Praying for God’s Kingdom to come in Gloucester City Churches Together in Gloucester May 2021 – and beyond… Lord, enlarge our vision of your work in Gloucester, and empower us afresh to play our part. Thy Kingdom come! Amen 1 2 Dear friends in the churches and Christian communities of Gloucester City When Jesus’ friends asked him how to pray, he responded “pray ’Father in heaven… Your Kingdom come…’” (Luke chapter 11). As we approach Pentecost, we’re taking part in a great wave of prayer across the world. We invite you to share in praying expectantly during the 11 days from 13 to 23 May, and beyond, for our life and mission across the city. To inform our prayers, we asked leaders of all the churches and Christian communities in Gloucester to share: • “one key area for which you thankful to God ; • one key area for which you are asking God ”. In this booklet we list all the churches and communities contacted, and all replies received. They are grouped into 11 days: the churches roughly by area, followed by chaplaincies, education and other organisations. We start each day with a Bible verse for reflection. As we cautiously re-emerge, like tender new shoots after the pruning of the pandemic lockdown, we’re carrying something of the pain of grief, loss and division, while facing the deepening challenge of climate change. May God use our prayers to release hope, and to grow us together into the temple of the Holy Spirit that we are, for God’s glory, and for God’s Kingdom to come in Gloucester – soon! Thank you for all your prayers. God bless us all, as we stay close to Jesus through this season and beyond. Churches Together in Gloucester Email: [email protected] PS Do join the ‘Prayers for the City’ – Fridays 1-1.30pm @de Crypt on Southgate Street – come when you can. 3 4 DAY 1 Thomas said, “Lord we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way? Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:5-6) Gloucester Cathedral for the teamwork across the for discernment and forward-looking cathedral community that has enabled strategic planning with the city clergy good common working and mutual and other key partners in the coming support over the pandemic period. year. Christ Church (Brunswick Rd) Brunswick Baptist for our recently retired minister, who for the right new minister, that we served the church for 19 years. might serve the community in Gloucester even better. St Peter's Catholic Church (London Rd) for the witness of care and for the grace to be attentive and the compassion seen in the lives of so many willingness to respond to the cry of the people throughout the pandemic. poor and the cry of the earth. St Catharine (London Rd) for the way people have stayed for how we help individuals and connected with and caring for each families who have begun a faith journey other, and that this time has helped in the last year to connect in a deeper people discover and use gifts that God way with Jesus and the church. has given them. Kingsholm Christian Community for support and encouragement of for God to encounter us powerfully one another through the past year through his spirit, to move us forward Destiny Temple (Kingsholm) Ebenezer Gospel Hall (Russell St) 5 DAY 2 “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again - my Saviour and my God!” (Psalm 42:11) Mariners (Docks) that God has helped and guided that God would guide us in this new Mariners through this period without a season as Rev Kieran Douglass takes Senior Leader (in the midst of a up his role, and as we come out of pandemic!), and we are so thankful that lockdown. That He would show us what our new Senior Leader has now joined church ministries to take up again, and us. which to lay down. Southgate Street Evangelical for the many ways in which God has for God’s blessing on those who blessed us individually, as a community have tirelessly nursed many back to and as a nation during the last year; for health and on those who have brought our doctors and nurses who have comfort to the dying; for the nation to be attended the sick, while willingly placing brought closer to God; that our themselves in a situation of grave Government may seek God’s face, as danger; for the scientists and clinicians we travel along the road to recovery. who have worked tirelessly to find a vaccine to halt the suffering caused by the pandemic. St John's Methodist Northgate & Barton Street Methodist for God’s continuing ‘Good for God’s guidance and support as Shepherding’ care of these flocks during we move to discern what is the best the time of the Pandemic, all have safely forward for the continuing presence of passed through the dark valley of Methodism in the City of Gloucester. … lockdowns. Salvation Army for the opportunity of online worship for major refurbishment to improve and small groups access, welcome and support for the community, and to live out the great commission to make disciples. 6 DAY 3 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you were called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Col. 3:15) Discover de Crypt (Southgate St) for the dedication of staff and as we prepare to welcome visitors volunteers including those whose work again, for opportunities to share our has transformed the churchyard space FAITH in Jesus Christ, the STORY of our history and heritage and the LIFE of the city of Gloucester. Gloucester Quaker Meeting for the intellect and commitment of We pray for the continuing equitable scientists who have brought us the hope deployment of vaccines throughout the of safety and security through the world. development of vaccines; also for the technology which has enabled us to remain connected to those of us dispersed across the country and helped us maintain a sense of meaningful worship during this difficult year. St Mary de Lode for opportunities to offer pastoral for guidance in community care during the pandemic including in consultation around the wider use of the the local care homes church building St Mary's Congregational St Swithun’s Hempsted for the work of the Children and for opportunities to deepen our Families Worker, for our partnership with commitment to the environment as we the local school, for the joy of Virtual work for an Eco Church award Messy Church Elim (Park End Rd) Seventh-Day Adventist (Cromwell St) 7 DAY 4 “The Lord will come to us as surely as the arrival of dawn, or the coming of rains in early spring” (Hosea 6:3) St Paul’s and St Stephen’s (Stroud Rd) for the health of people (apart from for our mission and ministry to the vicar nobody has contracted Covid) children and families and how we can and the joy of people returning and able serve them in this diverse community; to gather together in a variety of ways for God to raise up volunteers and across the parish. encourage them to step forward. City Church (Seymour Rd) Gloucester Community Church (St Luke’s Stroud Rd) New Testament Church of God (Stroud Rd) Church of God of Prophecy (Tredworth) that God has kept us safe through for God’s help for those of our this pandemic. families who are not Christians to experience Jesus Christ as their personal saviour. Kingfisher Tredworth for the people who have come to to be not distracted by pre-lockdown faith in Christ over the lockdown period but focussed on what the Lord is doing now and calling us to in this new season, and to seize that! New Apostolic Church (Tredworth) for the grace of our Lord Jesus that the promised glorious return of Christ, God’s love, and the activity of the His Son be soon fulfilled and that many Holy Spirit through the ministry may be worthy partakers on this day. St James' Tredworth (Upton St) Emmanuel Christian Church Upton St 8 DAY 5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; not on your own insight. Seek God’s will in all you do, and God will show you the path to take” (Proverbs 3:6) Holy Trinity Longlevens for the opportunity to support for guidance on how to reach out to individuals exploring their faith anew communities; and to grow our commitment to becoming an Eco-church Kendal Road Baptist for continued connections with our for help and guidance as we local community through the pandemic: gradually start meeting physically, from our Out To Lunch group for sensitive to the needs of everyone, from Seniors, to our Mums and Baby group. those desperate to come back to those who are not yet ready. Lonsdale Rd Methodist Golden Valley Church (Barnwood) St Lawrence’s Barnwood for growth in pastoral care and for guidance in renewing our communication with members of our Sunday services pattern from congregation during the pandemic, September, to include a more including providing worship for people at contemporary-style service, and groups home via video and printed material. for children; also to move forward together, and that this will lead to a growth in faith and discipleship among the present congregation and those who are newly welcomed in. St Oswald’s (Coney Hill) for the great work of the Coney Hill for a time of prayerfulness seeking Food Hub, providing thousands of food God’s direction for the future of the portions throughout the pandemic.