PRAYER

Prayer simply means talking and listening to God. Prayer is at the heart of all we do as Christians. Through prayer, we can be honest with God about our hopes and fears. We can receive forgiveness, courage, strength, and direction. We believe that God hears and answers our prayers. Jesus has promised that when even two or three believers meet together in his name, Jesus himself is there with us. Prayer is vital to our life as individuals and as a congregation. We want to encourage all our members and friends to pray!

Needing prayer? If you would like someone to pray with you, perhaps to ask for God's help or to give thanks, please wait in the church at the end of the Sunday service. One of our elders will be happy to listen and pray. Anything you say will be kept
Pause for Prayer We gather on Mondays from 12.30pm-1pm on Zoom and by phone to pray for our world, our area, and for people in need. Please let us know if you would like to be sent the Zoom link or phone number.
Prayer Meeting We meet from 2pm-3pm every Wednesday afternoon to pray for the world, for our local area, and for people in need. Each meeting begins with a Bible reflection. Enter by the side door on Marionville Road.
We meet every month with friends from Portobello & Joppa Parish Church to pray for our local area and the wider world. Afterwards, there's a chance to chat over refreshments. Check the date and venue on the What's On page.

How to pray

We can pray on our own or with other people. Jesus taught his followers about prayer and encouraged them to pray in private. There’s no need to use special words when we talk to God, but sometimes it helps to have some words as a starting point. Below, you will find some of the prayers we use in church. Some of these words come directly from the Bible. Whether we use these prayers or our own words, God is always pleased to hear from us!

Praying on your own

Find a space where you won’t be distracted. Some people find it helpful to play music while they pray; others prefer complete silence. You might want to write out your prayers in a notebook. Some people like to express their prayers through art or poetry. The book of Psalms in the Bible is a collection of songs and prayers addressed to God. The Psalms cover a whole range of emotions, including anger and sadness as well as joy and peace.

Praying together

Every week, members of our church meet together to pray in small groups. We remember together how great God is and how much God loves us. We ask for blessing, healing, and comfort for people in need. We pray about issues in the wider world. We thank God for answered prayers. We pray for God’s peace, justice, and mercy for the whole world.

We hold a joint prayer gathering with Portobello & Joppa Parish Church every month except December. Meeting together for prayer is the foundation of our partnership as we work together in our parish grouping. We pray for our area and the wider world. There’s no need to pray out loud if you’d rather not. You can simply say “Amen” at the end of someone else’s prayer.

Prayers we use in church

  • Our Father, who art in heaven,
    Hallowed be thy Name.
    Thy kingdom come.
    Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
    And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.
    For thine is the kingdom,
    and the power,
    and the glory, forever. Amen.

  • Almighty God,
    to whom all hearts are open,
    all desires known,
    and from whom no secrets are hidden:
    cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
    by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
    that we may perfectly love you
    and worthily magnify your holy name;
    through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

  • May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    and the love of God,
    and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
    be with us all, evermore. Amen.

  • The Lord bless you and keep you;
    the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
    and be gracious unto you:
    the Lord lift up his countenance upon you
    and give you peace.