Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…. Be alert and always keep on praying for all God’s people.
Ephesians 6. 18

Opportunities for prayer with others, to which all are welcome

Mondays at 9.15 – 9.45am Morning Prayer

A simple form of prayer and reflection on a Bible passage following the Church of England’s liturgical year. Each week 4 members of our church family are remembered in prayer, responding to specific needs they have highlighted. If you are able to use Zoom then this is the link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/348466575

Wednesdays 7am – 7.30am #ThyKingdomCome prayer

Open prayer for the issues facing our society and the needs of our world. If you are able to use Zoom then this is the link.

Prayer chain

If you have a specific prayer request you can have it included on the prayer chain via Mary Freestone: ianandmaryfreestone@gmail.com or 0117 9566630. These requests will be circulated to a number of trusted church members who will hold them in prayer before the Lord…. and then rejoice as prayer is answered!

Prayer and care

Requests for prayer and practical support can be given to our Care Co-ordinators on carecoordinators@christchurchdownend.com

Discipleship

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Messy Church was able to run in October (live) and November (via Zoom): we were able to deliver bags of activities before the zoom meeting so that families were more involved. We are so glad to get our wonderful young leaders serving again and that we have been able to renew contact with some of our families.
  • Jigsaw has been able to run live in the park until Lockdown 2, then on Zoom in December. We’ve revived and strengthened friendships and we blessed each family with an advent bag of Hope – goodies and Bible verse magnets strictly for the grown ups for a change, as so many have struggled with the demands of small children and little or no support.
  • The Making a Difference series helped us to assess, what are our frontlines these days? How have they changed due to COVID?
    How can we be fruitful in our current circumstances? Give thanks for the video interviews with members of the congregation which were so inspiring.

    Special Events:

    Messy Christingle will have happened by the time this is published:
    2 x live services due to demand, plus a Zoom event. Give thanks for the amazing Christingle team led again by Irene and Rachel, and pray that the word of hope has fallen on fertile soil.

    Specific Needs

    Pray for all our Life Group leaders who give so much time and dedication to encouraging their groups to grow in faith and fellowship. Pray for groups who are not able to meet on Zoom, that they will still be able to keep in touch.

Anita Dobson: anitadobson@christchurchdownend.com

Youth

  • Please give thanks for the the continued commitment of the young people to the youth meetings on Wednesdays and Sundays, and for the way they continue to grow and flourish in faith. It’s been especially encouraging to see the way the young people nurture and support each other in their faith journeys.
  • Please give thanks that six of our youth team are training to delivery Kintsugi Hope Wellbeing Courses that we aim to offer early in the New Year. Pray that God’s healing and transforming power will be at work through these course, which will be available to youth and adults.
  • Please pray protection over young people in their school and college environments. Pray especially for the Year 11 and 13, who, following the most disruptive year in education, have mock exams to sit. Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for teachers and those making decisions in education.

Diane Paddon: youth@christchurchdownend.com

Leadership Development and Worship

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • We are so thankful for the way we have been enabled to worship in church and livestream services each week, drawing on the gifts of creativity and dedication of so many. This has been especially true of the new Families at 4 act of worship both on Zoom and in church.

Significant Events

  • We are launching a new teaching series at the start of 2021 on Questions People are Asking. There is a fresh openness in view of this past year to explore the significance of our lives and the big issues of our time. Please pray for insight into how we might address these questions with God’s wisdom and insight.
  • The 24/7 week of prayer beginning on 8 January, with a focus on blessing

Specific Needs

  • For those who need to stay at home, please pray for the capacity to learn how to worship in different ways, becoming more creative and adaptable in making use of the new resources now available.

Rev Jo Vickery: vicar@christchurchdownend.com

Resources – finance, staffing and governance

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Thanks for sustaining the staff team during a particularly challenging time
  • Continued thanks for God’s provision through his people in terms of finances – the recent gift day raised £24,000
  • For the new PCC elected at the recent AGM

Significant Events

  • Giving4Life – Monday 18 January
  • PCC – Wednesday 27 January

Specific Needs

  • The ongoing challenges presented by the covid restrictions – whilst we have been able to partially open the Church Centre at Quakers Road to outside hirers, the Parish Hall remains closed until the new year. Pray for the hall committees, wardens and office team as they plot the way forward.
  • Sally Coates, our bookkeeper, will begin to reduce her hours from 1 January. We’re delighted that Gabrielle Foster will be taking her place and will work alongside Sally between January and April to ensure a smooth handover.
  • Pray for the staff team as they take a few days out with their families once the Christmas services have been completed. Pray for refreshment and renewed vision as they return in the New Year.
  • A number of staff members are facing struggles with their own or family members’ health at this time. Pray for God’s healing and a real sense of His presence.
  • Pray for our Parish Safeguarding Officer Laura Powell who plays such a key role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults.

Paul Peterson: paulpeterson@christchurchdownend.com

Mission and Outreach

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • We received a Church School Partnership Award recently for our links with Christ Church Juniors. Give thanks for the creative ways we engage with the school and the strong Christian value base.
  • Give thanks that many people are engaging with our online services who might not otherwise have engaged with the church.
  • Let’s celebrate the creative ways in which the gospel is being shared during the Advent and Christmas seasons

Significant Events

  • Christmas Services 20-25 December
  • Christmas Trail 20-24 December

Specific Needs

  • Continue to pray for creativity as we work out what mission looks like in a very different climate. How do we meaningfully engage with the wider community and share the love of Jesus in word and action? Pray for wisdom as to how to use evangelism resources such as the Alpha Course.
  • Pray for Jan and Richard Bacon as they seek to discern God’s will for the work in Kumi in 2021. Thank God for their ongoing commitment and passion for this ministry.
  • Pray for Pastor Misa Hiorescu and his family in Moldova – for the ministry amongst children through the day care centre and for their outreach into the wider community.
  • Pray for members of the Christ Church family as they seek to be salt and light on their frontlines. May their words and actions reflect the love of God for all people and for His wider creation.

Paul Peterson: paulpeterson@christchurchdownend.com

Children

  • Please pray for our schools and head teachers in our community. We know that many of them have been doing an impossible job and teaching with ever changing and unclear guidelines, managing isolation bubbles and covid absences. Pray for their mental and emotional recovery and recuperation this Christmas.
  •  Pray for our Children’s Church as we continue to learn new rhythms of meeting on Zoom and in Church. Pray that our Families at 4 Service would continue to grow to serve all those coming, both old and young.
  •  Pray for Jigsaw as we continue to adapt to changing circumstances and the varying needs of the families.
  • Pray for Messy Church as families are reconnecting with Church after much of this year has made Messy Church impossible. This was a really growing area of the Church’s life before covid and we pray that God would help it to grow healthily once more.

Aidan Watson:  children@christchurchdownend.com

Christians Against Poverty

  • Please pray that the surgery Philip needs happens quickly and is completely successful
  • Please pray that our clients are committed and engaged in the service we offer
  • Please pray that our Schools Partnership volunteers are able to make positive relationships with the families they visit, showing God’s love in practical ways

Leyla Fellows:  leylafellows@capuk.org