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Churches Together in Staplehurst

PCC Churches Together Committee Members

Name	Office	Telephone	Email
The Reverend Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy	Convenor	(01580) 892324
Mrs. Audrey Bullock	PCC Member	N/A	N/A
Mrs. Margaret Ashby	Non PCC Member	N/A	N/A
Mrs. Shirley Saunders	Non PCC Member	N/A	N/A

A PRAYER VIGIL FOR PEACE
(SHALOM, SALAAM, ALOHA)

Dear Fellow Christians,

The Churches Together in Staplehurst decided a while back that they should hold a service to pray for an end to war with particular thoughts on the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, in considering what form this might take, the wider issues of abuse and human suffering at the hands of others, in all its forms, arose and so we now think that a communion of daily prayer might offer a better way to seek Our Lord's help, not only in ending these awful wars and abuses, but also in dealing with the underlying failings in our world society which render them almost inevitable.

Frank Peretti, in his book “This Present Darkness”, coined the phrase “Prayer Cover” in relation to fighting the fight between good and evil. When there was sufficient, the forces of good were in the ascendancy, when there wasn;t, evil reigned. Let us try to make sure there is enough prayer cover through our own thoughts, words and deeds to achieve a lasting PEACE in our world. This is our hope, through our faith, and it will be the greater together.

So below is a short daily prayer routine in which we can all unite, but in our own time and space, and it is intended to include this at some time in all our united services. We hope that you find this a good idea and are willing to join in.

Dear Lord, Prince of Peace, bring peace to our world, Your peace, a lasting peace. Bring an end to hostilities wherever they may be. Bring a change of heart to those who wage war or who terrorise, abuse or exploit in any way their fellow human beings, their neighbours. Help them to embrace your heart of love, tolerance, understanding and forgiveness. Comfort those caught up in the horrors of war, or who suffer at the hands of others. Let them know the joy of Your Love for them. Guide those entrusted with the Power of Leadership always to act for the Common Good.

And Dear Lord:

Make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light and
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive,
In pardoning that we are pardoned, and
In dying that we awake to eternal life.

In this way may peace in our hearts, families and communities and throughout the world be achieved and sustained through goodwill by all for all.
Amen

PAUSE TO PONDER:
Try to spend a short time reflecting on a particular issue of your choice. It could be a personal matter or something in the news, or a weekly topic from your congregation, anything at all, and follow this with a personal prayer.

Close with The Lord's Prayer followed by:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore,
Amen

Clergy Contacts

Reverend Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy (All Saints) (01580) 892324 - Email

Reverend. Andrew Mills (URC) - (01580) 893008 Staplehurst URC Web Site

Pastor Clive Jones (Free Church) - (01580) 890644 Staplehurst Free Church Web Site

Father Barry Grant (Roman Catholic) - (01580) 713364