The Lion's Mane! (Taken from Lounge gig)

WEAVING OUR COMMUNITY!

Community meal at Tim & Annas

Tuesday night prayer

...new favourie worship song!

COMMUNITY MEAL... at 40 K

What a beautiful day! The sun shone.

The children played... playmobil, couronne and Skalextric inside... badminton outside. The adults played too... and then we ate Emma's amazing food, and talked and prayed together. Beautiful.

Gathered around the table, it was good to share little bits of our lives... Jon's front-room mini-gig went really well last night... Drew has been having great conversations with his students at school... Jo is feeling the pressure of end-of-term busyness... Sue is hoping to get a part in The Tempest in York... Dewi has got work-exams this week... Rosi is still seeking the right role at Comic Relief... Richard mentioned friends in China who need our prayers... I asked everyone to keep praying for Poppy...

And then, as we broke bread and drank wine together, I read this from today's Celtic Daily Prayer book entry;

"I read a story about a boy who lost a dog in New York City. As he walked up and down the streets, systematically and slowly, a friend complained that he wasn't even looking for the dog. He answered, 'I'm not looking for him. I'm letting him find me. Sooner or later, he will discover the trail I am putting down and follow until he comes to me.'"

The writer goes on to say that Jesus is not looking for "converts". Jesus simply lays down a trail that people find, at different points in their lives, and follow until they find him. And he does this through us.

As we prayed for one another, for our own needs and struggles, we also asked Holy Spirit to help us lay down trails in our conversations with neighbours and friends, in our shopping and working and walking-around lives... trails that carry Jesus scent somehow, trails that others can follow and find him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Living Room Gig!

Four Park's in one Day

Me and Ros discovered today that you can pretty much walk in a straight line from Lodge Farm Park to Rapheal's Park, to Rise Park all the way to Bedford's Park!
...All my life living in Romford and I never knew this!
Thanks to my Mum and Dad for pointing this out the other day.
Happy summer walking guys!
J0N

Ballad

Human Trafficking

A handful of 24-7-ers gathered in our basement prayer room in the City of London this afternoon to talk and pray with Peter Stanley about human trafficking... and to explore ways that 24-7's global community could bring it's gift and vision to join with others who are working for a change in this modern slavery. Especially in the UK.

Click Here to read more...

Food, Inc

EASTER FEAST!

WEEK OF PRAYER (cont...)

Night 3: Ros and I prayed together. Although it was just us, we were grateful for the time to really give to God our worries and prayers on our hearts.

Night 4: We met in the 'upper room' of Anna & Tim's house. Candles were lit, music played and on a table in the centre of the room was a bowl of salt water, a plate of bitter herbs and beside that a bowl of honey and bread. We dipped the bitter herbs into the salt water and meditated on times of bitterness. Then we took the bread, dipping it in the honey, celebrating or praying for the good, joyful times.

Night 5: Thinking about Jesus death, and that time of darkness...questioning...we turned off all electricity in the flat and prayed in the silence and candle light with Jo, Tim, Anna and Claire. We spent a long time just sitting in silence...it was so quiet all I could hear were my ears ringing, God's peace was with us, teaching us to be still and sit with Him.

Night 6: Anna came to join Ros and I for our final night before our Easter Feast the next day. We prayed about the day. Having prayed every night over the week I found my prayers were moving more from sharing my hopes and fears with God, to pure worship, declaring His goodness and thinking upon our saviour, King Jesus!

A Letter From Andy Freeman

Dear Romford friends,

I wanted to write to say how enjoyable it was to be with you as a community, a few weeks ago. Lucie and I really enjoyed our time and left inspired and encouraged. You are an incredible group of people, and God is doing something quite profound amongst you all.

I left focusing on our discussion of why it was that God has called you together? What is it that God is calling you to be in Romford, and what will you bring to the jigsaw of what He is doing in your neighbourhood?

I wanted to send you a little gift from 24-7 and so enclose 5 copies of 'Punk Monk'*. It's a bit weird to be giving a gift, which is your own book, so forgive me, but I thought it might be a useful resource and would certainly help you in your questions about 24-7prayer. Hope you enjoy them.

I know many of you have questions and so do feel free to email me (anytime) to ask whatever you'd like. My email is andy.freeman@24-7prayer.com

Take care of yourselves.

Yours,

Andy

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as we see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25

Keep going Romford. Thanks for who you are and what you do.

*Note from Phil: I have the copies of 'Punk Monk' if anyone wants to take one... read it and pass it around.

Week of Prayer (Night 2)

Tonight, Rich, myself, Ros, Phil, Emma, David and Andy gathered slowly into the front room and spent our second night in prayer, reflecting on the amazing things God has been doing and praying for the coming of His Kingdom! David prayed that we would not just 'be' and live out God's Kingdom through our lives, but we would recognise it as more than our lives, that we would become fully emersed in the Kingdom of God! Phil shared an amazing description of what faith means... moving not just from belief in God, but realising that God cares for us! We prayed again for Richard's dream of moving house, and Phil had the image of doors unlocking one by one for Rich as he moved through that first door. After praying away the bed bugs, I absent mindedly went on to pray that Richard would 'rest-in-peace' :) to much laughter (I meant a good night sleep Rich!).
It was amazing when David prayed for Ros' job situation...remembering being prayed for by Ros earlier last year for the very same reasons, and having seen those prayers answered, David was able to pray the same prayers over Ros!
We thankyou Father, for our church community. That we can gather together before you and ask for your blessing on one another and the people on our hearts.
We look to your return Jesus! The return of The King!!
J0N

Week of Prayer (1st night!)

NO BOUNDARIES!
...My love for you knows no boundaries
...There are no boundaries too great for God...no limitations!

These were the words I felt God say to us while we were praying. They seemed to strike a chord with all of us, particularly Ian and Helen, as they look toward the amazing new life that will be joining their family soon :) and what this means for they're dreams for Spain and what God is saying to them.

There was a great sense of God's Spirit among us as we gave the first night (of the week) of prayer to him. We prayed for Sue and Drew who were out in Romford handing out Easter eggs and talking to people about Jesus. There was a feeling that we were joining with the entire body of Christ at this time. A hightened awakening to Jesus as we think upon the amazing power of his death and resurrection! (Christ at the Centre!)

Thankyou for this wonderful time with you Jesus, and what it means to me. I pray as the week continues yu will reveal more and more of your limitless, boundless love and awaken and inspire us!

J0N

Prayer Night At Ros & Jons'

Tonight we gathered for our weekly time of prayer together. Phil arrived with his 'new hair', Miranda, Tim, Anna, and a little later came Emma , who brought along her beautiful croched blanket, which she continued to weave throughout the night. Phil ordered a Chai Tea, (looks like I may have converted him!), we shared things that have been happening in our lives, worries, fears, excitement, choices and then we laid it all before our Father in heaven, and heard him speak through us in many creative ways. Emma described it beautifully when she prayed, thanking God for the exciting stories in this room, the rich tapestry you are weaving together through our lives. We stood around Anna like a human sheild as we prayed for protection, a symbol that she is not alone, that we walk ad pray with her, Ros laid a blanket before Miranda as we prayed for her future and all that God has for her. There were many amazing words spoken, and I'm so greatful for what God is doing in us...Tim training to become an assistant manager, Phil starting prayer rooms in schools, Anna's amazing work with the kids in her class. Thankyou Father, protect us and continue to guide us in the ways of your love.
J0N (& Ros)

Our amazing friends in Roehampton!

Thursday Soup at Tim & Annas!

After an amazing soup cooked from scratch by Tim, we spent some time meditating on God together and praying over this prayer...
Breathe in the breath of God

Breathe out your cares and concerns

Breathe in the love of God

Breathe out your doubts and despairs

Breathe in the life of God

Breathe out your fears and frustrations

We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,

We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs

We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fibre of our being

Breathe in the breath of God

Breathe out your tensions and turmoil

Breathe in the love of God

Breathe out your haste and hurry

Breathe in the life of God

Breathe out your work and worry

We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,

We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs

We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fibre of our being