Prayer Newsletter 3 - March 2008 Happy Easter Everyone
We are all preparing and praying for a really significant Easter period, as we focus upon 'The Big Hope' and upon The Passion of Christ. Millions of viewers have been watching specially dramatized 'The Passion' on the BBC, with very positive feedback and reviews being published in the national press. The final episode was broadcast on Easter Sunday.
HOPE NOTTINGHAM has continued to develop in recent weeks, with an amazing presentation 'Hope for Planet Earth' at the Nottingham High School for Boys being attended by 150 plus people and hosted by Rt. Rev. Tony Porter (Bishop of Sherwood). Those present were captivated with some research and an amazing presentation, being challenged to make their own personal response in caring for the environment. Our Hope for the future of our environment has been grounded in real life decisions by many of the people who attended. The HOPE NOTTINGHAM YOUTH EVENT was then attended by around 140 and Chris Easton (Youth Worker at St. Nic's) inspired the young people present. We give thanks to God, that we have seen him at work through these events.
Easter has seen the visit of 42 students from a church in Aberystwyth working in the Hysen Green area alongside The Family Church on Shipstone Street with Pastor Roger Robb. The team decorated for the Asian Womans League, the church and worked in the local community in the allotments, visiting the elderly and generally making an impact wherever they went. Rachel Crookstone who co ordinated the Week of Action said "the students brought a new impetus to the church in it's mission to the local community, it was really exciting!". WE THANK THE STUDENTS FOR ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE IN SERVING GOD IN HYSEN GREEN. Alongside this a team of green fingered volunteers lead by Becky Chambers had a BIG STUDENT GARDENING WEEK IN BEESTON, with Nigel Adams borrowing as many lawn mowers as he could lay his hands on!
What is really exciting at the moment though, is to see people developing ideas to reach their local community in partnership with other churches. For example, Hephzibah from St. Andrews Church has been able to work with others to arrange a Family Fun Devent at the Arboretum band stand on April 26th. To offer support please contact her at hepz_jesudas@yahoo.co.uk and she will be pleased to hear from you. In Beeston, a Christian life and Work Course is being run at Chilwell Road Methodist Church on Monday evenings at 7.30pm starting in April. Hope Stapleford are currently planning a Social Action Weekend May 3rd - 5th. How great it is to see people dreaming dreams and being caught by the vision of Hope Nottingham. Our prayer must be that God will continue to inspire people to dream dreams for Him, as we seek to bring real Hope to the people of Nottinghamshire. It is also exciting to see how the 'Images of Hope' art competition is being run in a number of areas around Nottinghamshire, literally hundreds of people will be engaging with God's word as people get creative with their local communities. See www.biblesociety.org.uk/imagesofhope for further information.
We must be open to what God is calling us to do at this time, so that we can keep in step with the Spirit and as part of this, the Leaders Prayer Lunch have agreed to share in a day of PRAYER AND FASTING ON APRIL 8TH. I INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN US IN PRAYER AND FASTING FOR THE PEOPLE OF NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND HOPE NOTTINGHAM ON THIS DATE. Leaders are welcome to join us at Queensberry Baptist Church from 12-2pm for prayer and a team of intercessors are also meeting at this venue during this period.
Imagine if thousands of individual Christians all around Nottinghamshire were mobilised to impact their communities, to do more, to do it together and to do it in word and deed, what an impact we could have and some will even discover real Hope in Jesus as we share his love in practical ways. Our aim must be that through Hope Nottingham we engage people in such a way that they experience the love of God and know that our Hope is in Jesus.
We need your prayerful and practical support if that aim is to be realised, if our dreams are to become a reality. We need focussed prayer, for Hope Nottingham and for individuals in Prayer Triplet groups. We need champions who will act as a point of contact for their church and be a catalyst for action in their church and community. We need practical support at events and community initiatives and we do need some financial support. Encourage your friends and churches to get involved, to visit the website (www.nottingham.hope08.com), to pray, to support in practical ways. Please pray for David Woodcock a key member of our Project Synergy Team who has recently been rushed into hospital after a heart attack. David has worked hard on registration at our events and was developing the database. Pray that David makes a speedy recovery, that he and his wife Anne know God's peace at this time.
Do come along to the local Hope events featured on our events pages. There are Envisioning Events at Stapleford Salvation Army on April 6th at 6pm and at Radcliffe on Monday 7th April at 7.30pm. It is important to get a real impetus for Hope Nottingham in the local community as we seek to mobilise the churches to prayer and action in these coming weeks. It would also be good to meet you and to get to know each other as we seek to work together relationally during Hope Nottingham. I look forward to sharing with you.
Rob Cotton Chair Hope Nottingham 0115 8411480/ 07766 075486 rob.cotton@biblesociety.org.uk
Forthcoming events
April 8th Day of Prayer and Fasting
April 27th Seed Scattering event - Southwell Minster 6pm
May 9-11th Pentecost Festival (London) www.pentecostfestival.co.uk
June 13th Freddie Kofi in Concert at The Playhouse
June 14th Regional Alpha Conference - Beeston
June 14th Arnold Hope Carnival 3pm
June 15th Arnold Hope Carnival Celebration 4pm Arnot Hill Park
Please forward this prayer newsletter to your Christian contacts. Thankyou.
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