A Time to Pray
Prayer is central to our church’s life and we invite you to join us to
develop this vital aspect. Prayer can take place anywhere and we are blessed
that we know that we are heard. For some of us the prayers at our Sunday services
may be the only time that we find to communicate with God, for others prayer
is used on a daily basis. Wherever we are on our journey that’s fine but
if we want to move forward what can we do?
First we can explore the places that we pray, how we enter prayer, how do we get started and what words do we find, are they our own or from a book? Prayer can be so diverse and we are at liberty to choose what is right for us. They can be said out loud or in heart whispers, shared or personal.
How do you pray? Why not think about this?
On the first Wednesday of the month we meet for prayer in church (7.30pm). Prayers are said for the Church, the World and our Community and we have a meditative and quiet time. Please come and join us.
Members of the team remain available in church at Morning communion services to help people to pray through personal problems.
Risen Lord, you stand among us,
Awaken us to your presence,
Show us our paths of prayer,
Help us on our journey.
Acts 1: 1 - 10 (NIV)
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Ascension
Lord Jesus, we remember
how you returned to your Father
on the first Ascension Day.
Although we cannot see you with our eyes,
we know that you are still with us
as you promised always to be.
We thank you for being our constant friend.
Help us to remember that you are near
and that you will never fail us.
Help us to come to you
when we are frightened or disappointed,
and may we remember to tell you
about our joys as well as our troubles.