PRAYER PAGES

THAMES NORTH SYNOD

Prayer topics for Office Devotions w/c 23rd May 2011

Committee meetings in next 7 days

LDG & Roding AC - Tuesday

M&M - Wednesday

MIG - Thursday

Churches

Wanstead

From Rosalind Selby, Minister:

“Closing” services on 29th May- 150 years after the re-founding of the moved church. The congregation will be worshipping alongside/with the Methodist church. Your prayers for the transition, followed by smooth and fruitful working together would be much appreciated.

Woodford, Ray Lodge

From Janet Jackson, Church Secretary

Please pray for the continued progress of the Forest Group of churches and God's guidance for the Forest Group Council. In the last 12 months we as a church at Ray Lodge have found the direction the Forest Group is taking both positive and encouraging for the future.

We also would like your prayers for the work we are doing with our young people in the Brownies and Rainbows in an effort to involve them more in the life of the Church.

Lastly and by no means least, please join us in praying for one of our members, Cynthia Hodges, who has been suddenly laid low with considerable pain from arthritis. She is normally a tower of strength, in particular arranging our church flowers week on week, and is very deserving of our prayers at this time.

Thank you and God bless

Woodford Bridge

Woodford Green, United Free

Revd Kevin Swaine retires next spring.

Other items for prayer and praise

Those who mourn (Busby and McIntyre families and the churches; Simon F and his family: funeral is 31 May).

Heather Floyd

 

THAMES NORTH SYNOD

Prayer topics for Office Devotions w/c 16th May 2011

Committee meetings in next 7 days

GLP Tuesday

Mission Council:  17-19 May

St Albans and Chiltern Area Committee Wednesday

Thinking Ahead (planning for Harvest & Remembrance services) Saturday

Churches

Bush Hill Park, Enfield

We are grateful for your prayers and ask the following be included.

Sylvia Page for Revd Martin Legg and the Elders

Christ Church, Enfield

from David Atkinson, the minister:

Christ Church URC, Enfield requests that the Synod prays for the members, congregation, Adventurers (formerly Junior Church), Boys’ Brigade, Rangers, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows at Christ Church in your devotions in the week beginning 16th May.

Lancaster Road, Enfield

From Beryl Woolley, Church Secretary

We were delighted to know that you would be praying specifically for our church during the week of 16th May.

We would like to ask that you pray specifically for our Church Weekend, to be held from 21st to 23rd October at High Leigh Conference Centre. The subject this year is 'Prayer'. The guest speaker on the theme of 'Prayer and Devotional Life'is the Rev. Elizabeth Welch, minister of Clapton Park and Dalston URC Hackney, and former moderator of the URC West Midlands Province and Moderator of the URC General Assembly.

At present we have definite bookings from folk at our church and Christ Church, but despite advertising it and inviting other churches to join us we still haveseveral places to be filled, which is quite a worry financially.The last Church Weekend we held two years ago wasvery enjoyable with interesting talks and discussions, and time to get to know each other better, and we are sure that this one will be as rewarding.

Thank you again for you prayers and interest,

Trinity, Enfield

Prayer topics for Office Devotions w/c 9th May 2011

Committee meetings, etc in next 7 days

This week: Ministers’ Spring School

Next week: Mission Council (Tues- Thurs)

Chiltern & St Albans Area Committees

GLP

Churches

Radlett Free Church

From Sally Hockaday, Church Secretary

Thank God for the unity of the church as a Methodist /UR Church. It works so well and we work in relative harmony with other churches in Radlett.

Pray for a closer walk with God and that members might seek spiritual guidance in their work and witness.

The greatest need is for more people to share the load in the church and for young people to replace us oldies.

Radlett is a growing Jewish community with strong Anglican and RC churches nearby. The Methodist/UR Church has shrunk in numbers quite considerably the last few years although just recently there have been small signs of growth.

Ecumenically we are strong; our mission to the third world, lunch club, badminton, membership of house groups are activities to rejoice about.

Please pray for our new minister, Sarah Lowe (currently on sabbatical)

Of course ecumenical events and the life of the church happen because of a few people working hard and we value your prayers.

Bricket Wood

A very small congregation but very faithful and committed.
Study and fellowship groups meeting regularly.
Continues to organize regular coffee-mornings and lunches, both for their own fellowship and for the community which are greatly appreciated by all.
Good relationship with members of St Luke's CofE (URC hosted the Maundy Thursday service with CofE attending)
New Elder but also one Elder has recently become non-active and another moving away soon.
Trial of an afternoon service instead of a morning service once a month.

From the Minister, Leonora Jagessar

Harpenden

St Albans, Trinity

At the moment the main concern is the withdrawal of all funding for the Trinity Community Project which celebrated 25 years of existence this year. Some of the users have been using the Project for a very long time and our priority is to work to ensure that they are continued to be looked after. They are now being charged.

Thank you and your colleagues for your prayers.

I am taking the Service at Trinity this Sunday and I will include you all in our prayers.

Andrew Jack (Church Secretary)

 

THAMES NORTH SYNOD

Prayer topics for Office Devotions w/c 3rd May 2011

Committee meetings in next 7 days

Central & North London Tuesday 3 May

Finance Thursday 5 May

Churches

New Barnet, St John's

From Tony Alderman, Church Secretary

Please pray for: our Minister, Julian Templeton; the congregation; all who lead Worship; all in training

Celebrate: services for Adults with learning difficulties; music; those working with young people.

From Julian Templeton:

We would be very pleased if you and the office staff would include the following in your prayers for St John's Church:

1. For the Minister, Elders and congregation, discernment and imagination as they seek both to build up the congregation and reach out in service to the community.

2. For the Little Johns Toddler and Carer Group. Give thanks for some new children attending. Wisdom needed for how best to make connections between this group and the worshipping congregation.

3. For the St John's Fellowship. Give thanks for the 25-30 regulars from St John's and beyond who gather monthly for fellowship.

4. For the Causeway Prospects Group. Give thanks for this monthly Sunday afternoon ministry to adults with learning difficulties.

5. For the church as new Elders are nominated.

6. Forinspiration and guidance forthe Elders and Minister as they lead the congregation in worship.

7. For the daytime re-run of 'A thoughtful approach to God' course that aims to get people thinking and talking about their faith.

Harlesden, St Margaret's & St George's

Recent break-ins

Uxbridge, Christ Church

West Kilburn, St Anne's & Andrew's & the Interfaith Centre

Maggie Hindley (minister) writes:

Please give thanks that we are now dancing the offertory every Sunday and are making a DVD of our story.

Please pray for an increase in numbers at St Andrew’s.

Please pray for the ecumenical review that is coming up.

And for the Inter Faith Centre, please pray that we may continue to be true to self and open to others, (our motto).

It is really wonderful to know we are getting this kind of care. We will reciprocate by praying for Synod Staff at our communion service on 1st May. Any requests on your side?

Hannah Boateng (Church Secretary) rang and added

Thanksgiving for Maggie and all she is doing for them and a prayer that God will keep her strong and in good health.

Other items for prayer and praise

Angela Busby and family; Heather McIntyre and family following death of Andrew and Alistair, their respective husbands.

 

THAMES NORTH SYNOD

Prayer topics for Office Devotions w/c 26th April

Committee meetings in next 7 days

NONE!

Churches

Newham, Christ Church URC

Trinity United Reformed Church, Walthamstow

Barnet, Chesterfield Road

From the Minister, Sue McKenzie:

Praise God for 2 new Elders, plans for a Community/church event on the local Recreation ground in the summer, services over Easter with good numbers.

Prayers please for:
Alpha course running at the moment - numbers small, but going well
The future and Redevelopment plans - very unclear where God is leading at the moment
Positive church links with the 'You Can Do It' group
Future of the 'Vidura' Drop in group for those with disabilities and their carers
Life and Mission Choir Concert on May 7th at the church

Barnet, Wood Street

From Vic Russell, Church Secretary:
Strengthening our ties with the families of the many people who attend our church.

Support for the two new Elders, the first for many years.

Deeper spiritual and prayer life of our members and adherents.

Our witness to the many organisations who use our premises.

A greater concern for the other URC churches near us.

Other items for prayer and praise

THAMES NORTH SYNOD

Prayer topics for Office Devotions w/c 14th March

Committee meetings in next 7 days

Wednesday: St Albans AC

Thursday: MIG

Churches

Clapton Park

Elizabeth Welch writes:

Thanks for the letter and card with regard to the Synod prayers - I think that this is such a good idea!

It's come at just the right time for us here. We're in the midst of a financial crisis - having discovered in the middle of November last year that we were heading for a project deficit of over 20k (sadly, due to poor financial reporting we weren't alerted to this before then) We've just had the draft accounts back, and we are on a deficit of £22,000 for the year. So we've been working on a redundancy and cut back strategy, which we are in the middle of implementing. We think it's part of the recessionary times, as it's mainly due to a drop in lettings. I'm glad to say that our nursery is doing exceptionally well and has evidently been bailing us out over the past year. (one very minor side line of all these financial cutbacksis thatI'm having difficulties getting the shower at the manse fixed -we have two showers, but weeither have scalding water, as one of them doesn't have cold water, or we have cold water, as the other of them doesn't have hot water before 8.00 in the morning - so happy days!)

The good news is that we're planning an amazing Lent programme - with three weeklyhouse groups, one looking at a movie, another at art and music and the third doing a bible study. We also have a kids 'Lent adventure' each week, going round the streets to houses telling a bit of the Lent story, a church away day 'blown away' on the theme of Nicodemus, a Passover meal for Maundy Thursday, an Easter breakfast as part of our main service for Easter Sunday. And I'll be doing a daily Lent prayer for those who sign up, and to go on our web-site and my Facebook page. We're also getting a new web-site designed, which we hope will be more accessible and user friendly.

We're gradually getting new people coming along to church - which helps to replace the people who from time to timemove away.

So we're in a time when we need prayers for help and are offering prayers of thanksgiving!

Bethnal Green

Lucy Berry writes:

We talked about you kind offer and came up with the words below.

Lord Jesus Christ,

We pray that BGMH should grow stronger in Spirit; growing as the Will of God and the

essence ofour congregation determine.

Thatour poor in heart,our tired of mind andour frail of health (outsideand inside our walls)

be strengthened and comforted.

Make brave our cowards, steady our doubters and bring our wanderers home.

Let the people who lead, lead only by following the Word; andhelp us read Your Word

in Your Book -and in our complex stories -more clearly.

Let us be given wealth enough to doour job here as we can and asyoutell us.

Open our doors,minds,hearts andeyes to seeYour Way forward for Bethnal Green;

and thus to joy, to love, to singing, dancing and laughing together in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Would you let us know what thingsYOU would like us to pray for, for Thames north?

Then we can pray for each other.

Potters Bar

Vist this weekend by the Horaks – Czech couple who are both ministers and are coming in September to Potters Bar and Brookmans Park for one year.

Bromley by Bow

Other items for prayer and praise

Sheena Dickson (in New Zealand): Her church was destroyed in the quake and has been demolished. Thankfully she was not in the building at the time as her office was totalled. She and some of her members watched as the demolition crew came in and brought it to the ground. She said they did it respectfully and she was thankful for that. Her congregation has since been sharing with a nearby church. I have seen her once since the earthquake and while naturally upset about the demise of her church building she was coping ok and is being well supported by the Presbytery. But the long-term future is uncertain as her congregation was small and elderly and there will be no energy for rebuilding. It is on a side of the city where our congregations are not strong and so it will be challenging to see what comes of it. Things will take a while to become clear but we can be sure it will look differently once the earthquake dust settles. So there will be some uncertainty about ongoing viability for ministers in Sheena's position.

SS Margaret & George: third break-in in a short space of time took place this week.

David Skipp – Mum improving

Alison Wheadon – Mod’s visit postponed till next week as she is having blood transfusion on Friday. Spoke to her and Martin yesterday – both very calm and cheerful.

Jackie Haws – making progress but still awaiting further tests

Zoe Jamshaid – family beginning to adjust to her condition but under stress from other circumstances.

Prayer topics for Office Devotions w/c 7th March

Committee meetings in next 7 days (see also last week’s list)

Thursday 10 – Quiet Day, West London Area Committee

Saturday 12 – Synod Meeting

Churches

Christ Church, Hatfield

Prayer for the church and future ministry as Derek Jones retires in October.

Colnebrook and Poyle

The churchgives thanks to God that one of the members Mrs Patie Crockett has recently been admitted to the office and ministry of a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church. Prayers are askedthat God will encourage and inspire this small loyal congregation whichsometimes feelsthe lack of provision of preachers from the URC tradition but does rejoice that Rev John Mackerness, chaplain at Heathrow Airport, has agreed to lead worship on Easter Sunday.

Baldock

Brookmans Park

Other items for prayer and praise

David Skipp’s mum

Prayer topics for Office Devotions w/c 28th February 2011

Committee meetings in next 7 days

1 March: Central & N London AC;

2 March M&M; 8 March Moderator hosting London Church Leaders Breakfast, Programme staff, LDG.

Churches

St Andrew’s, Gerrards Cross

David McMullan (church secretary) writes

Like so many churches we have a shrinking congregation with the average age nearer 80 rather than 70 years. We have been addressing this issue with the help of our Interim Moderator Dr. David Henry. On Sunday we welcomed four visitors whom he had invited. At present we have several members in hospital and they need our prayers and one young Nigerian mother, Ruth who is very seriously ill following an operation for breast cancer.

Very many thanks

Trinity, High Wycombe

Marion Mole (church secretary ) writes:

Thanks for the card & letter informing us that the Synod will be praying next week for Trinity URC, High Wycombe. This is much appreciated by ALL of us, members, adherents and local community.

We now have many groups using our premises throughout the week, most of whom are in partnership with us. We'd like you to give thanks to God for them all & pray for those that are in the 'pipeline' for the near future.

We'd specially like you to pray for:

1. Wycombe Winter Nightshelter which runs from January to March and which we host each Monday (now in it's fourth year)

2. WORMs (Workshop Rotation Model) being used by our Junior Church which started at the beginning of this year. The children love it & we pray that this will continue to be the case as they learn about Jesus and grow in faith.

3. Movers & Shakers Caribbean style and Chinese style. The latter group need to grow in number slightly to make them more financially stable.

Blessings & thanks to you all

Wixams

Revd Tim Jackson writes:

I would very much appreciate your prayers as we get the project moving. We are at a very early stage, notwithstanding my appointment.

My chief prayer request is that we can successfully make contact with committed Christians, as they move into the village, who will be able to help us develop; and also that we can find appropriate ways to engage with the many more ‘nominal’ Christians for whom ‘church’ as we tend to know it is a barrier rather than an encouragement.

Our first events are a short series of ‘open house’ coffee mornings for local residents during March and a Lent Study group which I will be leading.

Please pray for these; that they will attract people to us and to the emerging church in this village.

South Oxhey

Other items for prayer and praise

People:                Zoe Jamshaid; Jackie Haws; Alison Wheadon