www.chichesterbaptist.org.uk

Chichester Baptist Church, Sherborne Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 3AW.T: 01243 782582 E: info@chichesterbaptist.org.uk

This month: Why is Prayer so Important? 2 • TWAM Day

At various stages it has felt as though, when we wake

up, we are waiting for the next morning’s news with

a ‘what next...?’ apprehension.

I hope and pray that by the time this Contact goes to

print the flow of major tragic events in our nation will

have reduced and stopped, but, even if that happens,

the reality of loss will still be there for so many who

were related to, or personally knew, those who are

no longer featured in our daily news.

We can learn from those who have experienced

suffering before us.

Some years ago, a counsellor involved in helping

people who experienced tragic loss through the

troubles in Northern Ireland was interviewed. He

said:

’For many of us grief has a sell-by-date. There’s a

time when we think people should be over it.

And we don’t seem to understand when they’re not.’

He is right, of course.

My faith does not offer easy answers in the face of

such great tragedies, generally anyone who can offer

a quick soundbite answer to the problems of evil and

suffering has not seen or experienced hurt close up.

But the God that I believe in is not silent when it

comes to suffering either, instead he came into a

hurting world to help and he shows, through Jesus

that he is no stranger to suffering. He is available to

call on through prayer (there are more thoughts on

prayer in this month’s Contact) and he calls his

followers to help those who are hurting and

experiencing loss, wherever they can.

Ken Benjamin

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July & August 2017

sundayservices

10.00am

Morning service with children’s and youth groups and creche.

Please join us for tea or coffee and a chat after this service.

6.30pm

Evening service.

The CBC team have been refurbishing tools for TWAM for over 20 years and

are hosting one of several country-wide special days

Saturday 19th August - 10.30am to 2.00pmat Chichester Baptist Church

Refreshments are included

Join the Chief Executive and local members to find out more about the work

TWAM do and how you could help.

A retiring collection will be taken to aid the work of TWAM and the costs of

the day

For more information and to book: info@chichesterbaptistchurch.org.uk

The Summer’s NewsThe early part of this summer has seen so much tragic news. We have watched and listened to reports from attacks in Manchester and London and the devastating fire in Grenfell Tower.CLUB

Term Time

Thursdays

at 12.15

Would you like to enjoy a delicious, freshly-

cooked two course meal for just £3?

Our popular Lunch Club for local elderly folk

has a few places available from September 7th,

when the new term begins.

For more information contact the church office

Check our website for the

details of all our

Alternative Gatherings

taking place in July and August.

TWAM DayWe’d love to see you there

This year’s Noise Project carried out a total of 58 jobs and 18 volunteers collected 6.3 tonnes of rubbish to take to the tip.

Our Family Fun was a great day and the following were served:

212 sausages

256 burgers

120 scones with cream and jam

175 cups of tea and coffee

200 cups of squash

UPDATE

www.chichesterbaptist.org.uk

We concluded last month’s first part of our article on prayer with a section on the times that our nation has been called to pray together.

In recent weeks, we have been inspired by the way our communities and nation have united in love and support for all those touched by tragedy in the horrific terrorist attacks in Manchester and London and the appalling Grenfell Tower fire. We have witnessed acts of heroism, resolve, overwhelming generosity in the face of disaster and community cohesion as thousands attended the ‘One Love Manchester’ concert. Tens of thousands of people, young and old, have laid flowers in remembrance and millions have stood in silence and prayer around the country.

Nationally, we appealed to God to heal the injured victims, comfort friends and families and protect the emergency services who keep us safe.

Christians believe that when we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!

The power of prayer shouldnot be underestimated. James 5:16-18 states, ‘the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.’ God really listens to prayers, he answers prayers and he moves in response to peoples’ prayers.

Lots of people think that prayer is a detailed ritual performed only in a church or sacred place. It is true that a lot of prayer goes on in our churches but here is a list of myths about prayer.

Kneeling to pray has been practiced for centuries and grew out of the practice of kneeling before a King in respect or to request something.

Although Jesus knelt to pray in the garden of Gethsemane, the Bible shows us many positions for prayer. Some people danced and sang their prayers as Miriam did in Exodus 15 or fell to the ground pleading like Job.

Whatever the position, it is important to remember to pray simple, honest prayers to God with a sincere heart.

Many Christians open their hands in surrender or humility rather than hold them together. Some “praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp” (Psalm 149:3). Others “pray with holy hands lifted up to God,” (1 Timothy 2:8).

Although being quiet before the Lord is often the best way to hear him speaking to us, the Bible also tells of many times when prayers of praise have been anything but silent. The Levites stood and praised the Lord with a loud shout in 2 Chronicles 20 and many of the Psalms have directions such as “Come, everyone, and clap your hands for joy! Shout to God with joyful praise!”

Lots of Christians set aside a quiet space at a specific time of day to pray to God but again there is no hard and fast rule. People pray in the car on the way to work or while working or walking in the garden. What is important is that you connect with God without interruption. Prayer helps us build our relationship with our Heavenly father and discover what God wants for us in our lives.

Prayer can seem very daunting to those new to faith. How do you talk to God? Are there special words to use?

Jesus gives us a blueprint to pray in the Lord’s Prayer; it’s a framework but doesn’t give us exact words that we should use.

People pray using words from the Bible or lyrics from favourite hymns or choruses

Writer, Jeff Lucas reflected on his Facebook about answered prayer…‘I was reflecting earlier today on how to respond when we hear of someone we love who is terminally ill. Of course, we pray. God is able to do the miraculous. But if we are honest, healing does not come as often as we would like. So then

what? Do we insist that healing is the only outcome we will accept, and infer therefore that to say goodbye is an admission of defeat? I don't think so. We should ask for the best, and prepare for the worst. Jesus told His friends that He would not drink wine with them until He would do so in His Father's kingdom - He knew that His days on earth were short. He faced death, and talked openly about 'going away'. But He also asked for the 'cup' of suffering to be taken away in Gethsemane a few hours later - asking if there was any other way. Saying our prayers of faith and saying goodbye in love are not mutually exclusive, and both are acts of faith and faithfulness.’

As we saw in our last edition, calls to pray as a nation are not new. Two years ago communities in the UK, and across the world, took part in the first National Prayer Weekend. Christians asked friends, neighbours, local business owners, teachers, doctors, bus drivers and total strangers whether they would like to be prayed for. The initiative was a huge success and this year’s event is planned for 29th September to 1st October.

The event’s strap-line, Your street. Your community. Your prayers, takes on new resonance in the light of recent events, when communities have rallied to help victims and their families. Christians have been at the heart of this response, showing God’s love and being God’s hands reaching into shattered lives.

People up and down the country have been praying for the injured, the bereaved, the emergency services and those in authority. Local people praying for their communities can change lives.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, encourages this prayer initiative by saying: ‘Prayer matters, and prayer changes everything. Because as God changes us in prayer he drives us out to be justice-seekers, peacemakers, healers and bringers of good news.’

The Power of Prayer

What Prayer is Not?

‘You must kneel to pray’

‘You must clasp your hands together and be still’

‘You must pray in silence’

‘You must pray in a quiet space’

‘You must use churchy words’

‘Are Prayers Answered?’

‘The three keys Jesus gives for seeing answers to prayer can besummed up as: Be persistent, be purposeful and be personal.’ ‘Prayer is like FaceTime: having a conversation with a very

good friend except the reception is bad and you can't quitesee him, but you know He is there.”

‘Praying releases God to do His will’

I know God hears my prayers…I know too he doesn’t always answer in the way I’d like! But I know that God loves me and

wants the best for me, in good times and bad.

‘I pray because I have discovered the permission and privilege to speak with the creator in my own way.’

A PRAYER for MANCHESTER

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