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Lent Prayer Pilgrimage 2014

Week beginning

Sunday, 23rd

March

Craven & Eastern Areas

Picture courtesy of Welcome to Yorkshire

“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to

me……. Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation.” Habakkuk 2: 1-2

CRAVEN AREA (from friends at Trinity Church, Keighley)

Over the past few weeks we have been reflecting on the question, 'What is Jesus saying as He looks

upon Keighley and the surrounding area?' We have also been asking various local Christians this

same question, and listening to what they have said.

As we have been prayerfully thinking about this question one theme that has been heard time and

again has been a concern for young people, both in our churches, and in the local community. There

are a number of local initiatives that we would like to be praying for.

CLiKS (Christian Links in Keighley Schools) is a Scripture Union affiliated Churches Together charity

that employs a schools worker, Alison Way, and organizes various volunteers who go into schools.

They are involved in all kinds of things from running Christian groups, through taking assemblies and

providing mentoring and support for vulnerable children. Particularly at this time we would ask you

to pray about a new initiative that will involve Alison speaking with older primary age children about

grooming, in conjunction with the Children's Society. Pray for wisdom, and opportunities to speak to

those most at risk that they may not become victims of abuse in the future.

Over the Easter holidays there will be a new holiday club in Keighley, run by local Christians who

have been involved in running children’s groups at Spring Harvest in recent years. It is called X:site,

and again please pray for the volunteers and children as this takes place. There is a real need for

volunteers, so we ask you to pray that God will provide the right helpers to make this a success.

Please pray also that the children may hear the Gospel message, and come to know Jesus for

themselves.

In the nearby village of Riddlesden there is a monthly ecumenical youth service called Remix, headed

up by Jenny Ramsden, Fresh Expressions minister in the Craven Deanery (Anglican). This is a growing

work that draws young people from as far afield as Bingley and Cross Hills. Please pray for this work,

and for all who make it run month by month. Please pray that these Christian young people would

continue to grow in their faith so that they would be equipped to serve God as they grow up and

become the next generation of leaders in our churches.

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Also in our area there are people who struggle financially, and this is being addressed partly by the

work of Keighley Salvation Army and a local Christian organization called Living Lights. They both

provide weekly food parcels, support and friendship. Please pray for this important work in our area.

Pray for more volunteers that the scope of this work may grow. Pray too for individuals who need

this help that they may turn to Jesus, the Hope of the world.

We would like to request prayer for those who are homeless, whether literally so, or those who do f

'sofa surfing', staying at the homes of friends and family for a few nights at a time. We would like to

focus on the Bradford based Christian charity, Inn Churches, and the work they do in providing

shelter in local churches throughout the Winter in and around Bradford (including Keighley). Please

pray for those who have been helped towards coming off the streets, that they may find the support

that they need over the coming months. Please pray too for those who remain homeless, that God

would protect them from harm.

Keighley has a large Muslim population, and this can bring challenges sometimes. Churches Together

has been running a Lent study group to learn more about Islam. Please pray that local Christians

would have the wisdom, love and grace to live well amongst our Muslim neighbours. Pray too that

our relationships and friendships might be characterised by the love of Jesus, that there may be

opportunities to share our faith with our Muslim neighbours.

Undoubtedly there are many other issues, situations and individuals that Jesus sees as He looks at

our area, but we feel that these are ones that are particularly close to His heart at this time. We also

believe that these are things that He is calling His people to be involved in, in one way or another.

We also remember in prayer our brothers and sisters in Christ in the area churches of the

Association. God bless

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Barnoldswick have requested prayers for:

• The leaders, parents & carers, and the children that attend the Parent & Toddler group on

Tuesday morning; that meaningful relationships are formed.

• And for the work of CAP; that the members of the Hope Barlick group of churches will come

forward to help.

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Picture courtesy of Welcome to Yorkshire

EASTERN AREA

From friends at Priory Baptist Church

What would Jesus say if He was looking over the city of Hull?

He could say how proud He is, as the people of Hull are, of our achievement in becoming the City of

Culture 2017.

But I think He would be more likely to say how sad and heartbroken He is when He looks out over a

city of darkness.

A city that always comes at the bottom of government polls in things like education and health care.

A city that always seems to be near the top of polls when it comes to crime rates, poor housing and

living conditions, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and binge drinking,

and has high numbers of people who have mental health problems and depression.

A city where industry is moving out, instead of in.

A city where pagans and witch craft are accepted.

A city of broken homes and broken lives.

A city that, even though it’s full title is KINGston-Upon-Hull, seems to have forgotten all about the

King of Kings.

I think that Jesus would weep at a city lost and in darkness.

But then as He looks closer He will see the beacons of light shining out into the darkness, spreading

out into the city.

He will see His church, His people in the city, reaching out and showing God’s love, spreading light

out into the darkness.

Christians of all denominations, sometimes working together, sometimes on their own, bringing the

message of hope in Jesus, showing the lost the way back to their Heavenly Father.

And then Jesus will rejoice when He can see people turning from the darkness into the light of His

love.

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Jesus will see a city where Christians of all denominations joined together last year to say ‘We

believe in Hull’; to show that there is hope for our lost city; there is hope for the people of Hull; that

they no longer need to live in darkness.

As He looks around this city He will see Priory Baptist Church, and I pray that He will see us fulfilling

the prophesy He gave us.

That we have become a church shining out into the darkness, showing His love to everyone we meet.

A beacon of light in our community.

A place where people can come and find sanctuary and safety.

A place where people can come and find rest and peace.

A place where they can come and be themselves.

A place where people can see God and Jesus at the centre of everything.

A place where they can be led to the foot of the cross and find for themselves the love and the light

that knowing Jesus can bring into their lives.

I believe that when Jesus looks down on our city, KINGston-Upon-Hull He will say:

‘Well done My good and faithful servants’.

From friends at Cottingham Road Baptist Church

Hull has had some poor publicity in recent years highlighting issues of high unemployment,

challenges in local schools and a desperate need for support from the Hull Foodbank. Financial

difficulties have affected development opportunities which might have offered employment and

opportunities which might have helped improve things have been missed.

But on the other hand, there are many positives.

Hull City AFC is Yorkshire’s only premiership football team, hoping to stay there next year, and with

an upcoming FA Cup semi-final.

The area’s Rugby League clubs are also in the top flight – Hull Kingston Rovers and Hull FC.

The Deep, an aquarium on the Humber/River Hull confluence, is still one of the most successful

Millennium projects.

There are spectacular views of the Humber Estuary and the river traffic gives an idea of the potential

for industry and employment in a port.

There are ambitious plans for Hull as the UK City of Culture in 2017 with popular local theatre and

performance venues and plans to develop as a major cultural centre beyond 2017.

The University of Hull continues to grow and flourish and is popular with both national and

international students, some of whom join with our worshipping congregations.

There are plans to improve transport links, both road and rail which are needed to support the

ambitious plans for the area.

And we are blessed by amazing landscape and coastline with the Humber Estuary, Spurn Point,

Bempton Cliffs and other areas of significant natural beauty in our region.

We pray for the friendliness of the local folk to continue to flourish, for wisdom in the local

government to plan well ahead and follow through to completion the building work and

developments which are so desperately needed.

We pray that Priory, Boulevard and Cottingham Road Baptist churches can continue to work

together in relating God’s Kingdom to those around us where we are.

We praise God for the wonderful coast and countryside in this part of Yorkshire.

May the sadness and low self esteem of many within our City be dispelled by the encouragement of

the City of Culture status, which we hope will be accompanied by the creation of jobs and industry.

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And we also pray that the churches in York, Pickering, Scarborough, Malton, Beverley and Bridlington

may continue to relate to their communities and to each other in His name.

Please remember the fellowships in the Eastern area in your prayers.

Friends at Acomb have sent the following prayer requests:

• For a Holiday Bible Club taking place between 14th

and 17th

April. Please pray for sufficient

helpers, for plenty of energy and for the children to come.

• They look forward to welcoming Roger Simpson (Archbishop’s Evangelist) on 27th

April.

• And please pray for the fellowship as they consider the future direction of Acomb BC.

Albemarle are seeking prayer for their trial children’s Sunday afternoon club for children 8-11 years

old which is starting on 23rd

March, and for their continuing work with a Parents & Toddlers Group.

Beverley Baptist Church praise God for the new

people coming to church who are choosing to stay and worship together with them. They will be

starting a Christianity Explored course and are also seeking a full time minister to join the leadership.

Please pray for them at this time of discernment and decision.

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Doreen from Priory writes:

“We are holding our second messy church on Saturday, 29th

March, 10.30am – 1.00pm. We are

praying that not only those who came along to our first messy church will come along, but that

others will come as well. That the families that come will be open to learn “Who is Jesus” and seek to

find out more about Him”.

Folk from York Baptist Church have sent the following items for prayer:

A Holiday Bible Club for children aged 5-11 years under the title “Deep Sea Adventure” taking place

from Tuesday 8th

April to Sunday 13th

April. Please pray for safety as approx 90 children join us; we

pray that they will hear the gospel message and respond. Pray too for the opportunity to speak to

parents as they bring and collect their children.

Please also pray for our ongoing outreach into the community around us.

Images with church entries are provided courtesy of that church