The Northern Prayer House: August 2016

Wednesday 31 August 2016

A Challenge

A challenge....

I was hungry and you formed a working group and discussed my hunger.

I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.

I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.

I was homeless and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.

I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.

You seem so holy, so close to God.

But I’m still very hungry and lonely and cold.

Gillian Beeley

Development Co-ordinator (East Lancashire)

TOGETHER LANCASHIRE

Tel: 07904 919413

Registered Office: Diocesan Offices, Clayton House, Walker Park, Blackburn, BB1 2QE

Registered Charity Number: 1147848

Registered Company Number: 07966145

Friday 19 August 2016

Together Lancashire invites faith groups across the North of England to take part in series of prayer events and activities with a focus on tackling poverty and deprivation.

The North of England has a long history of being a House of Prayer. From the Celtic saints of Northumbria, the great abbeys, the Cathedrals and Minsters, the early, dissenters and Quakers, the Methodist revival in the midst of the industrial revolution, there has been a deep spiritual longing to transform the world as it is into the world as it ought to be.

Why do we need the Northern Prayerhouse?

Christian organisations and networks are addressing challenges of poverty. As austerity measures continue to bite, faith groups continue to respond, ever more stretched through lack of resource, and burdened by the higher expectations from the public sector that we can pick up the pieces.

What it's all about

The Northern Prayerhouse –handing on a basket full of prayers from area to area across the North of England.

Together Lancashire invites faith groups across the North of England to take part in series of prayer events and activities with a focus on tackling poverty and deprivation.

The North of England has a long history of being a House of Prayer. From the Celtic saints of Northumbria, the great abbeys, the Cathedrals and Minsters, the early, dissenters and Quakers, the Methodist revival in the midst of the industrial revolution, there has been a deep spiritual longing to transform the world as it is into the world as it ought to be.

Christian organisations and networks are addressing challenges of poverty. As austerity measures continue to bite, faith groups continue to respond, ever more stretched through lack of resources, and burdened by the higher expectations from the public sector that we can pick up the pieces.

We wish to recognise the hard work, the pressures being faced by those who care and those we care for, and the resilience and expertise of people in local communities who are at the sharp end. At the same time, we wish to highlight areas of injustice and to appeal to decision makers and to God for change.

Each area will offer prayers from your neighbour as well as your own. Your prayers will be easily transferred via an electronic ‘basket’ to a neighbouring area; there is scope for those who would like to be “pilgrim heralds/angels/messengers” to make journeys to neighbouring centres in person in the real world.