Dear brothers and sisters,

As this magazine is published we’re just over half way through Lent and we’re approaching Holy Week and Easter. I hope that you have found the Lent Devotionals helpful, and have been finding time to pray each day. If not, why not start now, just 5 minutes each day can set you on a healthy habit for the rest of your life. Prayer is a strong theme as we enter Holy Week and we walk with Jesus though the last week of His life. We pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane (on Maundy Thursday) in our 7.30pm service at All Saints’ church. Next we pray with the disciples as they weep over Jesus’ death, asking that the whole world might come to know and love our crucified Lord in our 1pm Good Friday service at St George’s. We gather again in All Saints’ to remember the Easter story at 6pm on Holy Saturday, and then after a small bonfire we listen again to a summary of the whole Bible and pray that God would rise in our hearts as we head into the celebration of the Resurrection. Please do join us for one or more of these services and pray with, and for, the whole parish.

However, as we come out the other side so often people who have found the Devotionals helpful struggle as to what to do next. I have found it helpful to pick a short letter or book of the Bible and continue the daily habit of Bible reading and prayer, perhaps with the help of some bible notes available from the Christian bookshop in town. In addition it is so important to be praying for our own parish, so here are a few things you might prioritise:

Praying for Growth: this year the whole of our Diocese is praying for growth and renewal. Funnily enough, though how often do we need to be reminded, the evidence proves overwhelmingly that when churches pray for growth… they grow! Please do join us in praying this prayer each day.

God of Mission,
who alone brings growth to Your Church
Send your Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning,
wisdom to our actions, joy to our worship,
and power to our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
in spiritual commitment to You,
and in service to our local community,
through Jesus Christ are Lord. Amen.

You may find it helpful to pray with other people. Our ALM Carol Pearson is leading a monthly prayer meeting on the third Wednesday of each month, at 7.30pm. Why not speak to Carol to find out more? It is always encouraging to get together and pray.

Praying for the sick: Each week, on the notice sheet, we provide the names of those who are struggling, if you know someone who would like to be included on the prayer list do let me know. We pray for them in the service, but do take the notice sheet home with you and pray for them in your daily prayers. One of the things Fr Jordan and I do is visit those who are sick and we offer the ministry of anointing, where we take oil blessed by the bishop in Holy Week and apply it to their foreheads and hands. Is there someone you know for whom this might bring hope and healing, if so do let us know.

My prayers our for you all this Easter, that God would be with you, show Himself to you in a special way, and as you pray daily, that His love would grow in your hearts.

May God bless you this Easter,

Fr Mike