The church council have been working hard this year doing preparatory work towards seeking a new vision for Christchurch. This work will be shared at our forthcoming church meeting on 21 July, which I hope you will attend.

However, we are also very conscious that without vibrant prayer life, we cannot expect to achieve much. With this in mind, we are getting excited about a Day of Prayer, which will be held at Christchurch on Saturday 19 July.

Beginning with breakfast at 8.30am, the Day of Prayer will begin at 9.00am and run until 3.00pm. ‘What, pray for six hours?!’ No – the idea is ‘come and go.’ If you can make time, come along for as long as you like. Whether it is fifteen minutes or fifty minutes – or more – your participation in the Day of Prayer is vital. If you can spare some time earlier in the day, then go off to do other things and come back later to join in again, that’s great, too.

We are planning that there will be people here praying all through the day on 19 July, but they won’t be the same folk all the time! There will be a central prayer area, plus prayer stations around the church, focusing on different topics such as the local community, our own church and on creation, to mention just three. Different groups within the church have agreed to create the prayer stations. Have a look in the Sunday news sheet for details. If you have some ideas, they will be welcome.

But the important thing in all this is you. We need you to take part in our Day of Prayer, as we give thanks to God and ask him for help and guidance as we seek his loving mercy for the world and his will for Christchurch Abbeydale. Please put the date in your diary now – I look forward to seeing you there on Saturday 19 July.

Yours in shared ministry