CommunityPrayer

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity” (NIV), says Ecclesiastes 3 v 1.

Sometimes it can be hard to recognise and accept that a season has come to an end!  It is therefore with sadness that we formally announce that ‘Churches Together’ as we know it, (which has been meeting for 30+ years), will no longer operate under that banner. 

Those that attended the group regularly, took some time out to seek God’s heart and to individually pray a possible way forward before meeting to discuss and pray about a relaunch/refresh of the group in some guise.

We have had many constructive and positive times together with those present sensing a real peace that God is doing a new thing.

Our meeting over coffee at a local café in July, cemented the desire for a group initially focusing on fellowship, supporting and encouraging one another in our ministries and praying for each other and our community. We very much felt the need to take small steps and see where God is leading us.

The Graham Kendrick song, “We’ll walk the land with hearts on fire, and every step will be a prayer,” which we thought about at our first meeting, still resonates with our spirits.  Our desire is to claim the ground in which we live for the Lord, to be purposeful and impactful and to be more intentional about our visibility within our community.

At a get together on Tuesday 19th August at the Turning Circle in Parish Lane, we rejoiced in the news that the Woodingdean Food Hub now has a space at St Patrick’s Church to store a few emergency packs for service users who live in the South Woodingdean area.  We are grateful to God for making a way and for the efforts of Phil, Irene and the leadership at St Patrick’s.

Our last meet up on the 3rd October was a visit to the Woodingdean Food Hub based at the Woodingdean Youth Centre in Warren Road (next to the Community Centre).  

We were welcomed warmly by the team and invited to sit in to the short briefing meeting before the doors opened to clients. Phil Parsons then gave us a tour of the centre and explained how the Hub worked for both volunteers and service users and answered the many questions we had. It was a really informative time together and an opportunity for us as a group to chat to and encourage the team in the tremendous work they are doing in our community and also to better understand how we as a group of Christians in Woodingdean can pray for the ongoing work.

I think we all left feeling touched by the sensitivity, compassion and dedication of the volunteer team and also that God was blessing this work.

Maria has kindly put together some prayer points to assist us:

1. Pray that there will be enough regular volunteers to support the work and that God will bless those who serve so faithfully.
2. Pray that the food and drink items donated will be sufficient and varied for the needs of those seeking assistance.
3. Pray that people in need in Woodingdean will not be afraid, embarrassed or ashamed to visit the Food Hub.

These are exciting days as we see God working His purposes out and as we step out in faith to all that God has in store for us. 

Keep watching this space for further updates!

Next meeting:- 

November – date to be confirmed –  Prayer Walk in North Woodingdean