Week of Prayer in preparation for Pentecost

In May we will hold our fourth consecutive Week of Prayer in preparation for the great Feast of Pentecost.

This year we will be joining with Christians around the country, responding to the encouragement of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to spend focused and dedicated time in prayer for all Christians to deepen their relationship with Jesus so that we may have confidence to share our faith that all may respond to the call of Jesus Christ to follow Him.

As we continue to pursue Capital Vision 2020, this resounds with our themes of confidence, compassion and creativity. With the support of the Pray for Seven team we hope to generate a wave of prayer out from the City of London to the farthest reaches of our Diocese. We will continue to encourage one another to each pray for at least seven people that we may share with them the story of our faith. Almost 25,000 Pray for Seven bookmarks have been requested across the Diocese, and the PrayerMate app has been downloaded over 100,000 times globally. These and many other resources continue to encourage us to hold others in prayer.

Could you commit to being part of this wave of prayer between Ascension Day, 5 May 2016 and Pentecost? As well as integrating this into the regular rhythm of prayer in your own church, could you offer to support this in a specific way?

Examples might include the following, but you will have your own ideas that suit your context and ministry.

• Organise 24-7 prayer across your deanery
• Open your church for an all-night prayer vigil
• Have a themed prayer space within your church, remaining open for the week with prayer stations or reflection suggestions
• Hold a specific prayer event focused on praying for seven
• Host an event to which people might invite those for whom they are praying
• Arrange an additional service of Morning, Evening or Midday Prayer or Compline
• Organise a time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
• Organise a prayer walk or gathering.

We will gather all offers and share these across the Diocese, so that many across the Diocese may come and join in near where they live and work.

Please email capitalvision2020@nulllondon.anglican.org with details of your participation.

I am grateful to St Paul’s Cathedral for hosting “Your Kingdom come”; an informal service of prayer and worship on Saturday 14 May at which I will be speaking, joined by our friends at 24-7 Prayer.

In whatever ways you are able, join us in prayer between Ascension and Pentecost, for I am convinced there is nothing impossible for a Church that is confident, compassionate and creative in the power of the Spirit and in union with Jesus Christ our Lord.

Booking for Your Kingdom Come on Saturday 14 May is now available via Eventbrite.

About Richard Chartres

The Rt Revd Richard Chartres KCVO was the 132nd Bishop of London from November 1995 until March 2017.

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