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!

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

• Pray for the Mothers Union who have a full programme this year. Pray for protection and safety as they meet, and for strength and wisdom for the leadership committee.
• Give thanks for Open Church, our Bible study and prayer group on Tuesday mornings that has an outward focus too, often drawing in people who are returning to faith or who have questions, or who are wanting to dip their toe in the water of church and faith in God. Pray for the leaders Peter, Geoff and Chris as they discern when to move from Zoom back to in-person sessions.
• Pray for our new teaching series coming up called All Things New which will help us see God’s overarching plan in the whole of the Bible to rescue his people.  Pray that it will inspire us to know a fuller Gospel – an ever greater sense of the magnitude of what God has done for us, and an ever increasing desire to share it!
• Give thanks for all our life groups, from Elev8 to the more mature groups and everyone in between! It was so encouraging to hear their impact at the service on 9h Jan. Pray that more people might find life groups a place to belong and be blessed. 

Anita Dobson: anita.dobson@christchurchdownend.com

Youth

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

• Give thanks for the young people’s contributions to the Sunday morning services at Christ Church Parish Church and Centre over the last few months.
• Give thanks for the young people who came out and fund raised with Santa’s Sleigh 
• Give thanks for a successful ice-skating trip enjoyed by all 39 of us.
• Give thanks for generous donations that have been made, so we can continue to not need to request church funds
• Give thanks that Youth Alpha is going well.
• Give thanks for the great day out we had filming with Songs of Praise and for the opportunity to shine as volunteers on Serving Sundays, showing God’s love in practical ways. Give thanks for the connections that were made and the ongoing conversations locally and nationally as a result of this programme.
• Give thanks for engaging and inspiring Story Sunday from Ruth Iles
• Give thanks that the numbers in Ignite and Ignite+ are steadily growing.
• Give thanks for the positive feedback from the Flourish Wellbeing Course in Downend School, and that the conference room in which we meet is now a Prayer Room.
• Give thanks for the worship and teaching at the National Youth Conference Weekend.
• Give thanks for the new Scripture Sundays series on the teachings of Jesus. 

Significant Events:

• Please pray for the new Flourish Course which has just started and for the one which will begin in March
• 30^th Jan – Serving Sunday Breakfast Service at Quakers Road  
• 13^th Feb & 13^th March Story Sundays
• 16^th Feb Alpha Outing
• 27^th Feb Serving Sunday Litter Pick
• 2^nd March – New prayer course begins on Wednesday evenings

Specific Needs

• As Covid cases remain high among young people because they have to be in school, please pray for God’s protection over them physically, mentally and spiritually.
• Pray for the team, for Holy Spirit guidance as we build up the groups.
• Downend School would really like a boys’ wellbeing group. Please pray for Holy Spirit guidance in being able to deliver this.
• Pray that if anyone is being called to be part of the Youth Team, particularly in the areas of Detached and Outreach Drop-Ins, that they would speak with Diane.
• Pray for the planning of the youth weekend and the Spring term programmes.
• Pray for the 95% of young people nationally who have no connection with a church.

Diane Paddon: youth@christchurchdownend.com

Leadership Development and Worship

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

• Give thanks for our Christmas Services and for all those who made them happen. So much work went on behind the scenes.
• It was good to celebrate the life of Christ Church at our recent ‘Be part of the story’ service. We have so much to give thanks for. Let’s also give thanks for the input of our teenagers in recent services.

Key Dates: 

• 6^th February – Ken Benjamin from LICC speaking at our morning services
• Mid February – ‘All Things New’ Teaching Series begins
• 2^nd March – Ash Wednesday Service

Specific Needs

• Please pray for Barbara at Church Centre and our musicians at Christ Church as they lead us in sung worship week by week – for freshness, good health and inspiration.
• Ask God to speak to us all afresh through our upcoming sermon series ‘All Things New’ based on Pete Hughes’ book of the same name.
• As we emerge from Covid restrictions, pray that we will continue to rely on God and not become complacent. May we hunger after him in our gathered worship and in our daily lives.

Resources – finance, staffing and governance

• We’re so grateful to God that parish giving has held up during the challenges of the last 18 months, and that our halls and buildings continue to generate income to support the mission of Christ Church.
• Give thanks for the excellent Parish Profile compiled last term to illustrate the life of Christ Church to prospective applicants for the Vicar role.
• Give thanks for the recent appointment of Crystal Johnson to our office team

Key Dates: 

• 17^th January – Giving 4 Life Meeting
• 24^th January – PCC Meeting
• 26^th Jan – Closing Date for applications for the Vicar role
• 28^th February – Giving 4 Life Meeting
• 1^st and 2^nd March – Interviews for the Vicar role
• 10^th March – PCC Meeting13^th March – Haven Home Mission Sunday

Specific Needs

• Pray for God’s guidance over the coming weeks as we move towards the appointment of a new vicar. Pray for our Parish Reps Maggie Nichols and Adam Parfitt as they work with the Patrons and the Diocese.
• As Dave Tooby looks to step down as Planned Giving Secretary, pray for a replacement to be identified to serve Christ Church through this role. We are also in need of a new Parish Safeguarding Officer to take over from Laura Powell in early summer.
• Pray for our staff team as they share in the responsibility and privilege of serving God in this parish week by week. Pray that they will know God’s strength and direction.

Paul Peterson: paul.peterson@christchurchdownend.com

Mission and Outreach

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

• Give thanks for the Alpha Course which finished just before Christmas – a small group, but those who attended seemed to benefit and appreciated the opportunity to explore more deeply.
• Give thanks for the faithful witness of all our Mission Partners, and for God’s leading of them through the challenges of covid.

Key Dates: 

• 30^th January – CMS (Ben and Katy Ray) Mission
• Sunday13^th March – Haven Home Mission Sunday

Specific Needs

• Please pray for our two church schools amidst the extra pressures associated with covid. Pray for a clarity of vision, strong leadership and an ongoing commitment to Christian values.

• Pray for our young adults active in mission across the world:

Iona Clark as she ministers with the Circuit Riders team on a two month mission across Europe. Pray for safety in travel, unity amongst the team and a time of fruitful engagement with students across the continent.

Thomas Clark in his ministry amongst students in Southampton

Jonny Dobson working with World Sport Ministries in Bath

Sam Ewins studying in Cambridge and on placement at a church in Balham South London

Dave Moller as he continues his sports ministry and mission studies in Cambridge and seeks to discern his next steps

Luke Paddon hoping to spend 6 weeks serving at Haven Home from 7^th February

Others too numerous to mention serving God on their frontlines at work and Uni and in their local communities.

• As the demand for CAP services continues to increase, please pray for more people to come forward as befrienders to support the clients Rosie is working with.

Frontline Focus: 

February – Emergency Services and Charities

March – IT and Finance 

Paul Peterson: paul.peterson@christchurchdownend.com

Children

In Children’s and families ministry, Aidan continues to oversee our wonderful teams of volunteers but we are seeking again to recruit a new head of children’s ministry, advertising a new 6-8hr a week role, although the role could be expanded either now or in time. Please give thanks and pray for:-

• The wonderful team of volunteers who put on children’s ministry every weekend, helping our children interact with the God of the universe who loves each and every one of them. Pray that a few more members may be able to come onto the team as well. In particular for Liz Leeson as she manages the administration of the children’s work voluntarily around her work and family commitments. 
• Pray for the advertised role that the right person would come forward and be able to be appointed to support and lead the ministry.
• Pray for our children and families as they still manage the pressures around covid including unexpected isolations and home schooling.
• Pray for school teachers, head teachers and governors over the coming weeks and months as they still battle various challenges all the while being so fatigued from the ordeals of the past two years.

Aidan Watson:  children@christchurchdownend.com

Christians Against Poverty

Thanksgiving for:

• the generosity of the church community in providing presents and hampers for 33 families over Christmas
• the number of clients wanting to work with CAP is increasing

Prayers needed for:

• as the number of clients grows we urgently need more people to volunteer for the role of Befriender so the clients can be supported on their journey out of debt
• many of our clients suffer with poor mental health. Please pray they will feel the love and peace of God and have the courage to keep engaging with our service

Rosie Brydon:  rosiebrydon@capuk.org