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Minister’s Letter

Life is not always easy and Christians are not immune from the stress of

today’s living, the fear of failure, the pain of loss, the difficulties with relationships,

the challenges ill health brings and the uncertainties of life. Jesus did not promise a

life without pain or suffering, but he did show us how much God cares about us even when

the path is one that leads towards the cross. In the garden of Gethsemane, just before

Jesus is arrested, he prays alone saying: “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible;

remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want but what you want.” (Mark 14:36)

There is agony in honest praying. Jesus was alone and at his most

vulnerable, yet he has the courage to be honest with himself and God. His prayer

moves from self-interest to self-giving. During the time of Lent we reflect on the

journey towards the cross, with the joy of Easter hope and new life in Christ

now assured. Be encouraged to pray without ceasing, to bring our honest and

deepest concerns to God in prayer and to ask for courage to find the words as

Jesus did to say, “Not what I want, but what you want.”

As we seek to be less concerned with self, trusting in God’s faithfulness

and love, we move to concern for others. Our Prayers of Intercession in worship

are a time of offering to God the concerns we have for the world and for God’s

people. We cannot know how prayer works, but we know it does make a

difference to those we pray for and to our own lives.

This Lent can we focus our thoughts on how we pray for others, how we offer

prayer to each other and how we ask for prayer from others. Look for

opportunities to say a prayer together or to offer to include someone in the

Prayers of Intercession at Church, (with their permission), or let someone know

you are praying for them.

Paul prayed a beautiful prayer for the Church in Ephesus (Ephesians

1:15-23) lifting the congregation to God. We grow spiritually together through

prayer - time spent with God makes a difference.

Grace and peace to you

Alison