Thy Kingdom Come: see website https://www.thykingdomcome.global

is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, it is hoped that everyone who participates will deepen their friendship with Jesus, bring others to know Jesus or know him better, and come to know that every aspect of their life is the stuff of prayer.

Suggested programme for Neuchâtel:

Start : Wednesday 9th May (day before Ascension Day), La Coudre Church 19.00

Begin with either a hymn or a psalm, then the Bible reading from Acts 1 (Ascension to Pentecost).
20 minutes as a group or individuals, to do the prayer stations or a selection of them (see below)
All take a length of the red cord provided and tie a knot for each person they’re going to pray for. Carry or wear this cord until Pentecost.
Say the Lord’s Prayer together.
Blessing

From 10th to 17th May – individual prayer, using our knotted cords as reminders. Set times to try to pray together?

17th May La Coudre Church 19.00

Feedback from participants (if any).

God of Ages, we ask for your help

(from Psalm 51)

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right^[b] spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing^[c] spirit.

A short Prayer Walk

For example,
Look out over the lake and pray our thanks and wonder at God’s creation, and ask to be better stewards.
We could go to the school, pray for teachers and students everywhere, for the places/situations which make learning impossible, pray that we may live with open hearts and minds, always ready to learn.

Go to the boulangerie. Remember the symbolism of bread in the Bible, passover, the eucharist. Thank God that we have enough food, pray for all those who haven’t,

pray that we may be more sharing, more generous, pray for a better use of the world’s resources.

Go to the funiculaire – Pray that those who are travelling for pleasure may remain safe and find rest and renewal, pray for all the refugees on the road, on the sea.

The Lord’s Prayer

Pizza together at the Restaurant du Funiculaire.

For each of us, the end of Thy Kingdom Come, will be whichever service we attend at Pentecost on 20th May, but perhaps we could set aside a time for feedback at the next prayer meeting.

Our thanks to Clive for suggesting that we join “Thy Kingdom Come” and to all the people who put so many resources on line for us all to use.

Don’t forget to sign up, so that we really are part of this global wave of prayer, and so that any interested visitors to Neuchâtel can find us.

Hazel

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From the Thy Kingdom Come on-line resources :

Prayer stations can be a great help to those who find

praying for 20 minutes challenging.

Ideas for stations in the church:

The family tree

Find a real tree that will fit into your car, and take it to church, alternatively you could draw or make one. Invite people to think about the members of their families or their

friends who are yet to discover the love of Jesus. Invite

them to write their names on luggage labels if you’re

using a real tree, or a sticky note if not, and to hang or

stick them as they pray for each in turn. Pray that they will

come to know Jesus, but also for personal courage for

yourself to talk about Jesus and to invite others to church activities.

The wailing wall

What are your most heartfelt requests to God for your

family, the Church, your city and your nation? Make space

on a large net or piece of fabric, for people to

write or draw their requests to God. When they’re finished

with their own request, invite them to pray for someone

else’s. Watch it fill up as our prayer service progresses and we could also hang it during our next church service.

The sorry bin

Gather a rubbish bin (or paper shredder), paper and pens,

and invite people to reflect on and pray the words of

Psalm 139:23-24:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my thoughts.

See if there is any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

As areas of sin are revealed to them in their own lives,

invite them to write them down and ask the Lord for

forgiveness. As a symbol of His grace and forgiveness

finish by throwing the paper into the bin or shredding it.

Letting Go

Place a bowl of water next to some pens with ink that

will wash off skin. Invite people to consider whom in

their lives they might hold something against. Ask them

to write the names of those they need to forgive on their

hands, and as they wash the names off in the water, to

ask Jesus to help them forgive them and to let go of any

resentment they may feel.

Your kingdom come

Gather large maps of your area and this nation, as well as

local and national newspapers. Encourage people to pray

Your kingdom come, your will be done over the places

and situations that stand out to them. If they are unsure

how to pray then praying for the positive – healing,

reconciliation, justice, love, forgiveness, salvation – is

often a good place to begin.

This is our objective :

Pray for five friends

Praying for others to know Jesus is one of the most powerful things we can do. Persistent prayer for others brings transformation to their lives.

Consistently praying for others takes discipline, and there are many ways that we can build up habits that will help us to pray for our friends and family.

Choose five people you would regularly like to pray for and write their names down onto a list. If you’re not sure who to pray for, ask God to guide you as you choose. Once you have settled on 5 names, commit to praying for them regularly by praying the following:

Loving Father,
in the face of Jesus Christ
your light and glory have blazed forth.
Send your Holy Spirit that I may share with my friends [here, name your friends]
the life of your Son and your love for all.
Strengthen me as a witness to that love
as I pledge to pray for them,
for your name’s sake. Amen.

Here are five easy ways to pray for five people regularly. Choose the one that suits you best.

1. PIECE OF STRING

Take a piece of string or cord, and tie five knots in it to represent each of the five people you have committed to pray for. You could carry the knotted string in your pocket, tie it round your wrist or place it somewhere that you’ll see it regularly. Use the knots to remind you to pray for each person on your list of five.

2. SMALL STONES

Find five small stones (light coloured ones are best) and write each of the people on your list onto each of the stones. Place them on your desk, bedside table or fireplace as a reminder to pray. Alternatively, you could place each stone in a different room of your home and pray for each person as you enter or leave the room.

3. BUSINESS PRAYER CARD OR BOOKMARK

Grab a piece of card that will easily fit inside your wallet, purse or book. Write your list of five names onto the card before putting it in your wallet or book. Use this card as a daily reminder to pray for them.

4. PRAYER ALERTS

Add your list of five people to the alerts section of your phone and set reminders to pray for them. You could choose one name per day, or pray for all five across your day. Remember to set alerts for a suitable time where you can stop to pray for your list.

5. POST-IT NOTES
Use five post-it notes and write one name onto each. Stick them onto your mirror, above your bed or somewhere that you’ll see them regularly and will be reminded to pray.

You might like to use the following prayers as you pray for others:

Loving Lord,
Please work in me so I can share your love, life and message with…
Reveal your love to them, that they might know, follow and witness to you,
for Your glory.
Amen.

Loving Father,
Send your Holy Spirit so I can share your love, life and message with…
Reveal Jesus to them, that they might know, follow and love him,
for Your glory.
Amen.

You build your church through the power of your Spirit.
By the same Spirit enable me to witness to… your love, beauty and grace,
that they may come to the fellowship of the faithful
for Your glory.
Amen.

Lord,
I pray that you will lead… to you.
Thank you that you love them. I pray that you would break into their life and show them your love, grace and peace,
for Your glory.
Amen.

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Announcements from Basel Church

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

from 30th August- 10th September 2018 (Israel & Jordan): 2 places still available! Cost £2075 (flights from Switzerland to TelAviv extra) sharing a twin-bedded room. Full board. Entrance fees, visas included. Travel by a/c coach: Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Petra, Nazareth, Galilee, Caeserea Philippi. Contact: Revd Hilary Jones, St. Johannes Ring 92, 4056 Basel Switzerland, Tel: (0041)618133405 without delay. Email: hilaryjones@bluewin.ch

**SACEP* Retreat “Exploring discipleship through the perspective of the Gospels”**

Oct 26-28 2018 at Hotel Kurhaus Grimmialp, Diemigtal, Bernese Oberland, led by Dr Clare and Canon Alan Amos.

Cost: CHF 250 (incl. room & board)

Further details & booking form from Revd Hilary Jones, St. Johannes Ring 92, 4056 Basel Switzerland, Tel: (0041)618133405 without delay. Email: hilaryjones@bluewin.ch

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Diocesan website: www.europe.anglican.org

Take a look at this very comprehensive website – lots of interesting articles to read!