The need to pray
With many restrictions still in place, our parishes have had to be resourceful, not least when it comes to our Diocesan commitment to, and need for, individual and corporate prayer.
Photo courtesy Pixabay
In Wiltshire, MenUnited Trowbridge has been adapting to changing times.
Chair Geoff Tate says:
"As with a lot of other things, the 2020 planned events of MenUnited had to be put on hold in March when lockdown came into force. We quickly cancelled the March curry evening and the April breakfast.
"We then kept things under review as the landscape changed and cancelled the July breakfast and the September curry evening. In the last couple of weeks, we have cancelled the November breakfast. I am delighted to say that all our 2020 speakers have said they will come to us in 2021 – assuming the situation is favourable. The proposed programme for 2021 can be found on our website www.menunited-ba14.co.uk.
"But far from everything being negative, some new opportunities and challenges have opened up for us. Lockdown has given my colleagues and I, on the core planning group, the opportunity to revisit our aims and objectives and ask what are the good things we should retain; are there things we might do better; to what extent might we make use of new technology.
"An exciting development, which I am delighted to announce, is that we have commissioned Stephen Girling, a member of the Bath Abbey staff, to prepare for us four 10-minute YouTube videos, the first one to be transmitted early November.
"After 5 years as a defence scientist, he was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1991.
"Stephen joined the Abbey's team in April 2015 and has a particular responsibility for discipleship, developing leadership, teaching and learning, and communication.
"As we have not been able to meet in person for our monthly focused prayer times we decided to try Zoom. Technically it worked well (thanks to Robert Jones, Gordon Stanford and Geoff Kerbey) and the half hour was very profitable.
"We can accommodate more of you who have a heart to pray. Certainly the need to pray at this critical juncture in our nation’s and world’s history is absolutely vital. Do think about it and we will be happy to send you an invitation to join the next session if you let us know."
Document Actions