Jesus Christ
calls every person to follow him. As Christians it’s our duty and joy to share
that invitation. That’s why the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are inviting
every church in England to join a week of prayer this Pentecost, from 8-15th
May — let’s pray for every Christian to receive new confidence and joy in
sharing this life-transforming faith.
That’s the invitation held
out to us this month. If you’re only reading it now, then it calls for an
immediate response – just take a look at the date of the week of prayer! And it
can’t come soon enough…
The Archbishops’ call is
issued under the heading, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…” It’s from the
Lord’s Prayer, the prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples. On page 17 of this
magazine you can read how we have explored the Lord’s Prayer with Messy Church. It’s important for our
children to learn this prayer. But how good are we adults at using it?... or at
giving time to prayer each day?
I hope the Archbishops’
call may stir us all up in the life of prayer. They themselves declare their
hope is
·
for all Christians to deepen their relationship
with Jesus Christ.
·
for all of us to have confidence to share the
Gospel
·
for all to respond to the call of Jesus Christ
to follow Him as disciples, to live out the Gospel and to seek God’s Kingdom
from day to day.
Can you make that extra
effort to give time to pray this month? To join in one of the special local
initiatives? Deliberately to set aside some time each day for prayer? And to
keep working at it?
Martin Jackson
