Week of Prayer

24-7 prayer week - Finaghy Methodist

For Finaghy Methodist weeks of 24-7 prayer have become part of the rhythm of their church year, one at Easter and one in September, it is really encouraging to see a church for whom it is more than a one off and every time God blesses and challenges to pray more!

Tell us about your involvement in 24-7 prayer...

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On September 12th we launched our 5th week of 24-7 prayer with a special night of worship. We usually have a theme for the prayer room, for example we had an Easter prayer room and a prayer room which focused on the Lords Prayer. The theme in September was "water" - like our creator God, water nurtures and protects us before birth and remains essential throughout life. There were six sections in our prayer room:-

1. Praise - Focus on God as creator and provider. Praise wall to write worship prayers
2. Forgiveness - Focus on water as cleansing. This area contained a cross, basin of water and stones. Request to hold stone, think of your sin, say sorry and throw this into the water - we are wiped clean and forgiven.
3. World - Focus on injustice as almost half's the world's population lacks access to safe water. Praying for those in poverty.
4. Wailing - Focus on crying out to God for our own needs. Post box provided to post our written prayers
5. Walking on Water - If we want to walk on water we have to get out of the boat! How is God challenging us as individuals and as a church? Prayers can be pinned to the wall.
6. New Heaven and New Earth - Focus on revelation verses "come all who are thirsty" and "he will wipe every tear from their eyes". Relaxing area with water feature and a river.

How has the church responded? What have been the challenges and blessings?

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We have been running 24-7 prayer weeks over the last 2 years in Finaghy and we have been delighted and overwhelmed by the response! The prayer room has attracted a wide range of people - many of whom would not necessarily come to a more traditional prayer meeting. It has been wonderful to see all ages get involved, with families, couples, friends and children all enjoying spending an hour with God. Drawing people in from the fringes of the church and from outside our church is one of the many unexpected benefits we have enjoyed. As a church family we are learning more about prayer, meditation and expressing ourselves to God in a variety of ways. As people do business with God, this is changing lives! Please see some comments from our visitor's book:-

What an eye-opening, peaceful, tranquil and brilliant experience. You can truly feel the presence of God is this room.

Being in this prayer room has been a profound experience and I see prayer is a whole new light.

I feel safe here.

It is wonderful to rest in his presence, feel his touch and experience his love. This prayer room makes such a difference to me.

I have thought about my life in this hour, in ways I have not thought about in decades.

My favourite poster in the prayer room says "If God had a wallet, your photo would be in it"

This lovely room has focused our church on prayer like nothing before. Praise the Lord.

In a place like this I realise that I miss God and I am back tracking.

This room has given me the comfort I need at such a sad time in my life.

I feel the spirit of God as soon as I walk in and I feel overjoyed in his presence.

You can pray to God anytime, anywhere, but having this 24-7 prayer room gives you the resources to make your prayer time pure and powerful. Praise the Lord.

It is a great joy to be associated with a church which is seeking to make approaching God in Jesus a moving experience.

To me, 24-7 has been a turning point in my life. I have never before anywhere felt as near to God nor felt his love so strongly as in the upper room of Finaghy Methodist Church.