99 and Still Going Strong

Vicky Turner, a long-standing member of the Thursday “Coffee Pot,” has reached the grand age of 99. We celebrated this at Coffee Pot with a special cake as well as the ordinary refreshments. This was followed with the usual rendition of “Happy Birthday.” The only thing missing was the ice cream to go with the 99!

We wish Vicky and Roy continued health and happiness.

Creative prayer drop in

On Thursday we had our Creative prayer drop in to raise awareness and love and care for the issue of mental health. This was part of the national prayer initiative of THY KINGDOM COME so at St Paul’s and churches across the country we have been praying daily for the hope and love and Jesus to be seen more and more in our communities, nation and world. We were joined by our new Bishop of Leicester Bishop Martyn Snow and we had over 30 people join us over the hour and a half

Mental health is something very close to our young people’s hearts and something they chose as a missional area to make a difference in this term, which was why we chose this specific topic for our prayer space.

A huge thank you to everyone who came. 

To see more pictures and more about our youth work check out our blog: https://stpaulsyouthoadby.wordpress.com

Lou

Prayers for our Government

Today's prayer meeting at St Paul's as part of the wave of prayer 'Thy Kingdom Come' focussed on praying for our Government and for those in positions of leadership. This lunch time a group of us met. During our time we prayed for our MP Sir Edward Garnier. This afternoon I wrote to him to let him know we had prayed for him. Here is something of what I said...

A group from St Paul’s met this lunch time and we prayed for you. We prayed for wisdom in the many decisions you have to make. We prayed for the ability to prioritise your workload and to know which cases to take on. We prayed for integrity in your dealings with people. We prayed for your journeying and for your home and family life. We prayed for you as you represent this constituency. We prayed for you in the many committees you are part of and in all the responsibilities you carry.

I also thanked him for his work. I was delighted to receive a reply this afternoon thanking us for the prayers we offered on his behalf.

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity..." 1 Timothy 2.1-2

Leadership lessons from Leicester City

Given the success of the football team in Leicester lots of articles and sermons have been using this happy story as an illustration and to make some good points. Here is an interesting blog from Ian Paul on some leadership lessons from Leicester City. You can read it here.

Your Kingdom Come!

The archbishops of Canterbury and York have taken the unprecedented step of writing to every Minister of Anglican Church, issuing a call this week – the week leading up to Pentecost (the Sunday when we remember how the Holy Spirit fell on the Christians in Jerusalem, soon after Christ’s resurrection, and a large numbers of people became Christians).

They have invited all the churches to join together in a week of prayer, that the good news of Christ may be shared throughout the nation. The hope is that:

    All Christians may deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ

    All Christians may have confidence to share the good news of Jesus.
    Many may respond to the call of Jesus Christ to follow him as disciples, to live out

    the gospel and to seek God’s kingdom from day to day.

 At St Paul’s we have organised daily acts of prayer, which started last Sunday evening with an hour of prayer. Different events are planned each day of the week finishing at 10 a.m. on Saturday with a time of prayer on the streets, starting on The Parade.

 Do come and join us.

 Link to “Thy Kingdom Come” website.

Creative Prayer Drop In



On Thursday 12th May 3pm-4:30pm we have a prayer drop in for all ages – the main aim is to raise awareness of the issue of mental health, what can we learn, what can we share, how can we help, how can we care and love more? Through chill space and creative activities we’ll explore this more about this important issue chosen by our young people.

Here are a couple of our activities (see pics.)

Free drink and biscuits, stay as little or as long as you like. 

All welcome.

Lou

Thy Kingdom Come

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have taken the unprecedented step of writing to every parish incumbent in the country issuing a call to prayer in the week leading up to Pentecost 2016. They invite us all to join together in a week of prayer for the evangelisation of our nation from the 8^th – 15^th May. The hope is

·         For all Christians to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ

·         For all of us to have confidence to share the Gospel

·         For all to respond to the call of Jesus Christ to follow Him as disciples, to live out the Gospel and to seek God’s Kingdom from day to day

At the heart of our prayers will be the phrase from the Lord’s Prayer which Jesus himself taught us to pray. It is a prayer we know well and say often. It is a prayer that is so well known it is spoken in many languages by billions of people every day and can be recited by so many. It is a prayer that brings comfort and hope, yet has been banned from being shown in cinemas.

Plan for St Paul's Oadby

 
Sunday 8^th May – Priority Prayer meeting 6.30pm in Chapel

Monday 9^th May – Praying for friends/neighbours/contacts (individually at home)

 Tuesday 10^th May – 6.30pm-7.30pm 1 hour prayer meeting before DCC for life of the church in the Barnabas Centre

 Wednesday 11^th May – 12-1pm Midday prayer for government and those in positions of leadership in society. For Christian voice and influence, for Christians at work in various sectors. In the Barnabas Centre

Thursday 12^th May – 3-4.30pm After school prayer drop in with prayer stations for Mental Health Awareness, organised by our young people. In St Paul's church

Friday 13^th May – 9.15am Prayer Walk around the schools, shops, businesses near St Paul's meet in Chapel

 Saturday 14^th May – Prayer on the Street's. Along the Parade in Oadby. Meet outside Tippets at 10am for 1 hour.

Sunday 15^th May – There is a Beacon Event at Coventry Cathedral which you can attend, for more details see the website http://thykingdom.co.uk/ 

To quote the Archbishops letter “The dream is this: imagine every Anglican, perhaps every Christian, in this nation praying that prayer together with the specific intention that all may come to know Jesus as Lord. We profoundly hope that you and those you serve will want to be part of this great movement of prayer. Evangelism is the work of God, and it begins as we seek him in prayer. It is always good for the church to pray.”

Do join us in this great movement of prayer anytime during the week. Every blessing. Steve.

Bishop Martyn arrives in Leicester

Watch a video of our new Bishop speaking of his arrival in Leicester here just as the city celebrates its footballing success. Hear his hopes and prayers for the City and County and his calling to be here.

Alpha Film Series

Alpha have recently released their latest approach to the Alpha talks. The first is available here. They are very different in format to previous versions; shorter, magazine format, and beautifully shot.

Well Done the Foxes!

Like most of Leicester, conversation after the services, in recent weeks, over tea or coffee, has often turned to the chances of Leicester City Football Club winning the Premier League Championship. As the season has gone on, what once seemed impossible, has seemed increasingly possible. And now they’ve done it! Congratulations to all at the King Power Stadium. A particular mark of Leicester’s season has been their enthusiasm, hard work, and the way that they have worked for each other.

These are values to be treasured by every member of the Christian church, as well. As we see what enthusiasm means, it’s also worth remembering that the early Christian church spread as its members enthusiastically recounted to others what the risen Lord Jesus meant to them. May we share that enthusiasm.