israel and Gaza, our friends from LICC are giving us helpful pointers in how we should respond:
https://licc.org.uk/resources/israel-and-gaza-how-should-we-respond-blog/
Thy Kingdom Come 2023: Pray with us!
Join the global wave of prayer in the Denham Parish Prayer space
On the 25th ,26th and 27th May the vestry will be transformed into an interactive prayer space, between 2pm and 8pm Thursday/Friday, 8am to 10pm Saturday.
You can book a slot here…
Each prayer slot is one hour and the room will have lots of ideas on how to spend that time in prayer. You can book the room just for yourself, with friends or a church group.
We recommend you create an account, which will allow us to send you updates on email.
PRAY TOGETHER
Each day there will be an open session for the Church to gather in prayer. Please note: during those times the prayer room will be closed.
(There is no need to sign up for these sessions, just turn up).
25th May 8.15pm to 9pm
26th May 8pm to 9pm
27th May 10am to 11am (all ages, child friendly activities)
Watch a short video introducing our prayer space:
https://youtube.com/shorts/YKD-6DLXQHk?feature=share
Earthquake in Syria and Turkey: How can I help?
GIVE
On Monday the 6th of February two powerful earthquakes struck Southern Turkey near the Northern Syrian border. The initial quake had a magnitude of 7.8, followed by a 7.5 magnitude quake 9 hours later and a series of aftershocks. Sadly, many people have lost their lives or been injured, and the death toll is still rising. Our mission partner TEARFUND is part of DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee), a group of registered charities working on the front line delivering help and support to those who need it most.
PRAY
When asked how we should pray, a a church leader in Turkey says: “Please pray for the people who have lost their loved ones and are in sorrow and despair, that God would comfort them. Please pray for the people who are helping and serving. And please pray that the ways would be opened soon, so we can bring more help to the area. God bless you all.”
Heavenly Father,
The news from Turkey and Syria incredibly grieves us. More people in Turkey have been killed in this earthquake than in any earthquake since 1999. The damage in Syria has affected people who have already lost so much in 11 years of civil war. We find it hard to see your hand at work in moments like this. We wonder why because the damage and death seem so random.
In this time, remind us that you are here regardless of circumstance. We know that our world is damaged. We know that there are many kinds of damage we may never understand. Help us trust you are still present, even in moments like this.
We know that rescue workers are still trying to find people. They are working where cold weather makes it vital to find people before they freeze. Keep the rescue workers alert. Help them communicate well. Give their supervisors patience and resiliency as they coordinate the efforts.
We pray for the refugees and displaced people, especially in Syria. So many people have had to leave their homes in the last 11 years. So many were struggling to survive even before this earthquake happened. Without a permanent address or local connections, staying together or finding each other is much harder after a disaster strikes. Help these people to find their family members. Help them to get the medical care and emergency shelter they need.
We pray for all people of good will who live in the areas. Show them how to aid the least of these and show your love in this terrible time. We ask you would particularly help Christians to extend aid when dealing with people who are hostile to Christianity. Help your church in Turkey and Syria to love their enemies exceedingly well in this terrible time.
We thank you for the world leaders reaching out to help in this time. Help them to set aside egos and ulterior motives so they can work together to give the most help to the most people. Move obstacles and move hearts so that charity will defeat apathy.
Lastly, we pray for those who have lost loved ones. Show the grieving people in Turkey and Syria that you are the God who weeps and knows our pain. Help them to grieve and, at the proper time, to see the redemptive things you weave from even the worst circumstances.
Amen.
Praying for our world as we enjoy the football
What a start to the England Campaign at #FIFAWorldCup! Open Doors have created a great resource to pray for the needs of our world as the tournament progresses:
Praying for our new prime minister
King Charles welcomes Mr Sunak at Buckingham Palace (Photo: PA)
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has asked people to pray for Rishi Sunak as he starts his term of office as Prime Minister.
Mr Sunak was chosen as the new leader of the Conservative Party on Monday afternoon, and became the new Prime Minister on Tuesday morning, when Liz Truss stood down after several weeks of financial and political turmoil.
After the announcement on Monday, Archbishop Justin Welby posted on Twitter: “At a time of great difficulty and uncertainty for this country, please join me in praying for Rishi Sunak as he takes on the responsibilities of leadership. May he, and all leaders of all parties, work across divides to bring unity and offer stability for those who need it most.”
Last Thursday, in a House of Lords debate on the cost of living, the Bishop of Oxford, Dr Steven Croft, exhorted whoever became Prime Minister to address child poverty as a priority.
“The well-being of the nation is now very fragile,” he said. “To the incoming Prime Minister, I say: ‘Please don’t make it worse. Do all you can to make it better. Don’t allow the costs of the economic downturn to be borne by children and the poorest. . . Blessed are those who consider the poor.”
