Some years ago, after going through a very difficult time, I felt I needed to show my gratitude to God for His unfailing support but I did not know how. By chance I went to a Christian Healing Centre for a morning of prayer and meditation. Just after, a group of people from the centre came to our church to lead a day introducing their work. I was amazed at how drawn to their work I felt. During that day words and pictures were shared, one of which seemed possibly meant for me. I went up for prayer and one of the Centre members told me she believed I was being called to join the centre as a Prayer Counsellor. I was very unsure as to whether this really was an answer to my prayers for guidance but decided that if I didn’t follow it through, I would never know.I completed the full training course and found it was exactly what I felt called to do. My first assignment as a counsellor was to help on one of the weekend retreats. On the way down to the centre on a Friday evening, I was dreading that I would not be up to the task I was facing so told God how I felt. I am still amazed at the immediate response. I saw a picture of a beautiful fluted bowl made of mother of pearl and felt God say the He would fill it. A feeling of such peace come over me and I was able to look forward to the days ahead.That weekend I saw troubled people coming in on Friday and going home on Sunday completely changed and I was truly blessed as I saw how God was working in that place. I felt that I had found just what I had been praying for and became part of the team until the centre closed through lack of finance and the death of the leader.Shared by a church member at our January 2024 church prayer breakfast.
‘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.
