On Sunday 17th September Ben introduced our new teaching series: An invitation to…
This Sundays theme was Wonder and the reading was Psalm 104. You download the sermon here or listen on the player below.
You can also find Ben’s discussion questions and ideas to try here.
The shooting star image is by Ali and was found on unsplash.
I encounter God’s presence in prayer and worship
You are created in God’s image to know relationship with God. All people are. In Genesis we see how God would walk with humans in the cool of the day. You are amazing, and you are lacking, you need God’s presence. Prayer and worship are ways in which we may draw near to God. Very simply they are the ways we have conversation with God and live to give Him glory.
In one sense the whole of life is prayer and worship – we can talk to God at all times and everything we do we are invited to do as worship for God. In another sense we do particular things at particular times to help us connect, find ourselves at home with God, be especially close.
God is present with us. We may not always feel this, we may not always have (or want) an ecstatic experience but God is present. Jesus says ‘I am with you always’ and we are invited to be ‘rooted and established’ in his love.
‘For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.’ Ephesians 3:14-19
Lord God, as I journey through lent, help me draw near to you.
Ponder
What does prayer and worship look like for you at this time?
Do you have set times in your day and week where you pray and worship alone? With others?
What words or phrases stand out to you from the Ephesians passage? What might God be saying to you today?
How are you rooted and established? Where might rootedness need to grow in your life?
Try This
Download and use the Lectio 365 and/or Inner Room apps from 24-7 Prayer and use them to build your own rhythm of prayer.
www.24-7prayer.com/join_in_posts/pray-using-apps/
Try taking 10 minutes in silence, or out in nature, or just talking to God. How does it feel?
Read a Psalm and use it to inspire you, start to write or sing your praise.
Come to a Kairos Community worship event or gathering you wouldn’t normally attend. See how you experience God in that space.
Sign up for the Harrogate House of Prayer emails and make some time to pray through the email.
www.netmakers.org.uk/pray
Choose a friend to pray for each day over the next few weeks.
Find two or three people to pray with each week for the next few weeks.
Try praying out loud, either on your own or with others. Get used to hearing yourself talk to God.
On Sunday 5th February Helen spoke on Ephesians 3: 14-21. This was the first in a series introducing our 5 journey statements. The first of these is ‘I encounter God’s presence in prayer and worship’. You can listen to the talk below or download it here.
I lift my eyes up to the mountains’, says the writer of Psalm 121, ‘where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Ps 121: 1+2
I want to encourage you to lift up your eyes! At this time where so much of the news seems troubling, and might drag us down – lift up your eyes. Look to Jesus! This is not to deny the difficulties that are around us but to look at them knowing God watches over, offers help and turns disruption into opportunity. God is at work amongst us doing wonderful things.
How often a problem or difficulty has looked different when I have stopped and looked up, praying about the situation and worshipping God. Sometimes a surprising solution presents itself, sometimes the situation remains the same but the presence of God strengthens me to approach it in a new way. Sometimes in the moment I see God do something brand new. Look Up.
The first of our disciple journey statements, that I shared at The Feast is: ‘I experience God’s presence in prayer and worship’ How true would you say that is of you? This is a time to be seeking God’s presence. Do you have a daily moment when you look up and seek God on you own? If not how could you make one? Many of us use Lectio 365 app to help us fix eyes on Jesus in prayer.
Perhaps you already do that? Could you find another point in the day, or join with others to pray. Within Kairos we have created a new opportunity once a month to seek God together – the worship and prayer evening on the 4th Sunday. Its next week, Sunday 23rd October at 7:30pm, come and give it a try. We also pray at 9:30am at Westcliffe Hall, Monday to Thursday: you would always be welcome.
A couple of simple prayers: “Lord, increase my hunger and thirst for you.” “Lord let me become more aware of your presence today.” Carry them around with you, repeat them a few times today. Don’t let your eyes be dragged down. Look up! God is with us.
We are creating a new opportunity for worship, prayer and encounter with God.
Join us on the 4th Sunday of every month from 7:30pm for our worship and prayer evening.
You can expect space and time in a safe relaxed atmosphere with an encouragement to listen, experience God’s presence and pray for our world. This starts Sunday 25th Sept.
There seem to be a number of us, especially those with families, having to self isolate for chunks of time right now. Of course lots of this time might be taken up fighting illness, but I thought it might be useful to list a few resources that might help you worship and draw near to God when you find yourself unexpectedly at home. Of course these will work great at other times too!
Engage Worship produced very creative ‘worship at home‘ resources during the first lockdown. Each would make a fun, God-focussed family activity. Some of my favourites are: bread, dice and aeroplanes.
The Bible Project have been releasing a weekly bible study and reflection – either on podcast or video – for the last year. They have a great way of packing some deep thinking into quite short videos. You can see all of the reflections here. As I write this the last study was on The Family of God.
Many of us use Lectio 365 from 24-7. This app offers a reflective time of prayer for both day and night. Doing both could be a brilliant way to start a prayer rhythm.
The Kairos youtube stream is stocked full of our videos. I’ve organised these so that you can easily box-set binge our ‘Strengthen and Sustain’ and ‘Transforming Power’ series from earlier in the year.
If you use spotify we have a songs for Kairos playlist. Its got over an hour of worship music.
I am praying for those of you who are having to isolate because of covid.
Church, lets keep in close contact with each other and make sure we include, encourage, pray for and bless those who are having to stay at home.
Have you and your community found a great way of keeping everyone connected and blessing people who are having to isolate? Have you found a great worship-at-home resource? Share your ideas in the comments.
Join us for an hour of worship and prayer. Time to receive and release God’s presence as we relax, worship and pray together. All are welcome, no need to book.
Join us as for a week of prayer, worship and mission.
Monday to Wednesday
3 Days of Prayer
Come to the resource base to pray at the following times.
7am – Start the Day
9am – Worship and Word
12noon – Reflective Prayer
4pm – Creative Prayer
8pm – An hour of worship and intercession
Maundy Thursday
Passover Meals in MSCs
leave a comment if you want to find out more.
Good Friday
Churches Together walk and service
Meet 11:15 at Wesley Chapel or 11:30 at the Cenotaph
Simply Easter – 2-4pm, Westcliffe Hall
A chance for all ages to explore the Easter Story together. Expect craft, activities, fun, reflection and chocolate.
Easter Sunday
Whole Church Celebration at 10am with Communion.
Happy New Year! We are increasing the amount of time we gather as a church to worship and pray in 2017.
From the 4th -6th January there will be prayer at 7am, 9am, 12noon, 4pm and 8pm each day. Do join us for Launch Week! We’ll finish the three days with prayer from 8pm – midnight on the 6th.
We are also increasing our Central Gatherings to 2 a month. In January these will be on the 8th and 22nd, in the following months they will be on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month.
Of course you can also join us for 9am Communion every week, at our Ups once a month (29th in Jan then the 4th Sunday from then on) or for 9am and 12noon prayers Monday to Friday each week.
You can find out more about our Gatherings, and the other things we do as a church, here.
Join us from Sunday 20th to Friday 25th March as we worship and prayer together.
Palm Sunday
9am Communion
7pm The Up, a fantastic opportunity to spend some time with God. Led by Linda Maslen and Cath & Angus from Saturday Gathering.
Monday to Wednesday
The Kairos Room will be open for prayer throughout the day.
There will be gathered times of prayer and worship at 7am, 9am, 12pm, 3:45pm and 8.30pm
Maundy Thursday
Passover meals in MSCs. If you are not sure where to go to then you are warmly invited to join Allsorts and Blaze at 7pm in the Kairos Room. Please let Sarah know if you are coming.
Good Friday
We are joining with Harrogate Churches Together for worship at the Cenotaph. Meet at Wesley Chapel at 11:15 to walk or at the Cenotaph at 11:30pm.
2-4pm: Simply Easter – An afternoon of activities, crafts and fun to explore the Easter story.
8:30pm: Night Prayer
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