Psalm 44 Prayer during trials

2/6/24

Dear Growth Group leaders, 

Find below some possible questions to use with your groups in the week ahead.

This time we’re meeting head on the issue of when God’s answer to our prayers seems to be ‘no’ / ‘not yet’ / ‘something different’. 

From my own pastoral experience, its this common experience that can put some people of persevering in prayer. 

Without in any way wanting to minimise the grief of an apparently unanswered prayer, at the same time, God urges us continue with him. 

Psalm 44 models this approach for us. 

Hope it’s a helpful week together as you meet. 

in Christ, Mark

God’s sovereignty and our prayers Acts 4

27/5/24

Dear Growth Group leaders 
Please find below a set of questions you might consider using with your Growth Group this week. 
This week as we continue to grow in prayer: God’s sovereignty and our prayers. More than one person has said to me: “Since God is in charge of everything and knows / controls all things, why pray?” – A very understandable question, a likely roadblock to our prayers, an issue that is worth addressing. 
And it’s interesting – the first Christians in Acts 4 – noticed the same dynamic and it led them into prayer. 
Below is also a chat with Jaden and I explaining the logic of them.

Hope this is helpful. 
I’m praying for you and your group this week. 
in Christ, Mark

Praying God’s priorities 1 Thess 1

19/5/24

Dear Growth Group leaders

When I was reporting on our great progress as groups to Vestry last week, I was able to say around 47 members of our church have attended a growth group in the last 3-4 weeks. This is wonderful in many ways: one way being that we are all growing in prayer!

This week our focus is praying God’s priorities: especially his priority to see people turn to trust God and live for Him. 

A slightly different ending this time – we’re getting super practical.

Picking up on the good suggestions of our Mission team, I’ve suggested in the attached questions that we land this study with an exercise in identifying for one individual each that we can be praying for as a group each week in the months to come. 

Below are the questions I’ve written, as well as a 20 min chat about these with Jaden.

Go well this week. I’m praying for you.

in Christ, Mark

Supporting our Ministry Interns

May 2024

We give thanks to God for Jaden & Zoe, and Katie & Tim with Teddy. How can we support Jaden and Katie as they train and grow and exercise ministry among us?

One obvious way is by encouragement: as you are able, spur them on.

Another obvious way is to pray. Ask God that his Spirit would equip Jaden and Katie with all that they need to serve in ministry and spur on our mission as a church.

A third way, is to financially support them individually. Three points of clarification on this:

1) Together as a church we already are financially supporting Jaden and Katie. Your giving week by week enables us to pay our bills, our Vicar, and just over half of each Intern’s stipend. And Martin announced at the AGM, that money has been generously provided to guarantee that two interns are able to be supported by our church for the next year. Praise the Lord!

2) Internship training involves personal fundraising as a skill for ministry. Each Intern raises just under half their stipend by personal fundraising among family, friends, colleagues and contacts.

3) If you would like to assist Jaden and Katie with the personal fundraising part of their stipend, they would warmly welcome this. To do so, you could send through a bank transfer to our Redeemer Account, naming the person you wish to support in the reference field. Our bank details are below.

Or you could speak to, or email Jaden or Katie or the Wardens or Mark: contact us.

Thanks for your warm welcome to both families in recent weeks /months.

in Christ, Mark

Praising God in our prayers

10/5/24

Dear Growth Group leaders, 

Hope your week on Hebrews 4 and Psalm 25 has gone well. Thanks for your GG reports with the positive comments. 

Please find attached our questions for next week: starting in Psalm 96 and comparing with Revelation 5:6-14 – an ideal week to split into two groups. 

A chat with Jaden about these questions is below, as are the questions.

If I can help further, please get onto me. 

I’m praying for you. 

in Christ, Mark 

Will you love me? 1 Samuel 18

Dear Growth Group leaders,

Find below some potential questions for our groups in 1 Samuel 18 this week.

Apologies that it has taken me so long to get this to you.

Below is also a quick chat with Pip and I as we work through the questions. If there’s any extra help or clarification I can offer, please get onto me.

I’m praying for you and our time together in God’s word this week.

in Christ, Mark

1 Samuel 15 Concerning obedience

Dear Growth Group leaders,

Good to be getting back into 1 Samuel for term 4.

Find attached some questions that I hope might be helpful in our groups. As always, feel free to do your own work and ask your own questions.

In relation to the questions, Pip and I recorded this 20 min chat:

On Sunday 15 Oct, I plan for us to meet again – 3pm at our home. Can you come?

See you at church.

in Christ, Mark