We are living in very challenging times at the moment, particularly in the West, where we have been used to a very comfortable lifestyle. This is now being threatened because of the financial crisis which is effecting the whole world economy. It is a time of testing but is also an opportunity to dig deeper into prayer and a more radical living out of the gospel, and of generosity and love to others.

This year in the liturgy we are following the gospel of Mark and Fr Chris Thomas, in his regular column, reflects on how Mark’s gospel emphasises the cost of the gospel message and how that it is often in failure and mess that we see the presence of God more clearly. Myles Dempsey, a prophetic leader in the Charismatic Renewal in Britain, receives a prophetic word each year from the Lord to help guide him over the coming months. He shares with us what the Lord has said to him this year. This tells of a time of trial but also is a message of hope of restoration and new beginnings. Various Bishops have spoken about the current crisis and in this issue we include the words of Archbishop Kevin McDonald who urges us to trust God. Discerning God’s will, however, can always be difficult. How do we know if something is from God or just our own psyche? Cyril John, the chairman of the Indian NSC, highlights the importance of obedience to God and gives some tips on how we can discern if something is God’s will or not.

When we feel we don’t have very much and there are hard times ahead, the temptation is always to hoard rather than to share our resources, but it is precisely in situations like these that the Lord calls on us to trust in him and not in our money. Fr Pat Collins exhorts us to be generous and shares some of his own experiences when a member of a prayer group he belonged to supported one of its members who had lost his job. Mike, who is retired, and has seen his savings dwindle because of the fall in bank interest levels, and other things, explains how he and his wife have found that they still seem to manage and have enough left over to share with those whom the Lord puts in their path. Spiro Sueref from Wales, shares an experience of how his own generosity when he was down on his luck was rewarded by the Lord’s amazing providence to him.

Intrinsic to getting through this time will be prayer and depending on God. Charles Whitehead asks if we have lost our sense of awe of God and reminds us of the importance of praise to get our problems in perspective. The call to praise is also the main message of Fiona Hendy’s letter to intercessors. Fr Tom Kenny, a retired priest and former NSC member, sees the prayer of praise as essential for effective intercession. He shares some of his own experiences and what he has learnt about this important calling. It can be hard to keep prayer up, however, over the long haul, especially when consolations start fading and it seems that God has disappeared. In his very honest and helpful piece, Joe Breault shares with us some of his own difficulties in prayer and how he learnt to grow through them.

Michelle Moran, the chairperson of the English NSC and the President of ICCRS, sensing the way the Spirit is moving world wide, feels it is important to really encourage people in the CCR to promote the celebration of the feast of Pentecost in whatever way we can, but especially by prayer. The English NSC has commissioned three of us – Fiona Hendy, Barbara Mason and myself – to produce a suitable novena for Pentecost, assisted by Gabriele’s layout skills, to be published and offered to the wider Church. We felt the Spirit prompting us to create not just a novena prayer but a prayer guide from Easter to Pentecost (for further details see p 7). The booklet is only £1 so please help us get this out to the parishes before Easter by ordering bulk copies for your parish or prayer group. I’m sure you will find it very helpful.