Prayer Foundation Launch
It is vitally important that during this time of transition we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength on our journey from a maintenance church to a missionary one.
With this in mind we have asked parishioners to pledge themselves to pray - hopefully daily - for the cluster and we have set up a Prayer Foundation which will encourage people to pray regularly both privately and in community.
The launch of the Prayer Foundation took place on Sunday 2nd December in St Catharine's from 2 - 5pm.
" ...Prayer is a process which usually evolves throughout life and will change in different ways as the Spirit leads us.
Of course we do use words when we pray and for communal and liturgical shared prayer this is absolutely necessary. It seems to me that the reason why words are not mentioned in the definition is because God doesn't NEED our words. HE already knows what is in our mind and heart. Nevertheless WE have a NEED to use words to talk to God about the joys and sorrows of our life and to give thanks and praise to God for the many gifts we have received and for when we pray for our world..."
Of course we do use words when we pray and for communal and liturgical shared prayer this is absolutely necessary. It seems to me that the reason why words are not mentioned in the definition is because God doesn't NEED our words. HE already knows what is in our mind and heart. Nevertheless WE have a NEED to use words to talk to God about the joys and sorrows of our life and to give thanks and praise to God for the many gifts we have received and for when we pray for our world..."
Rosemary
In Jesus we see an image of God who is not armed with lightning bolts but with basin and towel, who spoke no threats but good news for all, who rode not on a war horse but a donkey, weeping in compassion for the people who do not know the way of peace. As Christians, this is the Kingdom we want for ourselves and others. We all need the transforming power of God’s love on a daily basis in order to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth, but we need to ask for strength and guidance. When Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make disciples He promised the Holy Spirit to be their comfort, strength and guide. “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit who reveals the truth about God” (John 14: v15). And we have that same promise.
Pat
How do we as a cluster go about moving from maintenance to mission? We reach out to all in our communities – welcoming all who come with love, fellowship and compassion. Prayer is the cornerstone of all that we are seeking to achieve. We are all called to be disciples following in the footsteps of Jesus.
Each of us has gifts and talents that we can share to take our journey forward. We can draw strength and learn from each other.
Each of us has gifts and talents that we can share to take our journey forward. We can draw strength and learn from each other.
There is much good work already being done in our communities and we can build on what we already have in place. We can all play our part – whatever that may be – in building the kingdom with love and hope.
Mary
"We are called to sow the seeds by invitation and must leave the rest to God" - Fr James Mallon.
Matthew 13 - Verse 30
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds but, when it has grown it is the biggest of the shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in it's branches.
Matthew 13 - Verse 30
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds but, when it has grown it is the biggest of the shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in it's branches.
Think of this time as we the people sowing the seeds through using the talents God gave us to move us from a church of maintenance to a missionary church. Through this day of prayer we are already sowing the seeds and leaving the rest to God to guide us in this time of transition.
Jacinta
Words to follow...