|
News from England
|
|
|
GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER Interestingly among our charismatic brothers and sisters in other denominations, there is a big move in intercession and prayer, also focussing on Pentecost. One of these is the Global Day of Prayer. This was the inspiration of a South African businessman, who felt the Lord telling him to hire a stadium for Pentecost to pray. Initially he didn’t get much support from the established churches but decided to hire the stadium anyway. Some local Moslems objected, which created a bit a news splash, which acted to his advantage, as it gave the event lots of media exposure and publicity and ensured the day was a great success. Over the following couple of years, the idea has spread all over Africa and last year went round the world. Hundred of thousands of people took part including 12,000 Christians who gathered outside Stormont Castle near Belfast. This year a group of evangelical Christians in London, including Pentecostal leader Jonathan Oloyede and Joel Edwards from the Evangelical Alliance are hoping to launch the idea in Britain too. On Pentecost eve (Saturday 3rd) there will be gathering of charismatic leaders and intercessors in central London from all the denominations including Roman Catholics. The organisers are hoping individual churches round the country will organise their own activities on the Sunday 4th and generally increase the profile of the feast of Pentecost, so long the poor relation in the Christian calendar. For further details contact Evangelical Alliance, Whitefield House, 186 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4BT. Tel 020 7207 2131 NATIONAL PRAYER DAY TO LAUNCH REDEEMING OUR COMMUNITIES Another ecumenical gathering focussing on prayer and intercession is Trumpet Call IV, which will take place In Birmingham at the NEC Arena on Saturday May 13th 2006.This is the 4th National day of prayer and proclamation hosted by the World Prayer Centre which is based in the city. This year the main focus will be the launch of a prayer initiative called “Redeeming Our Communities”. This encourages communities to pray for their area and its social needs. In the north west where this has been happening for some time, crime rates are falling. Experience has proved that churches and agencies praying and working for change, can be a catalyst for positive change. The day at Birmingham will include inspirational stories of community transformation and include testimonies by Street pastors, the Eden Project inspired by the work of the World Wide Message Tribe and the Adopt a Cop scheme etc, as well as prayer. Among the VIP guests will be Hazel Blears the Minister of State for Crime, Security and Communities and Matthew Baggot, Chief Constable for Leicestershire. He comments, “Over the years I have come to see just how important the relationship between local churches and policing can be in restoring hope and reducing crime in our neighbourhoods.” For tickets send £5 and a SAE to World Prayer Centre, Cornerstone House, 5 Ethel Street, Birmingham B2 4BG
As part of this wave of intercession that the Holy Spirit seems to be calling us to, is a new Catholic Intercession Ministry that began on Ash Wednesday at the church of Our Lady and St Gregory’s in Warwick Street, off Regent Street. Inspired by the prayer tower at Potta, the famous Catholic retreat centre in India, where there is 24/7 intercession for the needs of the world, a group of young people in London have felt called to start something similar here. They are inviting all those who have a heart for intercession to join in the ministry. To start with they are praying 4 hours a night after work from 5-9pm Monday to Friday, and at the weekends 11.30 am to 5pm. They hope to increase this as more intercessors sign up. They are arranging their first intercessors’ retreat the weekend of 20th-21st May at Our Lady’s Church, which will culminate in prayer to receive the anointing of an intercessor. Among the speakers are Charles Whitehead, Mgr Keith Barltrop, the director of CASE(the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation) and Ros Powell, well known for her ministry and training gifts and Enda Devine, who has led the London Day of Renewal into an intercessory ministry praying for the capital, and started off the idea among Catholics of motorway intercession, which has taken off in various cities round the country. Ani George, who was one of the main inspirations of the Potta prayer tower, has visited the ministry to pass on some of his wisdom and experience to the organisers. The team hope not just to encourage people to come and pray at Our Lady’s but to generally grow in their understanding of the need and power of intercession in their own parishes and homes. For further information about the Gift of Prayer retreat in May please contact the Goodnews Office 020 7352 5298 and if you would like a booking form please send an SAE to Pray for London Mission, c/o Our Lady and St Gregory’s, Warwick Street, London. INTERCESSION AND HEALING FOR DRUG ADDICTS! The Cenacolo Community founded by an Italian nun, is one that has long known the power of prayer to heal the most troubled of cases. The community, which now has 50 communities world wide, opened its first house in England with 10 addicts last year, in Kendal. Five hundred people from all over the UK attended its first anniversary Mass on March 24th this spring, which was attended by among others, the Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Patrick O’Donohue. Sr Elvira, the founder from Italy was also there. She commented, “The most effective medicine to alleviate drug addiction is found in the Eucharist,” she said. “I have seen in communities many miracles of faith as broken, hurt lives have been transformed. Cenacolo is not a place of rehabilitation but transformation.” LIFE IS FOR JOY AT WINTERSHALL Wintershall, the Guildford estate owned by Roman Catholic Peter Hutley, has become famous for its annual day long pageant about the Life of Christ which takes place at the beginning of July. In the last three years they have also, been running ecumenical family conferences, to encourage people to grow in their Christian faith. Last year the speakers were David Wells and Jackie Pullinger, known for her work among drug addicts in Hong Kong. Participants either come as day visitors or camp on the estate and there are special sessions for children. The beautiful countryside and sense of being on a farm, with the main talks given in the barn, add to the charm of this unique conference. This year the conference is 15th-16th July. It will finish after an ecumenical service on the Sunday morning. Among the speakers are David Wells, who returns again, Marino Restrepo, a Columbian evangelist with an amazing story to tell and Nicky and Sila Lee, who head up the Marriage and Family office at Holy Trinity Brompton church. For more info about Life is for Joy conference and the Life of Christ contact www.wintershall-estate.com CALL TO CATHOLICS TO TAKE PART IN “SOUL IN THE CITY” THIS SUMMER! Two years ago 15,000 young people came to the capital for a week of fun, fellowship, Christian teaching and service to the wider community in “Soul in the City” organised by Soul Survivor. It was such a success that the idea has lived on, and has been taken on board by local churches anxious to engage their young people in witness, unity and service. The week will be launched on 29th July with a lunch event at KICC(Kingsway International Christian Centre) in Hackney and end with a closing celebration at Brixton Academy on 5th August. The organising team led by Jonathan Oloyede and Patrick Regan are anxious for Catholics to take part as the vision is one of unity. The structure of the week gives a lot of freedom for young people to be as creative as they want in the name of Christ and serving the community. Last time round the young people spent the week tidying up litter, doing wall paintings, Christian nail bars etc. A Catholic group based at St Patrick’s Soho Square did a drama outreach.
|
|
||||
 |
