PRAYER SPACE!

We're really excited by this year's prayer space - especially our challenge of doing it 24/7!

Here's some info on what prayer spaces are, for those that have never experienced it, and what we will be doing for this year.......

Every year at Easter we hold a prayer space – this is about meeting with God in prayer in new ways. The two main components are:

CREATIVITY – using our whole bodies, senses, artistic abilities

INCLUSIVITY – the space allows access for all abilities/disabilities/ages to engage with God

Basically, part of our church will be transformed into a place where people can experience God in prayer – it’s designed to be a multi-sensory experience, with lots of aids for prayer and reflection but it's also possible to find a quiet corner if you prefer just sitting in God's presence.

THIS YEAR -24/7 PRAYER

We will be joining with other churches in a City wide initiative to pray 24/7 during Holy week.

THEME

This year, the space will be themed for reflection and prayer in WORSHIP, HEALING, MISSION. We are looking to link these three areas with the ‘tree’ imagery contained in the Bible – so the worship room will encourage participants to think about getting their roots down into God’s soil. In the Healing section we will think about how trees are a place for shelter, and God’s love and power shelters us – we will also tie in the imagery that Jesus died on a tree for us. Finally, the Mission room will look to engage people in thinking how they can bear fruit and plant seeds for change where God has placed them.

WHEN?

Mon 25 March 9am to Easter Sunday 6am!

VOLUNTEER

We need lots of help staffing the space - people who will commit to praying in the space and people on duty at reception - please consider getting involved we need all the help we can get! See previous post on what it involves and contact Sam Twine to book in: samantha.twine88@gmail.com . She can also be contacted by phone (weekdays - outside of 8am-5pm): 07719 644 456

To see previous prayer spaces have a look at:

Prayer Space - seeking people to help and pray!

Over the past three years CBC has created a ‘prayer space’ during holy week – a place to experience time with God, retreat from the world and explore creative and artistic ways of praying.

This year we want to work more closely with other churches in the area so we are taking part in a 24/7 prayer initiative that is being run city wide. CBC will be one of three centres for prayer, the other two being St Jude’s and Oasis church.

This is a fantastic opportunity to cover the week in prayer, and see God do amazing things among us.

The prayer space will be open from Monday 25 March at 9am through to Easter Sunday 6am. Since the prayer space will be open much longer than in previous years we will need many more people to "staff" it. We are looking for people for:

RECEPTION DUTY

At various times we will need people present to allow people access to the building and sign people in.

PRAYER DUTY

Because it’s 24/7 prayer, we don’t just need people to staff the space, but people who will commit to praying in the space in hourly slots. 

During daytime hours (9am-10pm) this doesn’t mean you are booking the slot for yourself – other people may join you during your session, but whether people are in the space with you or not, you are committing to making this a place for continual prayer. Of course, if you are keen you can opt to pray for more than one slot!

During night time hours (10pm-9am) only people that have booked in may use the space. During these hours, for safety reasons, we will need a minimum of 2 people present.

However the space doesn’t have to be limited two people - whole groups can take an hour (or block of hours!). Small groups, prayer groups, friendship groups – any group from Knit and Natter to the football team can agree to steward the space. For instance, as a group, you may decide on a time that suits everyone and agree to steward the space in a 5 hour slot. Not all of you would need to be present for the 5 hours, as long as you have agreed who you will pass the baton of prayer onto.

If you are interested in booking into the space as a group or as individuals, either on prayer duty or reception duty, you can sign up in the foyer on Sunday, or contact Sam Twine: samantha.twine88@gmail.com

The Prayer Space is arriving and this year it is 24/7

Planning has started for the Prayer Space. We are really excited that this year it will be open from 9am on Monday 25 March through to 6am on Easter Sunday.

This blog will have all the updates as the Prayer Space takes shape...