About the Methodist Prayer Handbook ...

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Do you know about the prayer-handbook? There are normally one or two copies kept in the Church's Prayer Room.

What is MPH and how can it help you to focus your prayers?

This is a booklet re-published annually by the Methodist Publishing House, so it is kept up-to-date. Basically there is a double-page spread for each day of a 31-day month, the Church Overseas being on the left-hand page and the various Districts of the British Church on the right-hand side. The Overseas side covers two or three Districts of the Church, with paragraphs written usually by a national person giving thanks for the many good things and making petitions for the needs of those particular churches. It also lists the Mission-partners who are serving overseas - some of course personally known to us.

I add names of people, who are not necessarily partners from G.B. but those I want to remember to pray for, e.g. on Day 22 (Japan and Korea) I pray for Song-Ah-Chee (formerly a Time-for-God at our Church), and on Day 26, one of the Europe pages, I have pencilled in Rikke Nilsson (who preceded Song-ah) - you could add those you wished to pray for - you would do so by this means once a month.

On the right-hand page there are short paragraphs about each District of the Church in G.B. in turn. We come in on Day 19 (Manchester and Stockport District), and the 2006/7 issue mentions Rev'd Cris Acher and Nexus. On this side of the page I pencil in names of people who have gone from our Church, whom I want to remember in prayer but would otherwise forget, e.g. on Day 27 (W.Yorkshire) I pray for Hilary Ewing and on Day 21 for Caroline. You can, in fact, use this guide in any way you want to. It is a great aide-memoire!

The new one comes out in July-August each year with the changes after the Conference. I'm sure copies may be ordered through any Christian Bookseller but if you'd like to 'give it a go' I'd be delighted to order yours, with mine, from the Methodist Publishing House. The price is about £2.25 (a little more for a large print version).

I forgot to say there are small illustrations and maps; I love my Methodist Prayer Handbook and wouldn't like to be without it. I use a bit of it at nearly every meeting of my House Group.

If you'd like a copy via me, please let me know by the end of June (contact via the Church Office, Knu.652251).

Rene F