Keeping Watch

We met online, for the second time, this time from 9 locations. 

Anything troubling or difficult / How is God comforting you?

We made time to hear from each other about how we are getting on. As well as problems with illness and uncertainty, we heard stories of closeness to God and opportunities to share His kindness and encouragement with others. Relationships are being enriched in families. There had been an online gathering on Thursday with Christians from all around the world taking part (see https://watchmen.org/korea2020 ) that had been very encouraging. 

Keep Watch

This is our new theme.

Keep watch for our own daily rhythm of prayer, remaining in a place of intimacy with God, attentive and adoring. We also need to keep watch to be attending to our own inner world, our soul. What I mean by this is being aware of how these new constraints on us are affecting us. I am finding my times of prayer between me and God are very important because I need a safe place to admit how I am feeling. I have been surprised a couple of times as I hadn't been aware of my reactions until I was being still and praying.

Keep watch for the church in Southampton, the beautiful bride of Christ. I believe this is a key part of our calling at this time. 

• pray for the church, the beautiful bride, to fall deeper in love with our Lord at this time, establishing new rhythms of grace.

• pray for church leaders as they transition into "dispersed church". Whilst some of us may find we have more time on our hands than usual, I suspect that church leaders are finding themselves very busy trying to keep in contact with everyone and putting things in place both practically and spiritually.

Keep watch for the city. Along with the whole body of Christ we are praying for the Lord to deliver us from coronavirus as more and more people are affected. Let's remember the extremes of those who are working very hard and on the front line of caring for the sick and those who are no longer working, many being without income. Let's pray for the poor and homeless. 

These are some scriptures to study and pray from:

Our own daily rhythm of prayer:

• Luke 12:35-48. Watchfulness

• Isaiah 40 - wait on the Lord and renew your strength

• Proverbs 3 - trust in the Lord with all your heart

For the church:

• Isaiah 62 - about being watchmen, and God's heart for the church. I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem.

• Isaiah 30 - about where we go for help (the Israelites were going to Egypt instead of God). In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.

For the city:

• Use the various coronavirus resources (click here to go to website) to pray around the whole topic with regard to Southampton.

Prayer focus for next two weeks

Please can we especially pray for church leaders over the next two weeks. Pray that they will be able to lead their congregations in finding the Lord in new intimacy. Can all of life be prayer? Yes!!

Pray for church leaders to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches in Southampton, and for ways to work together.

Future activity

Community

• We agreed to meet online again next Wednesday 1 April at 7.30pm. We will break bread together, so come prepared. 

• Please let your creative juices flow on how we can do prayer and worship online together. How can connect with each other, connect with God together, hear from one another etc.

Developing rhythms of prayer - resources for the church

• We are going to experiment with creating short videos to post online sharing tips on how we are adapting to the new constraints on our lives, particularly with regard to keeping watch for our own rhythm of prayer. 

• If you are willing to share your story and you have a camera/smartphone, please give it a go.

  • Hold (or stand) phone in landscape orientation at arms length and not below head height.

  • Speak clearly, sharing just one simple idea, for a maximum of 2 or 3 mins

  • email to comms@sohop.org and Tara will schedule it in on Facebook and instagram.

• Examples

  • Lectio 365 app - share testimony of how it is helping you

  • Doing the Examen at the end of the day (Review, Rejoice, Repent, Reboot)

  • Setting times to pray with others

  • Particular scriptures that you are praying

Prayer Line

• We want to offer a support and outlet for the general public in Southampton to pray. 

• We will create a poster than can be distributed in public places in the real world and also online, offering to join with people in their prayers and giving them an email to send prayers to. (pray@sohop.org). 

• We will check incoming emails for appropriateness and confidentiality and then forward the prayers on community@sohop.org so we could be praying. 

Praying for leaders

• We will offer individual online prayer times for church leaders. 

• When we get anyone who wants us to pray for them, we will let the community know we have an appointment (but keep it confidential) and ask you to pray, sending in any scriptures or words of encouragement that God gives you.

• Two SoHOP leaders will meet the church leader online, listen to any prayer requests, and then pray for them and pass on the words received from the community.