HOPE updates

Hi, the minutes from the 1st HOPE Champion's meeting are available and if you'd like a copy, please email James: james_collitt@hotmail.co.uk

Also, a fantastic number of 18 churches have signed up for the 24/10 prayer room! There are still a couple of slots free, so get on board and contact Richard Smith: richard@colchesterboilerroom.org.uk

Eld Lane are hosting their HOPE on the streets day on Saturday 3rd May if you'd like to go along and support them.

St John's are hosting their community fun day under the HOPE banner on Monday 5th May. If you know someone who lives in that area, encourage them to go along.

A Modern Day Creed

Lord God, we believe that you are present

In the darkness before dawn,

In the waiting and uncertainty

Where fear & courage join hands

Conflict & caring link arms

Lord God, we believe you are with us,

You sit down in our midst

To share our humanity

Lord, affirm our faith

That takes us beyond the safe place:

Into action, into vulnerability

And into the streets

Lord, help us to work for change

And put ourselves on the line;

To bear responsibility, take risks,

Live powerfully and face humiliation;

To stand with those on the edge;

To choose life

And be used by the Spirit

For God's new community of HOPE

-Amen-

Other HOPE events

If your church or group has organised another HOPE event for this year, please let us know and we will add it to this blog for everyone's reference. Not only will this encourage other churches but it will enable Christians in Colchester to pray for your event.

Please pass on details to: james_collitt@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks!

HOPE Champion Meeting

Thursday 24th April 2008

8pm at Eld Lane in town. If you are a HOPE champion or interested in being one for your church/group, please come along. We will be discussing what we want to do for the joint HOPE community action day in August and what each church can contribute in terms of time, resources and man power. Come full of ideas and suggestions.

For more information, contact James Collitt: james_collitt@hotmail.co.uk

24/10 Prayer in Colchester

1st -10th May - St Peter's Church

Many people across the church are coming to together with the dream of seeing people reached by the love of Jesus Christ. This is HOPE 2008. We believe prayer is crucial to enable us to be guided by God, and to see fruit for His kingdom. You and your congregation can be part of a special prayer time to fuel HOPE 2008 in Colchester, and inspire our work together for His kingdom.

The vision is for a 24 hour Prayer Room runnning continuously for 10 days at St Peters Church, North Hill 1 – 10 May 2008, in the run up to the Global Day of Prayer 2008 on May 11.

This vision involves more continuous prayer than has been seen before in Colchester. It is pioneering but possible, if we work together. We need 19 church congregations to each commit to filling a 12 hour block of one hour slots. Please contact Richard for more information: richard@colchesterboilerroom.org.uk

What will the prayer room be like?

The prayer room will be available for all types of prayer to Jesus. So, a group may come and pray during one hour slot, or people may want to come on their own. People may want to pray in silence, or play music.

There will also be creative prayer activities in the prayer room. The prayer room can be a place of mission, too. It will be open to the public during the day, so that any interested people can come in and find out about prayer and about Jesus.

Each person who is booked into a slot will have the responsibility for looking after the prayer room. People who are in the prayer room at night should find another person to accompany them so they are not alone at night. There will be prayer room supervisors on call at all times.

Global Day of Prayer

Sunday 11th May 2008

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" 2 Chron 7:14

This is a national day of prayer which is echoed throughout the world. Please visit: http://www.globaldayofprayer.com/ for more information. There is a prayer that every church leader & congregation is being encouraged to say at 11.00 on Sunday 11th May. You can download it from the website.

Last year some congregations from around the country met in London for a whole day of prayer, worship and fellowship.

Hope in our Town

Saturday 30th August 2008

This will be a joint day of community action around Colchester with a BBQ, prayer area, worship bands, entertainers and much more. We will need 1 HOPE champion from each church to represent their congregation at future meetings. They will be the direct link between the HOPE team and their church. If you would like to be a HOPE champion for your church/group, please email James: james_collitt@hotmail.co.uk

Please check back for regular updates on how the planning is going & when future meetings are for HOPE champions.