Welcome to Christchurch Abbeydale
Church Weekend Away
The church recently had a weekend away in South Oxfordshire. Click here for photographs...
The view from the manse...
Gathered to the heart of God
"Gathered to the heart of God" are words from a prayer by Alan Gaunt, also used as the titled of the URC Prayer Handbook 2010. They are wonderfully appropriate words, because it is through prayer that we become gathered to the heart of God.
As we enter Advent, we also begin the second year of our Vision4Life programme, "Transformed through Prayer". For many Christians, prayer is one of the most difficult disciplines to engage in. yet prayer is the lifeblood of our relationship with God. It is the means by which we speak - and listen - to Him who made, sustains and redeems us.
In early November, Val Stephens and I went to Trinity Church in Stafford, for a workshop on prayer. It turned out to be a wonderful evening, where we were exposed to different ways of praying, and new ways of thinking about prayer. We both came back feeling refreshed and enthused about the year ahead.
During the coming year, we will have special days of prayer, workshops, and a weekly prayer meeting on Wednesday lunchtimes, as well as focusing on prayer in our worship and work. All you need do is be willing to be transformed through prayer.
As we eagerly anticipate celebrating the birth of our Saviour, let us also look forward to being transformed through prayer, as we seek to grow closer to God, indeed be gathered to the heart of God. Dawn joins me in wishing you a peaceful and blessed Christmas. Immanuel - God with us.
Yours in shared ministry
Les