Prayer and Spiritual Growth

Prayer and Spiritual Growth

Prayer is the vital life breath of our relationship with God. We encourage many forms of prayer within our church.

Corporate prayer takes place during our worship, at most of our meetings, at house fellowship groups and at our prayer meeting on Tuesday morning.

The Tuesday prayer meeting starts at 9.30am either in the church around the communion table, or in the new reception room. There are periods of silence and simple responses. We share in reading a psalm and listen for God’s word through the reading of scriptures that link into our Sunday morning worship lectionary. Open prayer is offered for people and situations (the names from our prayer book are remembered at this point). People can pray out loud or in silence. A blessing is given to close the period of prayer and coffee is shared after the meeting. All are welcome.

Personal prayer and devotions are encouraged through the use of the URC Prayer Handbook. This is a series of readings and reflections and prayers linked to the Lectionary Bible Readings for Sunday Worship. The Handbook gives suggestions on how to pray and allows you to further reflect on that week’s readings.

Reform Magazine is the monthly publication of the national URC and is full of interesting articles to encourage and enlarge your faith

Bible Reading notes, by the International Bible Reading Association (IBRA), provides bible readings, commentaries and prayers for every day of the year. It is an excellent way to meditate on scripture every day and to discover the wide range of writings in the Bible.

Both the Prayer Handbook, Reform Magazine and IBRA Bible reading notes can be ordered from church representatives. Contact the minister for further information.

From time to time we offer various courses looking at prayer and spirituality. If you wish to receive details of these please contact the minister.

Church Fellowship Groups
Church Fellowship Groups meet fortnightly through the autumn until the end of spring. They meet in people’s homes for friendship, laughter, sharing, prayer and bible study. The groups often use music, art, and other creative ways of engaging with the set biblical text for that week. The set biblical passage is the one that will be the focus for that upcoming Sunday. The groups reform each year, often with new members.
People can join a group at any time during the year. We have found them to be a great way for people to get to know others and develop deep friendships within our church community. Details of the groups, hosts and leaders, are usually published in Wots On church news sheet or are fixed on the noticeboards.
Church Retreats and Holidays
Occasional retreats and holidays are organised providing the opportunity for people to go away together to relax and find spiritual refreshment. We have had week long holidays on Holy Island Northumberland at the URC St Cuthbert’s Centre. We have been to Corrymeela Centre for Reconciliation in Northern Ireland. We went to Lee Abbey in Devon for a church weekend in 2011. We did our our church weekend at the Sheldon Centre in Devon in 2012. Groups attend the Greenbelt Christian Arts Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse in August and spring Harvest in April.

TLS Courses (Training for Learning & Serving)
The National URC runs training courses deepening people’s understanding and practice of their faith. A number of our members have done these courses (on pastoral care, theology and biblical studies) and have found them very helpful. More details from the URC website or from the minister.