October 2025

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Dear friends

 

As we enter October and the first signs of trees losing their colour to herald the Autumn, we turn our minds to the annual commemorations of Harvest, All Saints, Guy Fawkes, and Remembrance. The usual events that warn us that ‘A’ and ‘C’ are not far away! (It’s too early to say the ‘C’ word).

 

I started downloading books onto my phone when we moved to Dagenham so I can easily read them when travelling, especially into London on the tube. Recently I started reading a book by Albert Richardson called, ‘The Kneeling Christian’, and as it suggests, it’s about prayer.

 

In places it is very challenging about the Christians attitude to prayer and, at times, critical of our lack of passion for prayer. “Surely, nothing is so absolutely astonishing as a practically prayerless Christian”, he writes!

 

During the summer I took some time in the worship that I led to look at the request of the Disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray.” My conclusion was that we all need to have some teaching and guidance on how to pray but there are no special words or magical phrases other than the genuine feelings, emotions and desires of our hearts. Honestly expressing to God how we are is liberating, reassuring and powerful.

 

Prayer is, as instructed by Jesus, a conversation with a loving Father who is big enough to hear all our emotions, especially our pain and anger and frustration, and especially our (my) regular question, regarding world events: ‘Why’? and ‘What on earth is going on’?

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I was reminded in the book both of the power and promise of prayer. Sometimes we overlook the power of prayer. In James 5: 16 he writes, ‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’.  In the book I am reading Richardson offers a quote (origin unknown), “Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks our wisdom but trembles when we pray.”

 

Prayer also has many great promises, the most famous if which we find in 2 Chronicles 7: 14 where God is speaking to Solomon after the completion of the Temple.

 

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

 

Testimonies have been written about how this passage has transformed churches and, in some case, started Revivals.

 

As a circuit we are called to prayer, to humility and confession, and when we get right with God (through Jesus) and pray within God’s will, plan and purpose – then amazing things will happen.

 

So, be encouraged and attend the local prayer meetings which are offered to you. ‘We are never so high as when we are on our knees.’ (Richardson)

 

Thank you for your ongoing prayers for the circuit and its churches, for those who struggle with bereavement and illness. For those who rejoice and celebrate, for our future mission and ministry, and for my colleagues and myself. Your prayers are always much appreciated.

 

May God bless you as you continue to discover the Power, Promise and Joy of prayer.

 

Andy