PRAYER PAGE
Circuit Prayer Champion - Mark Savage
For several years in the mid “noughties”, we tried some innovative ideas in our circuit to encourage prayer, and to spread the word about what each church was active in, its local situation and the needs of its people. These included the “Prayer Safaris”, safari being the Swahili word for “journey”.
Some of the most intrepid- and perhaps physically fittest!- members of our circuit visited each of our ten churches in turn, spending a brief time there praying for that church and the surrounding community. This was no mean feat even as a walking exercise- a journey of some eighteen miles (though minibus-assisted at times, and with other transport on the second safari).
On one year of the safari, the temperature topped 30 degrees C; the other year there was torrential rain, dampening the bodies but not the spirits of the committed prayer walkers. One year also featured a “prayer jigsaw”, devised by Sheila Hassan of Wendover Road Methodist Church (Egham Hythe). As each church was visited, a jigsaw piece was handed over. Eventually, when the final church- Laleham Methodist- was reached late in the afternoon, rewarded with a well-deserved cream tea after a short service, the final jigsaw was assembled in the church. Each jigsaw piece showed the amazing range of activities that our individual churches are involved in, that together make up our diverse and challenging circuit: part of the circuit, district and Connexion- and the world.
Another year, each church was encouraged to pray for the others on a rota basis. Since then, however, I agree with a minister in our district who recently said in a sermon “As Methodists, we have perhaps lost our way in prayer”.
I’m described here as a “Prayer Champion”, but I feel rather uncomfortable with that description; even though I am passionate about prayer, I’m no more expert than the next man and I haven’t won the prayer race yet, let alone the walk. But only as we pray can we see our prayers answered- and enjoy a deeper relationship with the Lord. Indeed, we’ve seen answers in our circuit to prayer which amaze me- the success of the Village Centre project in Englefield Green being but one example.
I’m here to co-ordinate prayer activity in our circuit as best I can, and to share our needs with the wider Methodist district. Check out the “Prayer” tab on the South East District website, and you’ll find our circuit included among those regularly being prayed for by name, from Maidstone to Malta, Godstone to Gibraltar! So far, I’ve restricted this public prayer resource to more general prayer for our circuit staff, churches and events, but if you’d feel comfortable sharing, for example, a need for healing, please let me know, and I’ll make sure it’s included in the next update.
Anya Goldsack is our lady on the District Council responsible for encouraging and supporting prayer. She is a lovely lady who has also visited each of our churches with her husband Steve and myself on a car “prayer safari”. Through Anya, we also have access to a wealth of resources- from courses to counselling and the many other issues which can help or hinder us in prayer. If you would like further information on any of these, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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