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

  • Thanksgiving for Jigsaw toddler group and Messy Church which are back up and running with good numbers and strengthening relationships
  • Give thanks for our life groups. The fellowship, prayer and support that life groups bring have been so important over these months. Pray for the group leaders who have worked so hard to encourage and support their members and response to difficult circumstances.
  • Pray for all in our church family who are in paid or volunteer work. Pray for those whose frontlines have become more and more pressured due to the effects of COVID. Pray for those suffering from burn out. Pray for the witness through words and actions of all Christians in our local workplaces and charities.

Anita Dobson: anitadobson@christchurchdownend.com

Youth

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Please give thanks to God for the good weather and the energy to provide weekly outdoor programme for our young people for 12 weeks into September, which was well attended, thoroughly enjoyed and attracted
  • Give thanks for a wonderful joint Youth/CAP free family fun afternoon and for a successful Super-Serving-Sunday, cleaning Page Park railings
  • Give thanks for a very special BBQ for the families of our young people, enjoyed in the garden of our vacant vicarage.
  • Give thanks for the blessings of Emma, Abe and Josh, as the Lord has placed it on their hearts to join the youth team.
  • Give thanks for the good transition of returning to the Youth Hub for Sundays and for Youth Alpha on Wednesdays – all very well attended.
  • Give thanks for the Flourish Wellbeing course we delivered at our local secondary school in the first term, for the positive feedback, and for the school’s eagerness to invite students to our youth groups
  • Give thanks for great worship at a Rend Collective concert this month
  • Give thanks for our new Youth Team T-shirts which display the mission of the youth ministry – Fun, Family, Faith
  • Give thanks for the 2020 photo boards which have arrived! Very moving. Please visit the Youth Hub to see them
  • Give thanks that Co-op approached us and have again chosen us as their charity for 2021/2022 – God’s hand very much at work
  • Give thanks that we have been able to book a 2022 youth weekend away

Significant Events

  • 31st Oct – Serving Sunday Litter Pick around Staple Hill flats
  • 4th Nov – Ignite outreach youth groups restarting
  • 5th Nov – New Flourish wellbeing course starting in local secondary school
  • 9th Nov – Tuesday Drop-In restarting
  • 12th-14th Nov – Diane, Gary and Rich attending National Youth Ministry weekend in Birmingham
  • 13th Nov – Youth Hub 8 years old. Thank the Lord for his provision.
  • 14th Nov – Ruth Iles Spencer sharing in Story Sunday
  • 20th Nov – Songs of Praise potentially filming about our Serving Sundays
  • 5th Dec – Peter Maughan sharing in Story Sunday
  • 16th Dec – Ice Skating trip

Specific Needs

  • As Covid cases are on the rise, particularly among young people, please pray for God’s protection and for their physical and mental wellbeing
  • Please pray for our programme planning for the New Year
  • Please pray that, if it’s His will, that God will open doors for Luke’s gap year mission trip to our mission partners in India

Diane Paddon: youth@christchurchdownend.com

Leadership Development and Worship

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Give thanks for our musicians, tech team, wardens and all those who enable our Sunday services to happen each week. Pray that others will sense God’s call to offer their gifts to serve in one of these teams and further enhance our worship life.
  • Pray for the guest services coming up – Remembering with Thanksgiving on 14th November, Christingle on 28th November and the Christmas Services from 19th December. Pray that God will be drawing others to himself through these services.
  • Pray that during the Advent Season the light and hope of the gospel might inspire us all and help us to focus on Christ in the whole of life.

Resources – finance, staffing and governance

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

Pray for the PCC meeting on 24th November to finalise the Parish Profile and elect two Parish Representatives to lead the recruitment process for a new vicar, alongside the Archdeacon and Patrons.

Pray for God’s clear leading towards the appointment of an Assistant Parish Administrator and a Children’s Ministry Head.

Give thanks for the ongoing provision of funds for the ministry of Christ Church and pray for wisdom for the Giving for Life group and PCC as they begin to set budgets for 2022.

Paul Peterson: paulpeterson@christchurchdownend.com

Mission and Outreach

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • As we approach the halfway stage of this term’s Alpha course, pray for the leaders and the guests, that this might be significant time of spiritual refreshment and discovery. Pray especially for the Holy Spirit Awayday planned for 20 November.
  • As we welcome James Vaughton to preach at Christ Church on 7th November, pray for the ongoing work of TEN and for our mission partners Misa and Ina Hiorescu in Ursoia, Moldova.
  • Pray for Ben and Katy Ray in Tanzania as they consider how God might be leading them towards new initiatives in other parts of the country, and for the Neema Crafts team following the recent death of a much loved staff member.
  • In November, we pray for those working in Social Services and for the Council.
  • In December our focus turns to those working in hospitality and catering.

Paul Peterson: paulpeterson@christchurchdownend.com

Children

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

This term has been one of restarting and rebuilding in Children’s ministry. We have been delighted to have families return to meeting in person on a Sunday morning, with Messy Church also continuing to meet in person in the Church building. Sadly, we weren’t able to recruit a new head of children’s ministry, so Aidan will continue as Ministry Head until we can reassess options for re-advertising a version of the role in the New Year. Please give thanks and prayers 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.
  • For some families they need church and school to remain open to them more than perhaps others do, due to various economic, educational and mental health related reasons. Please pray for all our children and families as they face ongoing uncertainties related to the pandemic.
  • Pray for families yet to return to church for whatever reason. Pray that God may draw near to them, and that he would embolden Christian friends and family members to share the invitation with them.
  • Pray for school teachers, head teachers and governors over the coming weeks and months as they still battle with covid outbreaks and uncertainty.

Aidan Watson:  children@christchurchdownend.com

Christians Against Poverty

Thanksgiving and Answered Prayer

  • Clients beoming debt free in August, September and October
  • More 1st appointments being booked. We are now fully booked until the end of December
  • Families being blessed through our foodbank service. Thanks to the generosity of our church family we were able to deliver food parcels to 12 families last week.

Specific Needs

  • Some of our clients are really struggling to find the paperwork and information needed for head office to be able to draw up a debt solution for them.
  • We have 2 families living with the constant fear of eviction. Please pray that they will be kept safe and feel God’s peace in this stressful time.
  • That our clients and school families will be touched by God’s love and want to know Him.
  • That the organisation of hampers and presents for Christmas will go smoothly and families will be blessed.

Rosie Brydon:  rosiebrydon@capuk.org