Thy Kingdom Come Stories
Find out some of the different ways we have approached Thy Kingdom Come across our movement and get some inspiration for next year!
Wairarapa prays for revival
Rev. Pete Watson updates us on the Wairarapa ecumenical service:
All of the churches in Masterton gathered for Pentecost Sunday at Wairarapa College with hundreds of people in attendance. The service went very well and had a strong sense of unity in the importance of prayer.
Whanganui’s Prayer Stations
Rev. Ana Fletcher brings us news from the Parish of Wanganui:
In the Parish of Whanganui, we held Thy Kingdom Come prayer stations at Christ Church in the centre of the city.
The Co-Vicar, Rev. Caleb Rowe said that over 100 people gathered for prayer over the week and that it was a powerful time. There were 12 'slots' per day, and people were encouraged to come and use the space for an hour at a time.
The installation included opportunities to "pray for five" in creative ways, as well as to intercede for the parish, the city and our world. There were also stations for worship and a confessional box where people could come and receive forgiveness. At the centre of the installation was a labyrinth which was made wide enough to be accessible for wheelchairs, and it was great to have parishioners using the labyrinth who might otherwise have missed out.
We also used the Thy Kingdom Come liturgy resources in some of our daily prayer rhythms. It was so good to be reminded over and over again to bring our friends and family before God and to pray that they would come to know Jesus as their Lord and friend, and to know we were participating in this with others from across our Anglican Movement.
Waikanae prays for Children & Families and an AYM house
Thy Kingdom Come in Waikanae concluded with a 24hr prayer room with a special focus on children and families, and praying for the establishment of an AYM House on the Kāpiti Coast.
This year the parish has kicked off some great community outreach initiatives, one of which those being an after-school drop-in for primary age tamariki and their whānau. The first week saw two families come along and it’s grown significantly since the launch in March. Many of those attending are not from church backgrounds so praying for growth in our children and families ministry is a natural extension of the core idea of Thy Kingdom Come.
The parish, along with Kāpiti Parish, also wants to see an AYM House established in the Kāpiti community at the start of next year. Kāpiti has a large number of youth and the parishes want to see them served well, but many post-college age young people move away for study – so the parish has been investing time in prayer for God’s guidance and wisdom as they start putting plans in place.
Rev. Mark Harris says, “If we do this, it will provide a real foundation for years to come in terms of reaching the younger demographic of our community.”
The prayer room was an inviting space where it was easy to dwell in the presence of God in prayer. From the moment people entered through the back door, they were taken on a journey of prayer, easily taking five minutes or more to work their way up the stairs and down the hall into the prayer room. There were many stations to aid focus, and those that took part really felt the presence of the Spirit.
