Praying Together in November
“Lord, in these dark and difficult times, grant us grace to seek Your face with undiminished love. Replenish our reserves for the road is long. Surprise us with glimpses of Your goodness, hints of your holiness, and a song of hope in this very strange land. AMEN.”
As we enter a second lockdown, we are called to pray! Here are some ways in which we will pray as a church community – please join in!
All resources for prayer can be found on this website – simply click on “The Latest” or go directly to www.denhamparish.church/blog
1 Praying Daily at 6pm
Set aside time as often as you can to bring the needs of the world, our nation, our community and those we know and love before God.
Download a suggested outline for evening prayer here…
Download the Church of England Resource “Prayer for our Nation”…
Download the Church of England Resource “Personal Prayer”…
2 Praying Together Weekly: Thursdays at 6pm
Once a week we are invited to pray together for 15 minutes on Thursdays at 6pm. Find the link here on this website or on our FaceBook page…
3 Making Fridays a Day of Prayer and Fasting
Fridays have been days of prayer throughout the history of the church. Could you make Friday a special day of prayer? Integrate prayer into your normal daily rhythm – when you get up, saying grace before meals, in the car, as you go about your business. Use your senses to see, hear, observe and turn that into prayer.
On Fridays our associate minister Nnamdi Maduka will also be posting suggestions for prayer on this website.
At a time of crisis many Christians decide to fast – why not try fasting on a Friday, maybe by skipping just one meal or a regular treat such as chocolate or alcohol?
NB: Please make sure that you take medical advice if fasting could be detrimental to you!
Read a guide to fasting for beginners here…
4 Come to St Mary’s Church for Personal Individual Prayer
In November, St Mary’s will be open for personal prayer on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing.
5 SATURDAY, 28 NOVEMBER: A DAY OF PRAYER FOR ADVENT
Set aside on hour between 7am and 9pm. You can register by clicking here… and before Saturday we will provide you with a simple suggestion how you could spend the hour in prayer (find it on this page or at www.denhamparish.church/blog from Thursday 26 Nov). The sign-up sheet allows multiple people to book the same hour slot, so please choose the time that works best for you.
Find out more about how we can pray together…
“On the brink of this second lockdown we might understandably feel helpless, anxious and vulnerable. And we do what we can to halt the spread of this virus – but we can still feel powerless. Prayer is my first response when I feel out of my depth, when I need help, when I am worried, when I am concerned for those I love. It is a gift that God gives to all – whether you are a regular pray-er or not – bring your cares and the cares of the nation to God. For God loves and hears and holds. Prayer changes things.”
Archbishop Justin Welby