Letter from the Minister (Feb 2012)

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Dear All,

On 6^th January, I had the privilege of being part of the launch of the Arise Cheshire East Year of Prayer – “A year of unbroken prayer to see His Kingdom come, His will be done in Cheshire East”. The event, hosted by Fiona Bruce MP, was attended by around 70 people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Issues were introduced by MPs, Councillors, or members of the business and voluntary sectors followed by a prayer from the front or in small groups. One person who attended said, “The prayer support is truly appreciated. I have to say that I had not realised the scale of the event and was a little overawed by it and the power it generated. It inspired me to pray on a more regular basis for my work and not just when things are tough”.

The Year of Prayer is one outcome of the “Hidden Treasures” report prepared in 2011 detailing the contribution of the Faith Communities to the local community. We are now encouraging people in all areas of Cheshire East to gather together to pray for the issues which affect their community. On Tues. 14^th February there will be a Day of Prayer at the Welcome to encourage prayer for the community and you are all most welcome. Knutsford has been allocated 17^th-27^th May and 26^th November to 2^nd December when we will encourage you all to take prayer slots to pray for the Church and the Community.

However, we do not want you to wait till then to become involved. Jenny Bailey is circulating Neighbourhood Prayer Guides around the home groups, and some are available in the Prayer Room (Room3) and in the Church entrance and in the Community Centre entrance. They have the opportunity for you to write down key people in the community that you would like to pray for in your private devotions. Enclosed with this magazine we have included the Cheshire East Prayer Goals prepared by the Cheshire Council Cabinet and other key people, inviting us to pray for key decisions and areas of community life.

As the year progresses more prayer requests will be on the Arise Cheshire East website www.arisecheshireeast.org.uk. There is an opportunity on this website to offer to pray at particular times during the week/month and record this as we have round-the-clock prayer cover for our county.

This prayer initiative has caught many people’s imagination. Already there have been prayer gatherings in Congleton and Macclesfield. It is an opportunity for Christians to meet together or pray individually for our county when there are so many pressures upon it. We can also pray for a move of the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ. It is our belief that God will do far more than we can think, ask or imagine in response to his people seeking his presence, forgiveness and blessing upon Cheshire East. Carolyn McQuaker will be leading Prayer and Praise on Tues. 14^th February, when I am sure she will share more about the Year of Prayer.

We rejoice in the appointments of Amanda Vickers as our Church Administrator from 5^th March and Sharon Mayer as our Pastoral Worker from 6^th March. This is an answer to prayer as we bring the staff team back up to full strength. Please pray for Amanda and Sharon as they prepare for their new roles.

On your behalf I wish to thank Brenda Wilkinson for being our Church Administrator over many years. Her organisational skills have kept me and the staff team in order and ensured that the church has been run so efficiently. In addition she has been the contact person between the church and community. Brenda is highly respected and loved by the KMC church family and the wider Knutsford community. Several years ago, Brenda threatened to move on from this role when I left. I have therefore stayed nine extra years to keep her in post!!! We thank Brenda for her many skills and pray God’s blessings upon her in the future.

Love and Prayers,