Hello everyone

Greetings – from the word of God.

Philippians 4:4-7 New Living Translation

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.                                                                 

These words appeared in an early chapter of a Christian book, “Nine o’clock In The Morning”, written by Dennis J Bennett © 1970 first British Edition 1971. The author writes about his experience of Renewal in the churches through the Holy Spirit at work in people of all Christian denominations in USA circa 1960.

I was to experience a life changing encounter in 1969.  Dennis Bennett’s Book was one of the first Books on our bookshelves tackling the reality of “Baptism in the Spirit “and” Speaking in Tongues.”  There after followed a plethora of books from the US which were soon followed by our own authors from the UK.   We were well served by the “Fountain Trust “and the Rev Michael Harper who edited “Renewal Magazine” and organised Conferences around Great Britain.  

These were exciting times when there was a real sense of God’s Holy spirit working in his church.   But the Holy Spirit hasn’t changed, and we need to continue to pray that He will bring about a new change in His church in these changing days, equipping his people to go into the world to demonstrate the love and power of God.

As we pray today spend a few minutes taking in the above  passage from the Apostle Paul to the Philippians-

And as we pray let us seek God’s guidance through the Holy Spirit

A Prayer in times of Crisis

I can’t believe it, Lord.

The world turned on its head so quickly, so unexpectedly.

One moment, everything normal, proceeding much as it has always done before,

and the next, chaos and confusion, everything overturned in an instant, institutions teetering on the brink, certainties crumbling into dust, lives descending into mayhem. I’d thought I could plan ahead, fashion what the future held in store, but now I realise how wrong I was:

that though we can control much, we cannot control everything, our ultimate destiny lying not in our hands but in yours. Grant your guidance, show us the path to take, and lead us through this crisis. Amen

• Pray for those you know locally who have needs, hold them in your minds eye alongside Jesus who is listening to them and meeting their needs.
• Give thanks for those who are selflessly serving others currently.
• Give thanks for those supporting the Crossroads project and its food bank….
• Pray for people’s concerns about the safety of children and staff as they start to return to their schools.
• Pray for scientists seeking to develop a vaccine against coronavirus.
• Pray for the families, friends and neighbours of the 40,000 deaths due to Covid 19
• Pray for the troubles in America regarding racial justice

PRAY AS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS YOU – USE THE THOUGHTS THAT COME INTO YOUR MIND 

Keep safe, keep praying

Peter