It’s Prayer Week from 10th - 17th January 2021 - let’s get praying and fasting!
You are invited to join the Woodlands Group of Churches for a dedicated week of prayer and fasting at a very dark time for our city, nation and the world. We have felt strongly impressed for us the words from Romans 12:12:
'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer'.
As we start 2021 with a third lockdown in England, if feels wholly appropriate to gather together in one spirit to fast and and cry out to God for his kingdom to come here, as it is in heaven. It is a brilliant way to start the New Year, surrendering ourselves to God's goodness and power and his will for ourselves, our church and our world, which so desperately needs it.
There are a few key ways you can get involved throughout Prayer Week and we’d love everyone to take part.
A Week of Prayer & Fasting
There are five simple ways to join in and wouldn't it be great if everyone in our church community got involved…
Book a slot in the Virtual 24/7 Prayer Room
You can sign up to pray for a hour long slots and use our helpful One-Hour Prayer Guide to support you to use the hour in a structured way if you wish. You can also use this Justice 5-Day Devotional from IJM to pray throughout the week.Come to Morning Prayer Watch on Zoom from 7.30am - 8.15am
Join us online for daily sessions hosted and led by different members of our staff team and church community as we pray for ourselves, Church, our City and the World each morning. Keep an eye out for the code in Dave’s emails.Watch our Daily Devotionals on Facebook Live at 9.05
Our daily devotions will inspire and challenge us to pray and fast. So be sure to tune in! You don’t have to be a Facebook member, as they appear on our public page.Seek First: An Evening of Worship & Prayer on Wednesday, 13th January from 8pm - 9pm
April Ballard, our Worship Pastor, will be leading SEEK FIRST, a special prayer and worship event that will be live-streamed from church so we can all join in at home. Look out for more information on this page and social media.Fast during Prayer Week
The Bible teaches the value of fasting in order to focus on prayer and seek God’s will. We would like for our church family to think about fasting and make a plan for this could fit into your routine during Prayer Week. It could be that you decide to fast a single meal, or fast for a day or even longer. To learn about fasting, watch this preach from Tim Dobson on Spiritual Disciplines: Fasting & Feasting.
In addition, on the evening of Monday, 11th January, all of our leaders from homegroups and ministries are invited to gather and pray into our vision for the year ahead on Zoom.
Prayer Week Resources for Families
Our Woodies Kids team have put together a fantastic set of Prayer Week Resources for Families to help children and parents connect with God during Prayer Week. Check it out!
Praying for Our Churches
To help us pray for across the Woodlands Group of Churches during Prayer Week, we asked the leaders of each church to share their prayer requests so that we can pray specifically for each of their needs. Watch this short video to help you pray!
Please take some time this week to be praying for:
WOODLANDS
Children's and Youth Ministries - especially with team changes
Plans for South Bristol base and team to support it
Supernatural presence & power of God in all we do
HIGHGROVE
Effective, creative outreach online
Online Alpha to really engage people
Young people to stay connected and energy for the team
ALL SAINTS
Families from church in these challenging times
God's wisdom and vision for church in Hartcliffe
METRO
Connection with God and one another
Provision of a building in the city centre
COMMUNITY CHURCH & BRANCH
Prayer Week would bring vision and passion
People to deepen their relationship with God
Fresh creativity in mission to serve local communities