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. (Held in the Trinity Chapel). 

Wednesdays 7am – 7.30am #ThyKingdomCome prayer

Open prayer for the issues facing our society and the needs of our world. (Held in the Youth Hub)

First Friday of the month – One Church One Day – 7-8pm and then 24hours of Prayer

Since the first lockdown we have been joining with churches around Bristol to pray non-stop for 24 hours once a month. The vision of this One Church One Day movement is to see a canopy of prayer over Bristol. 24-7-365. Building Bristol as a city of Hope. Each month church members sign up for an hour or 30 minute slot to pray, and the 24 hours starts with a joint time of prayer and worship currently on zoom. To find out more email diane.paddon@christchurchdownend.com

Once a month – Prayer for Persecuted Christians

 An hour of prayer with stories of specific situations highlighted by Open Doors.

Mahabba Prayer

Monthly at 2pm on a Thursday. Please contact the Office if you would like to come to this meeting to pray for Muslims in our locality.

Before Worship and other events

There is prayer before the 10.30 service from 10.10 – 10.25am in the Trinity Chapel to seek to listen to the Spirit. Gatherings for prayer happen before Messy Church, Jigsaw and before and after each youth evening too. Anyone is welcome to be part of these times. 

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!
During the month of May please direct any urgent prayer requests or updates for the Prayer Link to Anita Dobson 07753233950 or anita.dobson@christchurchdownend.com  We pray that Mary Freestone would have a well earned break! If you would like to receive prayer updates for the church family and those we know of who are in need of urgent prayer, please get in touch and Anita can add you to the list. Then you’ll be able to join the band of praying people covering Christ Church and the wider community in prayer.

Prayer and care

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

Sally Grier may be contacted sally.grier@christchurchdownend.com in relation to home Communion and hospital visits.

Personal Prayer

We want to encourage everyone to be open to praying for one another after our services or in our Life groups etc. There are a number of people with some experience and training ready to pray with anyone after 10.30am service. They have PRAYER badges on and will usually be near the Trinity Chapel.

If you would like to explore deeper prayer ministry, please contact Pauline Pearce for a confidential appointment on 0117 329 2078.

Discipleship

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Give thanks for the 4 schools who visited for Experience Easter Outside: Stanbridge, Bromley Heath Juniors, Christ Church Juniors and Christ Church Infants. Pray for ever increasing warmth and mutual support between the church and the local schools, that from these little seeds will grow disciples of Christ. 
  • Give thanks for the women’s prayer breakfast and the atmosphere of friendship and prayerfulness.
  • Continue to pray for all our life groups, especially those waiting to join groups. Pray for new leadership and give thanks for all our leaders.
  • Give thanks for the welcome tea for newcomers and pray for all new people who dip their toe in the water at Christ Church. Pray that we will make them feel at home, and that we would all play our part in offering friendship and a sense of belonging.

Anita Dobson: anita.dobson@christchurchdownend.com

Youth

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Give thanks for the Alpha Course, and for the successful Youth Alpha outing.
  • Give thanks for the engagement with the new Prayer Course which began in March.
  • Give thanks that the Ignite outreach groups continue to steadily grow.
  • Give thanks for the amazing Ignite Youth Team, for the way Ellis leads the young people in prayer each week, and for Abe and Josh growing and flourishing as young youth leaders.
  • Give thanks for a special Serving Sunday Breakfast Service at Quakers Road.
  • Give thanks for the wonderful feedback from the students who have been on the Flourish Courses this year.
  • Give thanks that Luke arrived safely in India and is serving well.
  • Give thanks for a fun Youth Team Social organised by Rich
  • Give thanks for the generous donation of £442.68 from Downend Round Table
  • Give thanks for the new 2021 photo boards in the Youth Hub – please visit!
  • Give thanks for the new youth hoodies, purchased by the team and young people.

Significant Events:

  • The Noise: 30 April Litter Pick in the morning
  • The Noise: 1 May Cream Tea and Entertainment in the Afternoon for Senior Citizens
  • The Noise: 2 May Family Fun Afternoon.

Specific Needs

  • Please pray for Nikola and her family, as family in Ukraine serve on the frontline in Kiev.
  • Please pray for our Young People as they face GCSEs and A Levels, coursework and exams, in this season
  • Please pray for the planning for the Heatree Youth Weekend taking place in June
  • Please pray for all the planning and preparation for the new term.

Diane Paddon: youth@christchurchdownend.com

Leadership Development and Worship

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Give thanks for our committed and talented team of musicians, projectionists and sound technicians. We’re grateful that with covid restrictions removed we can now raise our voices in worship so much more freely.
  • It’s so easy to take our times of gathered worship for granted, but as we watch all that’s going on in Ukraine we recognise our privileged situation and freedoms.

Specific Needs

  • Pray that people will come forward for baptism or confirmation in the weeks ahead to mark the work of God in their lives and their ongoing commitment to him.
  • Give thanks for our All Things New teaching series and pray that our grasp of the big picture of scripture might inspire and encourage us afresh.

Resources – finance, staffing and governance

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Give thanks for key appointments to our team – Beth Mullings as Assistant Parish Administrator and Harriet Jolly as Children’s Co-ordinator
  • As we come to the end of another church year, give thanks for those who’ve served us as PCC and Deanery Synod Members and Church Wardens
  • Thank God for the provision of our church halls which provide a valuable hub for the local community, provide spaces for our youth and children’s ministry and bring in valuable income to resource the wider mission of the church.

Key Dates:

  • Sunday 8 May – APCM

Specific Needs

  • As we re-advertise for the Vicar’s role, pray for patience, wisdom and God’s provision of the right person to lead us forward
  • We are still on the lookout for a new Parish Safeguarding Officer to take over from Laura Powell in early summer. Pray for the right person to be identified for this key role in the church’s life.
  • Pray for our Ministry Heads and the whole staff team at this busy time. May they serve from a heart full of love and compassion, and experience God’s joy

Paul Peterson: paul.peterson@christchurchdownend.com

Mission and Outreach

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Give thanks that Luke Paddon was able to fly out to India to serve in the orphanage for a few weeks, and for his faith and example. Also for Iona Clark serving with Streetriders across Europe this term.
  • Thank God for the ministry of Open Church and for other midweek groups where people of all ages engage with the good news of Jesus.
  • Celebrate the life of our two church schools and give thanks for all of the staff and governors.

Key Dates: 

  • 30 April-2 May The Noise Weekend
  • 22 May – Mission Direct Mission Sunday

Specific Needs

  • Ukraine is facing devastation and untold horrors at this time – use the latest news reports to inform your prayers and cry out to God for a peaceful resolution.
  • Pray for Ben and Katy Ray as they look to set up a new project in Arusha later in the year, and for the provision of new project leaders at Neema Crafts to replace them.
  • Pray for Christians across the world experiencing persecution.
  • As fuel prices rise and food inflation takes effect, pray for the ministry of CAP and for Rosie and her team as they support those facing financial hardship. Pray for the strengthening of links with other churches and for new befrienders to join the team.
  • We’re currently exploring how we might engage with the community in the Bromley Heath area and especially older people. A cream tea over the jubilee weekend in June will provide a launchpad for further engagement.

Frontline Focus: 

May – Service Industries

Paul Peterson: paul.peterson@christchurchdownend.com

Children’s Ministry

Thanksgiving:

  • For all the current team of volunteers who have been working really hard in planning and running the children’s groups each week.
  • For Liz Leeson who has acted as Children’s Ministry co-ordinator
  • For members of Christ Church who have offered to join and support the children’s teams
  • For the children and teachers from our local schools who have been able to visit Christ Church for experience Easter and everyone who helped with this

Specific Needs:

  • God’s guidance and wisdom in my new role and for all the leaders, helpers and volunteers in the children’s teams
  • For additional leaders/helpers to join the teams to lead the children’s groups each week
  • A new safeguarding officer as Laura steps down from her role
  • Families who have not yet felt able to return to church after covid to feel safe and happy to come back to their church family

Harriett Jolly:  children@christchurchdownend.com

Christians Against Poverty

Thanksgiving for:

  • For the number of clients who are wanting to sign up to work with CAP at their budget visit.
  • For developing links with other churches.
  • For the link with Staple Hill Community Hub and the generosity of the church family in supporting so many families in our community over Easter.

Specific Needs:

  • Another Debt Coach to help with the growing number of client referrals.
  • Someone to oversee the organisation of the Foodbank
  • Church links in Kingswood so that we have some people who are willing to become Befrienders and link clients into a local church.

Rosie Brydon:  rosiebrydon@capuk.org