24/7 Prayer Room at Colchester Baptist Church

Dear Boiler Room supporters,

The venue for the 24-7 prayer room is Colchester Baptist Church, Eld Lane.

The 24/7 prayer room will run from 6pm on Saturday 16 December to 6pm on Saturday 23 December. Book your one hour slot by calling Richard or Katy on 01206 522781 or emailing r_g_smith@hotmail.com

You can support the prayer room by publicising it in your church congreation newsletter, or giving a notice at church this Sunday.

There will also be a present wrapping outreach on Wednesday 20 December evening and a night time prayer walk mission on Friday 22 Decemeber evening.

The set up for the prayer room will be 1pm onwards on Saturday 16 December at Colchester Baptist Church, Eld Lane.

Thank you for your support.

love Richard

Christmas prayer room - booking now

In this time of celebrating the coming of Jesus - Immanuel. Why not spend some time dedicated to God?

The Colchester Boiler Room Community is organising a 24/7 prayer room from 6pm Saturday 16 December to 6pm Saturday 23 December. This venue is still unknown, but please book in faith.

To book a one hour slot, or longer, please contact Richard or Katy Smith on 01206 522781 or r_g_smith@hotmail.com At the start of the prayer room it is most urgent for us to fill slots during the Saturday 16, Sunday 17 and Monday 18 December.

with excitement and hope,
Richard

News and Reflections on Christmas Prayer Room Venue

Thanks so much to those of you who have been standing with us, praying for a 24/7 prayer room venue in the town centre this Christmas. I have certainly felt supported by my friends in the church in Colchester. Thank you.

The encouraging news;

• We have been provided with some financial donations, and also many offers of materials for the prayer room. Thank God and thank you!
  
• I have learnt that a different approach is neccesary for obtaining a shop venue for a prayer room. Next time, we need to try and reach shop owners, we need to try and give agents more notice, we need to consider raising funds to cover a rent (£400+ per week), and having a more structured Boiler Room Community may help if we are to take on a lease...
  
• Many people have joined with praying and thinking about the venue for a prayer room.
  
• We were given encouragement from the Town Centre Manager, and the Bishop of Colchester.

The discouraging news;

• We have not found a shop unit we can use. I am disappointed by this.
  
• So although many gates have been opened in Colchester...this has not opened up. And I still encountered some hositility to the idea of a Christian prayer room in a shop venue.
  

Please do post comments on any feedback you received during your prayers and contemplation.

I will contact again very shortly to inform you of the venue and prayer slot booking instructions.
love and appreciation, Richard

Join in with the prayer room planning

Dear pray-ers,

As you probably already know Colchester Boiler Room Community are planning another week of town-wide 24/7 prayer in the town centre 6pm Sat 16th - 6pm Sat 23rd December - (No venue yet - please pray!!).

We're still holding out for a shop venue, in order for the prayer room to be accessible to people who might not otherwise go into a church building.

We need as much help as possible to make the prayer room a prayerful, accessible, creative place to be... so if you feel inspired, or would just like to lend a hand please let us know asap by e-mailing Katy Smith kt_anywhere@hotmail.com.

We will be having a planning evening on Wed 6th Dec 8pm-10pm at Abbeygate Church - please could you also let us know if you can be part of this.

One final request - if you have any drapes, candles, lights etc you would be prepared to lend for the week or donate please let us know!

Thank you very mcuh
Look forward to hearing from you soon
Love and prayers
Katy

Join us to fast and pray on Tuesday 5 December

We're still hoping for a town centre shop front venue for a 24/7 prayer room from 16 -23 December.

God has provided encouragement by providing some donations to help us. Thank God.

But we still don't have a venue.

So I am calling a fast to pray for the release of the right venue. Also, wisdom for how to create the prayer room, also the support to staff the prayer room, also for the prayer room to be a place where people can be touched by the Holy Spirit and also the prayer room activity to reach out to people who don't know Jesus.

We'll be fasting all day on Tuesday 5 December. Please join us in this fast if you feel led to by Jesus.

love Richard

Prayer on the Streets

I'm wondering if you remember a warm and inspring night during a week of prayer in August when you prayer walked and chatted to people on the streets of Colchester?

The Colchester Boiler Room Community are organising another town-wide week of prayer - (Sat 16th-Sun 23rd December 6pm-6pm Venue still TBC - please pray!).

As part of this week we'd love to gather again to pray in a similar way:

10pm-2pm, with times of gathered prayer (in the prayer room) then sending people out in 2s and 3s to prayer walk and chat/pray with people as God leads. The aim again would be to pray for blessing and peace in the town centre - with an emphasis on prayer for youth, pubbers, clubbers, homeless people and the police.

It would be amazing if you're up for joining in with this again - and/or could forward this to anyone else you think might be up for it! We'll send more info nearer the time... In the meantime please let us know if you're interested by replying to kt_anywhere@hotmail..com ...
Thanks very much - Look forward to hearing from you

Love and prayers
KTX

Jamie singing in Lion Walk with SGR radio road show

Jamie will be singing in Lion Walk again this Saturday 18th Nov between 2pm and 4pm, linking up with an SGR radio road show, which is there to celebrate the Christmas lights going on. Please pray for effective witness.

Thoughts on Christ centred community

On Wednesday we met with some of the key people in the Boiler Room Community, to catch up and to talk about what being Colchester Boiler Room Community could be about...

We shared our thoughts on what "Christ centred community" should be. I heard the following thoughts;

• it should be sharing (based on the idea of the church of Acts 2)
• it should be sacrificial (based on the idea that it costs to follow Jesus)
• it should have life in fullness (based on Jesus promise in John 10)
• it should be about stepping out and following Jesus where He is leading us
• the whole picture may not be clear, but we should keep on playing our part
• it should continue the rhythm of prayer and action that God has been raising up in the church in Colchester
• it should be a further way of people from across the church in Colchester working together

We all agreed that God is on the move in Colchester. And part of that move is through the action of the Colchester Boiler Room Community over this last year.

It's very exciting and very promising. I look forward to the next time that we meet.

love Richard

Update on venue for town centre prayer room

Colchester Boiler Room Community is looking for a venue for a town centre prayer room from 16 - 23 December. We're hoping for use of a vacant shop unit. This will enable us to encourage lots of Christmas shoppers and shopkeepers to take time out with God in the prayer room.

The good news is that, again, the town centre management are very supportive of the idea of having a prayer room.

I've been chatting to lots of estate agents this week. So far, no venue has been offered to us. There are a couple of possibilities that the agents are looking into. It may be that I have to ask again at the beginning of December.

Please pray that God will provide the venue that He wants us to have.

with love,

Richard

PS check out Mikey's cool photos from Croatia below

Right hand column problem

Apologies to all Boiler Room bloggers, there seems to be a glitch with the right hand column side-bar thingy. It shows you lots of important infor about us, some websites we like and all the past post-its.

The side bar is presently located at the very bottom of the blog! Simply scroll down and you will see it.

Thanks for sticking with us in prayer and action
Mike

Hope in Dark Places 7.45pm Sunday 10 December

Seeking God's Blessing for Colchester have organised a Christmas musical at St John's Church, Ipswich Road. 7.45pm on Sunday December 10

It's called Hope in Dark Places, and should be an exciting and inspiring event to take non-Christian friends and neighbours.

Why not take someone you know?

Get your FREE tickets from Liz Bird, on 01206 843383, or by email on liz.1littlecotes@btopenworld.com

Act against internet child abuse

The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves.

But you can.

With your help, we can eradicate this evil trade.

We do not need your money.

We need you to light a candle of support .

We're aiming to light at least One Million Candles by December 31, 2006.

This petition will be used to encourage governments, politicians, financial institutions, payment organisations, Internet service providers, technology companies and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the commercial viability of online child abuse.

They have the power to work together. You have the power to get them to take action.

Please light your candle at lightamillioncandles.com or send an email of support to light@lightamillioncandles.com.

Together, we can destroy the commercial viability of Internet child abuse sites that are destroying the lives of innocent children.

Thanks, love Richard

Planned Boiler Room Activities Winter 2006

Christmas 24/7 Prayer Room
Saturday 16 December 6pm to Saturday 23 December 6pm 2006

We're seeking to run a Colchester town centre prayer room in the run up to Christmas. We've picked this time of year because the town centre will be busy with people, and people are thinking about Jesus more at this time of year than other times. It's also an important time to be praying for church leaders and church activities at this busy time for them.

We'll need help with finding a venue, planning the prayer room, setting up, staffing the prayer room and resourcing the prayer room. (The prayer room may cost £100 to run.)

Please keep time free over this period to support the prayer room. Please contact us if you'd like to help with planning and setting up the prayer room.

24/7 Prayer Room at St Stephen's Church, New Town.
Sunday 28 January to Sunday 4 February 2007

We've been invited to support the prayer room planned at St Stephen's. Looking forward to it!

Prayer Room to support Shockwaves (prayer for the persecuted church)
Friday 2 March to Sunday 4 March 2007

24-7 UK is encouraging prayer rooms across the UK at this time to pray for the persecuted church around the world.

Again we'll need a venue....and help planning the prayer room, setting up, staffing the prayer room and resourcing the prayer room. (The prayer room may cost £50 to run, if it's a weekend prayer room.)

and also Boiler Room Community development....

Also, during winter 2006 we are trying to set up a Council of Advisers, drawn from leaders across the church in Colchester. They will advise the leaders of the Boiler Room Community on community structure and further action.

Also, the core Boiler Room Community members will be meeting to talk about how we can act out our vision for prayer, mission, social action, creativity, hospitality and study.

For more information communicate via the comments link below, please do leave your email address if you'd like us to get back to you.

Prayer Room Pics

Here we have Kate and Jason helping out at the JiW Prayer Room in Sept, while Richard, Katy and Caz scoffed food after a long weekend of prayer and mission.






See separate article 'Prayer Room at St Paul's 22nd - 24th Sept' below for more about that.

We need you!

Calling all Bloggers and Boiler Roomers,
We love stories! We want to hear from you, your comments, stories, testimonies, ideas, book reviews, what you've been praying about.

If you have any words of encouragement, knowledge, wisdom, prohecy, or prayer requests, please e-mail to Richard Smith. That way we can be sensitive to information and decide whether it is appropriate to publish on the net.

Thanks for all you're doing for the Kingdom!
Keep on stepping out in FAVOUR of King Jesus, pushing on for BREAKTHROUGH in our town.

Much love

An idea from Caroline about mission

Dear Boiler Room Community,

I saw this done in belfast in a place called the odyssey-which has cinema, bars, resturants, bowling under one roof
was impressed:

NAME TABLE
•Make sure that it is catchy and appealing to the eye, make a sign or have a big back drop with a phrase or question like. "What's in your name?"
•Have a table and if possible a nice backdrop.
•Use index cards or something to write the meaning of peoples names with there origin, scripture, etc.
•Have your ministry information available to them.
•Have a strategy for follow up. Ex. Log in sheet (Name, Mobile, E-mail).
•Have books with the meaning of names. Dorothy Astoria has a very good one with the name meanings and spiritual significance.

Invite to reflect on the St Paul's prayer room

You’re invited …!
________________________________________________________________

The Journey into Wholeness, Colchester group, warmly invites you to

A Shared Supper
on Tuesday 24 October 2006 at 7.30pm
in the Mount Zion Salvation Army Centre
Ipswich Road, Colchester, Essex

Please bring a starter/main course/dessert/drinks/cheese & biscuits
to share with everyone.
Please RSVP to Mike Eavery by 20 October 2006,
stating what food you will bring from the list above:
Email to michael.eavery@talk21.com

Please feel free to bring your friend/spouse/partner with you!
________________________________________________________________

This invitation is to all our friends who helped us at the Mind Body Soul Exhibition on 23 and 24 September 2006, including all our friends in the Colchester Boiler Room Community who supported the outreach by their prayers at the St Paul’s Centre.

The evening will include times of story-telling of what we saw the Holy Spirit doing at the Exhibition and at the St Paul’s Centre, sharing times of prayer, as well as enjoying the food and fellowship together! It will help the JIW committee in their planning for next year’s Exhibition (29 and 30 September 2007).

The Mount Zion Salvation Army Centre is near the pelican crossing situated the town-side of the Esso petrol station. It is set back from the road along a driveway, and there is plenty of parking space.

Prayer Room at St Paul's 22nd - 24th Sept

It was great fun to pray at St Paul's Centre, near The Albert pub, for 48 hours. The prayer coverage was mainly for Journey Into Wholeness taking a stand into the Mind, Body and Soul Exhibition at Charter Hall. We believe this opportunity gave us further confirmation of this year being one of favour. Thank you to all at St Pauls for their generosity, allowing us to use the whole building and anything in it! I have to say, it was probably the largest venue we have used so far.

Journey Into Wholeness were encouraged by the increase of intercessors for the event. It was good to pray with a specific focus and also pray for Colchester and our nation.

There were also 2 seminars facilitated by two different Christians, one entitled 'Spirit Space' about praying to Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, another about healing in Jesus Name (I think? Please correct me if I'm wrong!) Although there were not hoards of people crowding into the seminars, Katy Smith and Penny were overjoyed at the interest and response of those who did. One lady opened up and shared some personal stories. Katy was able to pray with her and provide her with helpful information and contacts.

So yes! This weekend was another step in the right direction. We need to keep on persevering for more of God's Holy Spirit. We want to continue to hear Father God's voice for what to do next and where to go. We need to keep on following hard after Jesus Christ with knowledge that He is praing with us and for us.

Thank you to everyone praying with us for God's kingdom to come in power upon Colchester and its surrounding area.

Do you want to know more about 24-7 Prayer, Colchester Boiler Room or about having a personal relationship with the Father God who made you and hinks the world of you? Please get in touch with us by e-mail that can be found on the 'about me' section of this blog.

The Boiler Room Community continues to pray on Monday mornings, 6am - 8am with a delicious breakfast afterwards. We meet in the upstairs backroom in Glover and Howe offices above The Warehouse restaurant then onto Jenkins Cafe opposite Wilkinsons. We'd love to see you there!!

Inspiration from 20+ nations

Mike, Katy and I had the priviledge of attending the 24-7 International Leaders Gathering in London last weekend.

Sounds dull, eh?

It was awesome.

The highlights for me were;

• worshipping and praying with more than 20 nations - a glimpse of God's kingdom coming, just great to be apart of this amazing body - the church.
• hearing amazing stories of what God is doing - 1200 people were prayed with and for in Ibiza this summer! International Day of Prayer goes global, after starting in Cape Town...and still there are no murders in Cape Town after people gathered and prayed! Kelly's story of being moved by God to go and pray for a prostitutes ghetto in Mexico, and after 15 months of prayer finally establishing prayer rooms and making good relationships there....so many stories.
• receiving encouragement and training to lead
• realising that I am a part of what God is doing, I am a part of this new chapter in the history of God's people

Do you want to be a part too? Come to the prayer room this weekend.

I'll share more soon of what I learnt.

This morning we prayed into 2 Kings 4: 1 -7. Come to the Lord and say "I have nothing, except..." and then offer the little that you have. And then see what He does!

love Richard

24/2 Prayer Room - Friday 22 September to Sunday 23 September

Colchester Boiler Room Community are working with Journey into Wholeness to organise another prayer room.

It will be a 24/2 prayer room, running from 8pm Friday 22 September to 8pm Sunday 24 September at the St Paul's Centre, St Pauls Road, corner of Belle Vue Road and Colne Bank Avenue, Colchester. The prayer room is supporting Journey into Wholeness at the Mind, Body, Soul exhibition at the Charter Hall.

To book a one hour slot at the prayer room or to find out more contact Richard and Katy Smith on 01206 522781, or email r_g_smith@hotmail.com

Town Centre Night Walk

Four people met outside Colchester Baptist Curch, Eld Lane on Friday 8th Sept. We prayed and then began to walk the town centre streets continuing to pray and meet with people in need of help or a chat. I found it particularly heart breaking to pray at a site where an addict took an overdose of heroin and died. That was at the top of at stairwell at St Mary's Car-park. I felt an eery uncomfortable presence like I wanted to scream. I have realised even more of the urgency to preach Christ Jesus as the Saviour of all people. No-one is unreachable and something must be done to fill the aching gap of so many people's hearts.

Personally, Friday night was a night to watch people and situations. I found myself constantly asking the question, 'What can be done here?'

If you have a burning desire to develop a Holy Spirit filled presence of Jesus Christ's disciples on the town centre streets during a weekend night or any other night where most needed, I want to hear from you. I would really like to do something in collaboration with the Police and or other civic services to pray for people and meet their practical needs.

Please e-mail us or post a comment

Many thanks
Michael

J-MAC town centre gigs

Jamie's been given more opportunities to perform his lively musical worship on the Colchester streets.

Please pray for God's blessing on him, and for fruit from his playing.

His next slots are;

2pm Saturday 9 September in Lion Walk (near Boots)
1.30pm Sunday 10 September in Culver Street (near Starbucks)

Go for it, Jamie!

News from Pete on his recent Peru trip

Pete writes

"For those of you who don’t know, I’ve just been in Peru for around two and a half weeks working with Scripture Union building houses for street boys.

Thank you to all of those who were praying for me and the team while we were out there, it was an amazing time where we were really able to see God move, and see battles been taken and won. It was amazing for me to see all the promises God made me before I went away being fulfilled, a real example of his faithfulness to us.

Some of the work going on out there is truly incredible, and it’s amazing to see God working even in the most dire circumstances. Some of the things that the street boys have had to go through are truly horrific, but it’s amazing to see how happy they are once they’ve come to know the Father, and incredible to see the way there lives have turned around. Keep the boys in your prayers, as they need all the support possible, but thank you so much to all those that prayed for us, as it was a real encouragement to know we had that support, and I can assure you your prayers really helped our team as well so thank you."

Great prayer room.....What's next?

I have that New Year feeling...that back to school feeling...that do the new things again feeling. I have had some holiday, and now it's time for more.

Yesterday, some folk from the Boiler Room Community, and people interested in the Boiler Room Community, met for tea and wonderful cakes at Jenny and Jamie's house. And, Phil and Emma Togwell from UK 24-7 prayer joined as well, fresh from crabbing at Mersea!

We met new people, reflected on the Abbeygate prayer room abit, and agreed we want to see more prayer rooms happen soon.

Also we planned to create and run a 24/2 weekend prayer room alongside Journey into Wholeness on weekend 23/24 September. I'll be confirming the dates and venue with JIW prayer supremo, Paul (not his official title!).

We agreed to meet again 8pm - 10pm on Tuesday 12 September, at the St Pauls Centre, Colne Bank Avenue to plan how to create the prayer room.

Also, I have spoken to Mike and found out he had a great time in Pula, Croatia. Thank God. And also Pete, who had a great time in Peru. Thank God. We should be getting some more news from them soon about their trips.....

Also, there's a number of Boiler Room-ers who'd like to do more prayer and street mission. I plan to ask some folk to be organising a regular time of praying and going out on a weekend night.

Enjoy this "back to school" time...let's persevere with the work and enjoy seeing each other and being together...

love Richard

More stories from the Prayer Room...

Here's a great report, prepared by the beautiful Katy Smith;)

Summary
The week began at 2pm Sat 8th August with 3 empty rooms at Abbeygate Church Colchester. By kick off at 6pm, these were transformed into a creative space for prayer, including maps, art materials, a beach themed room with genuine Mersea sand, and a quieter space with drapes, a cross and candles for more intimate time with God.
By 6pm Sat 13th August the rooms were crammed full of prayers, written, drawn and sculpted around the rooms. 59 people filled slots in the prayer room from 16 different congregations! Other visitors included friends and family invited by the pray-ers, and interested passers-by who just dropped in.

Highlights
2 young people (dressed in Gothic style) called at the prayer room at 2am one night, because they wanted to sort out their heads

A grieving man saw the 24-7 prayer sign outside and asked for prayer for his family, and his own grief. 10mins before he came, £20 was found in the sand in the 'beach area'. It was then used to buy the man a bible, which he requested to take with him on a hike with friends!

and then on Friday night..... (10pm-4am!)

15 people from 10 congregations met at the prayer room and took shifts to stay in and pray or walk in small groups to pray blessing on the town - This brought the following opportunities

• Praying with a homeless man for forgiveness from guilt and suffering in his life. He said he felt peaceful and much better after our prayers
• Telling 2 policemen about the week of prayer, and offering to pray with them the policemen agreed we could pray for them after they had gone
• Assisting a drunk young man to pull up his pants and trousers, and helping him out of the middle of the road
• Bringing a homeless woman back to the prayer room for food, drink, shelter and prayer. She stayed in the prayer room until 4am, then was able to receive hospitality from the boiler room community. Later on Saturday she wrote a note of thanks in the prayer room
• Praying for a friend's brother who wanted to know what to believe
• A sense of fulfilling Matt 25v35-36 - Feeding the hungry, giving drinks to the thirsty, inviting in strangers, and clothing the naked...
  

Quotes and feedback from the prayer room
"A place that inspired us to pray"
"Surely this is a move of God"
" I just enjoyed space away from everything"
"I went in there and cried for hours"
"There's a real theme of mission here"
"Heavy, wonderful presence of God at 7.30am, pouring out until I felt full to bursting"
"Very aware of Jesus' suffering for us"
"Strong sense that God is planning to stir up the Church in Colchester and throw us out of our cosy nests"
"Thurs 6am 5 of us were praising the Lord with drums, guitar and piano"

Thanks

• To Jesus for answered prayer and for doing new things
• To Abbeygate for their generosity in lending us the building
• To everyone who joined in with setting up, clearing up, praying and bringing friends
  
  

Reflecting and looking ahead

What an awesome time we had during the 24/7 prayer week 5 - 12 August! It really exceeding my hopes and my imagination.

Thank God that we were provided with the venue, and with the planning team, and with the people to come and pray.

How wonderful it was to meet new people, read and hear other people's prayers, and to spend time with God in the prayer room. How amazing that people that don't usually do church came in...one friend of mine came and added prayers for the Hythe and commented that there was a really good spirit in the prayer room. And what an exciting time of mission that we had on Friday night....feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, providing shelter, praying with people on the street and giving out the good news....

I am missing the prayer room. Perhaps grieving abit. And also overwhelmed by possibilities for the future with so many interested people....

Here's a date for future action....23 and 24 September we'll be running a prayer room with Journey into Wholeness. Keep it free and sign up for a slot when it's publicised.

And we'd really like to get a regular prayer and street mission time going on a Friday night...so watch this space.

love Richard

Jamie's at it again! More town centre worship and mission.

"Behold he is doing a new thing!"

Thanks for those who prayed last Sunday - had a good time, sun shined, apparently sounded OK, and got the best response when I sang "How great Thou art"

I have another opportunity on this Saturday - 2pm to 4pm, Lion Walk opposite Costa Coffee.

Prayer request: protection, practical need of how to get my equipment from the car park to Lion Walk (the artist who followed me on Sunday had a rather useful trolley), opportunities for the gospel and kingdom!!

Blessings

Jamie

Prayer fuel for people on mission from Colchester

Please pray for Michael Holden and the 24/7 mission team that he's leading in Pula, Croatia. The mission lasts from 2 August to the 14 August.

The team are Michael (leader and teacher from Colchester), Adam (student in Colchester), Amy (co-leader and student from Dublin), Becky (student from Belfast) and Kate (student from Bristol).

Pray for;

• Unity and love for one another in the team
• Boldness to share Jesus with people on the streets, in bars,cafes and in the church
• Strength and wisdom for the whole trip
• Good health and no sickness
• Fun and joy!

For updates on the Pula mission visit http://www.20six.co.uk/pula

Please also pray also for Pete, a student who's away in Peru from 4 August to 20 August on a mission to build houses and tell people about Jesus.

Pray for;

• good love and support and work relationships in the team
• opportunity to tell people about Jesus, and for people to commit to following Jesus
• that the houses will bless the Peruvian people
• Pete's role as a leader of the musical worship
• safe travelling

Please also pray for John and Pauline Holden (yes that's Michael's Dad and Mum!) who are on a ministry trip with Lifestyle International Ministries to Uganda and Kenya from 26 July to 17 August.

Please pray for;

• safety in their travels
• good health
• safe arrival of luggage!
• anointing of the Holy Spirit on their Ministry, so that people will be blessed of the Lord

Exciting news from Jamie

I have been given an opportunity to sing and promote my CD at Lion Walk (opposite Costa Coffee) on Sunday 30 July from 1pm to 2 pm. It's part of a summer programme of outside music that the council have organised, and I just found out about. Apparently "Presence", the band from Kingsland, Lexden were there last week-end, and it went down well.
It's an answer to a prayer I have been seeking the Lord on for a while now, and seems to align with a word we were praying through recently:

"See I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut" (Revelations 3:8)

I would welcome any support, prayer, encouragement etc, as you are able and feel called to do.

Sorry for the short notice, but it's only just been organised and seems like an opportunity that I need to push through on.

Blessings

Jamie

Colchester Nightstop update

Jeanette from Nightstop is a friend of Colchester Boiler Room Community. She and her team are doing some great work to encourage the church to provide for homeless young people.

Nightstop is the provision of emergency accomodation for single 16-25 year olds in the homes of approved volunteers. The host provides a bed for the night, meals and the opportunity for the young person to bathe and wash their clothes. They also provide a listening ear.

You can help as a Host Volunteer, Befriender, Occasional Driver, Telephone Contact, and with Prayer Support.

Contact Jeanette or David on 01206 523629. or email kevinjeanette.hewes@ntlworld.com

Let's pray for Jeanette and David and the other leaders. And for God to provide all they need as they seek to serve needy young people. This is surely part of God's kingdom coming in Colchester?

Open doors on Sunday, but no open doors yet for the August Prayer Room

Were you there on Sunday at St Botolphs at the Colchester Celebration?

Colchester Boiler Room Community had a display stand there promoting the upcoming prayer room (5 - 12 August see post below), and the mission to Pula, Croatia (see previous post). That was another good chance to meet new people and tell them Colchester Boiler Room Community.

During the service we heard word that we stand at an open door in Colchester (based on 1 Corinthians 16:9). That it is time to work together to take opportunities that are presented.

There was also a time of prayer for God's kingdom to come in Colchester, prayed together with Councillors and MPs. And we then pledged to work towards God's kingdom together. It seemed like a very significant step, and now the challenge is to live out our pledge.

I am trying to act upon this time of opportunity by securing a prayer room venue for 5 - 12 August. However, the doors are not opening yet, and I feel abit discouraged. However Terry Tennens sent out the prayer below and this has encouraged me. Please pray for the right venue to be shown to us.

What can separate us from the love of God?
Can sickness or death?
No nothing can separate us from the love of God

Can war or danger?
No nothing can separate us from the love of God

Can sadness or despair?
No nothing can separate us from the love of God

Can the nuclear bomb or the end of the world?
No nothing can separate us from the love of God

Can failure and dejection?
No nothing can separate us from the love of God

Can loneliness or fear?
No nothing can separate us from the love of God

Amen!

News from Assington Away Day and Prayer for VAF

Tuesday 11 July was an encouraging day.

Mike and I spent the day at Assington on an Away Day with Seeking God's Blessing for Colchester. This is a gathering of Colchester church leaders and we felt priviledged to be invited. We were also asked to provide a prayer room for the day, a great chance to communicate about our vision for prayer rooms in Colchester.

We had many chances to talk to church leaders about Colchester Boiler Room Community. and several of them invited us to come and share with their congregations. Also, it was wonderful to see church leaders coming together, sharing openly, and wanting to see God's blessing for Colchester and each other.

In the evening Nicky had convened a time of prayer for the Visual Arts Facility. This is a contraversial arts facility that has now started to be built at the bus station in Colchester.

We felt led to pray for God to work for good through the VAF, for good leadership, for opportunities for Christians to exhibit art and influence exhibitions, for Jesus to shine through this new place, for the town to be blessed in prosperity and for God's kingdom to come. Also for the foreign tourists that will come to the VAF, that they will meet Jesus in Colchester. We felt that the passage from Micah 6 was important; "to love mercy, act justly and walk humbly with your God". And that now is a crossroads time for the VAF; that God can work for good through this new development if it is operated with mercy, with justice and humbly. We prayed that God will come into the sphere of the arts in Colchester, and we repented for where the church has not acted or contributed to the arts.

On Sunday 16 July is the Colchester Celebration at St Botolph's. Colchester Boiler Room Community has a stand. Come along and see us from 7pm...

love Richard

Dates for July and August

Here are some dates, so that you can get involved with Colchester Boiler Room Community.

We're planning to set up a 24/7 prayer room in Colchester town centre from 5 - 12 August. We need help planning and setting up the prayer room. Come to a meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday 27 July at the Jesus Centre, King Harold Road to get involved.

We're saying goodbye and praying for the Croatia mission team on Tuesday 1 August with a bring and share BBQ by the lakes at the University of Essex. This is from 7.30pm. Family and friends welcome.

We'll be running a 24/7 prayer room in the town centre from the 6pm 5 August - 6pm 12 August. Venue to be confirmed (we're looking for a vacant shop unit by preference- please pray). Contact via the comments link below to book a slot during that time.

So this is our exciting start to the summer holidays. Come and join us on the journey.
love Richard

Get involved and pray this week

It's suddenly got busy this week with good stuff to get involved with and pray for.

Sophia invites people who are interested in praying for young people to join her and friends for prayer at the Eld Lane Baptist Church at 8pm on Friday 7 July.

Jamie requests prayer for his music mission at Treetops care home, Highwoods on Saturday 8 July, 5pm to 7pm.

Please also pray for Mike and I as we join Colchester church leaders for an away day with Seeking God's Blessing for Colchester on Tuesday 11 July. We pray for good communication and oppotunities to encourage more people to do prayer rooms.

Nicky is inviting all to join her for prayer walking around the site of the new Visual Arts Facility. Meet at 7pm on Tuesday 11 July at the Castle gates by the war memorial.

And of course, you could join us for our regular prayer time 6am - 8am on Mondays in the offices of Glover and Howe (which is in Chapel Street North, above the Warehouse Restaurant and next to the Headgate theatre).

That rhythm of prayer is building. It's really good to be moving with more people now.
Love ya.
Richard

All aboard for Boiler Room activities!

Some cool things have come this week to get involved with....

Nicky has requested that we join her to pray for the new VAF in Colchester (that's Visual Arts Facility for people who have ignored local papers for the last two years). We're looking at doing some prayer walking on Tuesday 11 July...watch this space.

I hope to have permission to provide a Boiler Room Community display at the Seeking God's Blessing for Colchester Celebration on Sunday 16 July 7pm at St Botolph's. If you'd like to help staff the display then please let me know via the comments link below...

And Alex and I are meeting to plan a prayer room in the first week of August, to pray for Mike's Pula mission trip and for Colchester. We're meeting at 12 on Wednesday 5 July, let me know via the comments if you'd like to be involved with planning that prayer room.

This morning we had another encouraging, inspiring and challenging time of prayer in our regular Monday morning 6am - 8am slot. Themes that came included "death to self" as we push on into what Jesus has for us, and prayer for healing for Community members and people in the area.

During breakfast afterwards, Mark told us of his amazing weekend prayer walking times. I want to find a regular time slot that I can join him with this.

Jamie and I again tackled our usual No 1. fy up from Jenkins cafe...how long will we keep that rhythm up!?

love Richard

Mission with Journey into Wholeness 23/24 September 2006

We've got an exciting opportunity to support Journey into Wholeness at the Mind Body Soul exhibition at Charter Hall, Colchester on 23/24 September.

Journey into Wholeness are a Christian organisation that aim to reach out to spiritual seekers. They will by providing a Christian stall at the exhibition, and also sponsoring two seminars.

We can support them by;

1. supporting them in prayer at the prayer room at the St Paul's Centre that will be running that weekend.
2. helping them to staff the stall (this is subject to attending some training courses with Journey into Wholeness)
3. providing a seminar on prayer. Katy will be leading this, but will need some helpers (again subject to doing the training courses)

The training courses are on 22 July (daytime) and 9 September (afternoon). Please contact us as soon as possible through the comments link below if you wish to attend.

Tea Time report and upcoming events

Sounds like Mike had a great time in Croatia. Thank God. There'll be more chance to pray for him when he's over there with the time in the first week in August.....

I am meeting with Alex at the University to plan how we organise the prayer while Mike and the team are on mission in Croatia. We're thinking about setting up a 24/7 prayer room for some or all of that time in the first week of August. Let us know by clicking the comments link below if you'd like to be involved planning and setting up the prayer room.

Coming up soon is some events with Seeking God's Blessing for Colchester (SGBfC), the Colchester church leaders group.

On Tuesday 11 July, Mike and I have been invited to an away day with SGBfC. We've offered to set up a prayer room for them to use on that day....and we're still waiting to hear if we can go ahead. Please pray.

On Sunday 16 July SGBfC are organising a Celebration of Colchester 7pm at St Botolph's Church. I've asked if the Boiler Room Community could have a display stand there. This would enable us communicate our vision for prayer rooms to more people. Let us know through the comments link below if you'd like to help with the display.

We had a good tea time on Sunday and met some people who are new to the Boiler Room Community idea. Great cake and buns, thank you! This was an answer to prayer since I have been praying for more people to get involved as part of the Boiler Room Community.

Please pray and get involved where you can.

love Richard

Boiler Room Tea - Sunday 25 June 5pm to 7pm

It's another chance to get together and share together at Richard and Katy's house. Please bring food to share...I will be providing some muffins and crumpets...it is Sunday tea time after all!

If you'd like to come click the comments link below.
with love Richard

News from Danni in St Osyth

Danni has been involved organising a fresh time of praise and worship at her church, SS Peter & Paul, The Parish Church of St Osyth.....

"Sunday evening was fantastic, It went really really well, God was definitely with us. We had just under 60 people come and all went away having enjoyed a fantastic evening of praise. We have called the team 'Water from the Rock' which I can tell you more about next time I see you and the service we have called 'Evening Praise.' The band from Alresford are helping us out for the 1st three months and they are true worshippers.
We are Praying and believing God to raise people up from our own congregation so they can take over in Septembers service so please pray for that. The services will be on every 2nd sunday of the month so the next one will be July 9th - I know I know its world cup final but we are going ahead anyway.
I am gonna share a word at this one (July) so please come and support me if you can but if not please pray what Paul asked the church of Ephesus (6:19) "pray also for me that whenever I open my mouth words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the gospel for which I am an ambassador. "... Obviously I don't face the kind of pressures Paul faced but I think he speaks for us all as believers."

Prayer for Parliament and further report from Waiting for Pentecost

Joan from Greenstead Evangelical Church sent the following report of their Sunday Penetcost service. (Thanks, Joan.)

"There was a wonderful sense of the presence of God at Greenstead church on Sunday morning..The visiting speaker spoke with power and authority..from Acts 2 and talked about 3 of the characteristics of the early church...
1.Wonderful Word...or something similar!
2. Powerful prayer
3 Fantastic fellowship"

This week 24-7 UK is co-ordinating a week of prayer for and at the Houses of Parliament. You can join in by praying from home, going to London, praying with others at your church or joing in with the Monday morning prayer with the Colchester Boiler Room Community. Check http://www.christiansinparliament.org.uk/home/tabid/91/Default.aspx for more details. (that's the Christians in Parliament website)

I am still praying about how to use that key.

with love Richard

Prayer Room at Castle Methodist cancelled, but a key given for new things

The planned 24-2 prayer room at Castle Methodist Church, 9 June - 11 June, has been cancelled.

I apologise to those people who have made plans to spend time in the prayer room. Please support future prayer rooms.

The prayer room was cancelled because the planned overnight supervision for the prayer room was not available. Also because I failed to gather enough of a team to make this prayer room happen.

The following learning points have emerged for me;

• give longer notice of future prayer rooms, to enable more people to participate
• gather a planning team to plan future prayer rooms
• I want prayer rooms to be really stimulating, exciting and creative places
• I want prayer rooms to pray through the night

This morning I felt quite defeated and deflated that we are cancelling the prayer room. I prayed for God to show me a way forward. That I needed to start doing new things in my planning and communicating with people. And that I long for new things for prayer for Colchester.

This lunchtime, I went to prayer with the Watchman Network (WN)- a group of people praying for Colchester. The WN are praying for the Balkerne and Schere Gates this week.

As part of their research they discovered that the Abbott of St John's Abbey, a godly man reknowned for doing good and walking around the town, refused to give up the keys to the Abbey at the time of the Reformation. As a result he was hung at the Scheregate area.

The WN felt led to give me a key. I took this as a great encouragement that God will enable me to unlock new things as we work to increase the rhythm of prayer for Colchester.

with love, Richard

Waiting for Pentecost : final report

(In addition to the previous posts about Waiting for Pentecost prayer)

On Thursday 7 of us gathered at a town centre work place on Trinity Street. We were led to pray for Trinity Street - for spiritual seekers, and for the planned provision for young people through CO1 at Holy Trinity Church. One of us saw a picture of a spring of water rising up out of the ground at Holy Trinity and rushing through the streets of Colchester and out into the surrounding area. We read 2 Timothy 4 : 6-8 and were reminded of the need to run the race and persevere in these times of opportunity and favour.

On Friday about 12 of us gathered at Colchester Baptist Church, Eld Lane, to worship and pray. This was a new worship and prayer time at that church fellowship. Many of us felt a powerful sense of the Holy Spirit with us during the worship. People received words about the river of God flowing and getting deeper as in Ezekiel 46. I received a word about God wanting to do more in my life, the Church, the Colchester than I was prepared for. I had to reply that I wanted more of the Holy Spirit and God's kingdom, despite the change it will bring. We heard that people at Colchester Baptist Church had also been hearing that it is a year of God's favour, and that it is time to cross the Jordan and head into the promised land.

On Saturday many people gathered as part of the regular monthly prayer breakfast, this month at Maldon Road Chapel. They prayed for problems and opportunities in the town at reported by Prayernet (www.colchesterprayernet.co.uk). Also the challenge and opportunity presented by the book and film "The Da Vinchi Code".

On Sunday people are celebrating and praying for Pentecost with their church congregation. Please let me know your experiences and stories....use the comments link below.

In summary,

• the Waiting for Pentecost time of prayer excited and encouraged me by allowing me to pray in different places with different people from across the Church in Colchester.
• I felt that again this is a year of favour - a year of doors opening - and with this a challenging time for doing new things and investing more.
• I also felt that our Father God is capable of doing more than we can hope and imagine, and wants to do amazing transformational things in Colchester. To allow these things to happen we must each listen to Him and play our part with hope and love for the people in our town.

with love and eagerness for the next thing, Richard

Further updates from Waiting for Pentecost Prayer

On Monday we met in Joan's home on Greenstead estate. We were led to read Revelation 3 about the church in Laodicea. We prayed for forgiveness for being luke warm and asked for the Holy Spirit to come and fire us up. We also prayed for the harvest fields in the Greenstead area. I had a picture about the churches on Greenstead planting cuttings in new spheres of the estate. We were also led to pray in humility for God to show us what to do, because we don't know in our own wisdom.

On Tuesday we met in the morning at Kingsland Lexden. We read Paul's prayer for the church in Ephesians 3: 16 - 21, and we prayed for healing and bridge building over rifts in the church. We prayed for a harvest in that area of town. We prayed that the new building at Kingsland Lexden would be part of receiving the harvest.

On Wednesday (today) we met and prayed in the chapel on the roof of Colchester Castle. I was given the keys for that time (a sign of favour I think). We read Matthew 5 about Jesus wanting us to be the light of the world, a city on a hill not hidden but shining with Jesus. We prayed for Jesus to reign over our town, and praised him for being above all other gods (including Claudius, whose temple was in ruins beneath our feet). We prayed for the night time culture in our town - for us the church to reach out in love to those seeking love in the pubs and clubs. We prayed for a harvest in amongst the night time culture. I had a picture of a hand starting to move, and then an arm, as the church works together more and more, and better and better.

See below for the venues until Saturday. Keep praying for the precious and necessary Holy Spirit in our Church.

with love, Richard

Waiting for Pentecost...the story so far

On Thursday morning 7 of us met by the police station and prayer walked to some dis-used places of worship in Colchester. We noticed the massive change that the construction of Southway has made in Colchester. We remembered then that God is able to bring about massive transformational change. He is able to do more than we can hope or imagine (Ephesians 3).....

On Friday lunchtime 2 of us met at CACC church office in the Hythe. We prayed for the town as a whole and for wisdom for all church leaders and then more specifically for the Hythe. With regard to the town I beleive the Lord led us to pray for unity as this is where He commands His blessing - regardless of differences we have a common cause to see the lost won. With regard to the Hythe we prayed for CaCC and other churches working in the area. There were no specific pictures or words but we did pray for the youth and for the elderly living in the Hythe.

On Saturday afternoon 5 of us met at a home in Wivenhoe. We were led to pray for repentance in the church. We were led to pray for the raising up of humble leaders - people after God's own heart. Leaders for the church and for the community. Also for a waking up of the harvesters. I saw a picture of those with big fields and no harvesters welcoming harvesters from overcrowded fields. Then I saw a picture of those with overflowing nets calling in other boats to bring in the catch.

On Sunday morning 10 of us met in St. Stephens chapel, New Town. We were led to pray for the servants there who open the church building up to bless the community in many ways. We also prayed for an impartation of vision to people in that church for new harvest fields, especially in the Hythe area. I saw a picture of St Stephens church community as a burning coal. Also I saw a picture of Jesus standing by the door and pointing outwards. During the time of prayer we read from Isaiah 13 about the destruction of Babylon. I was reminded of the power of the Holy Spirit to destroy evil.

You can add your reflections as comments using the link below....

Let's continue to wait and pray. You can join us at one of the next prayer dates listed below...

love Richard

Waiting for Pentecost 2006

All believers are welcome to come a join the prayer as we wait for Pentecost. The themes for prayer are the Holy Spirit and harvest.

I think this time is significant because it remembers the time that Jesus asked his followers to wait for the Holy Spirit to come (Acts 1). When Jesus' Father then sent the Holy Spirit, it enabled the followers to bring God's kingdom to their neighbourhood, city, region, country and the world (Acts 2 onwards).

You may like to use these scripture readings for inspiration – Ephesians 3: 14- 21 and John 4: 34 – 38. Also, you could use the daily scripture suggested at http://www.prayerweek.com/ in the monthly focus section.

Thurs 25 May
7.30am start(prayer walking) meet at Remains of Roman Church by police station, Southway.
David Beales, DNA Networks

Fri 26 May
1pm - 2pm at CACC office, 126 Hythe Hill.
Karen Barrett, Colchester Area Community Church

Sat 27 May
3pm – 4pm at 31 Parkwood Avenue, Wivenhoe
Jean Fletcher

Sun 28 May
8.45am – 9.45am at St Stephen's Church chapel, Canterbury Road.
Susan Loxton, St Stephen's Church

Mon 29 May
4pm – 5pm at 43 Honeysuckle Way,Greenstead.
Joan Davies

Tues 30 May
7am – 8am at Lexden Evangelical Church, London Road, Lexden.
Robin Buckingham, Kingsland Lexden

Weds 31 May
11am – 12noon (meet at castle entrance at 11am) at The chapel, Colchester Castle
Lynette Burgess, Colchester Borough Council

Thurs 1 June
7am – 8am
Conference Room, Offices of Marshall, Sutton, Jones, 11 Trinity Street.
Chris Bloor

Fri 2 June
8pm – 9pm (worship)
9pm – 10pm(prayer) at Colchester Baptist Church, Eld Lane.
Lynsey Heselgrave,
Colchester Baptist Church

Sat 3 June
8.30am - 10am (prayer breakfast) at Maldon Road Chapel, Maldon Road
Mr and Mrs Knight, Maldon Road Chapel

Sun 4 June
Pray with your church congregations at your Sunday meetings

I am looking forward to seeing you there!
with love Richard

Stories from 24-7 Network Day

Three 24-7 Boiler Roomers from Colchester (Richard, Katy and myself [Michael]) were invited to St Catherine's Catholic Church in Birmingham. People came far and wide, from Northern Ireland, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Chichester as well as other towns I can't remember! (Sorry if people from those cities are reading this!)

The day was quite odd really yet totally refreshing. It was nothing big or hyped up, just 60 disciples of Jesus Christ coming together under His name in a Catholic church building. We shared stories, ate food, gave worship and prayer to our Lord and Saviour. We even did the Christian tea and coffee thing with the big urn with scale on the bottom.

I was really amazed at the various adventures people from other 24-7 praying Communities have been on. Phil Togwell has encouraged budding disciples and pray-ers to keep in contact and continue to share our lives together. Lucie, Marcin and Simon from Cambridge have really stuck in my mind. They have been doing some 24-2 weekends on a monthly cycle, gathering church in unity and eating together, still wondering where the Lord is leading them. Sound familiar? I really identified with those guys and girl, think I'd like to drop in to see them. Chat and pray with 'em!

Father Jim, must never forget Jim! He is the resident priest of St Catherines who kindly invited us to use his church building for the day. Thank you so much Jim! He shared about his ministry in Birmingham and about the Order of Columban - http://www.columban.com I was particularly grabbed by the 'Listening Day' he facilitates for the local people on their own turf. The church team simply, humbly goes out to listen, not giving advice or taking names or information. Have we protestants lost this fine art?

Lunch happened at 'The Big Wok' All-You-Can-Eat-Chinese Restaurant. Mmm... delicious! It came complete with singing 'happy birthday' to Phil, help from a Karaoke stylie announcement! That was cheeky but fun! I sat opposite someone originally from Benfleet, Essex. Yay! Big up Essicks! Well turns out he used to be part of Thundersly Congregational Church where my cousins used to be based too! Wow, what a small world!

Andy Freeman of Reading Boiler Room started discussion about questioning 'what is community?' He used an unusual scripture, yet it totally made sense.

Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there in the midst of them" Matt 18 v 20

Andy gave challenging questions....
What kind of communities are we forming? In what ways are they genuinely Christ-centred?
In what ways are they intentional, deliberate, conscious (more than just 'hanging-out' together... more than just 'friends')?
In what ways are they spiritual? How are we threading spiritual life and discipline through every aspect of our lives together?
In what ways are they safe, welcoming, hospitable, inclusive... growing?

Yea, great chunky, meaty stuff Andy! I'm still chewing on these things, provoked and shook me into thinking about how we need to be welcoming, exclusively inclusive, intent on growing always with Jesus at the centre of who we are and where we come from.

I just want to throw this out into the open, allow discussion, criticism, listening.... Please feedback because this is an unusual journey for those involved with 24-7 Prayer in Colchester. Where are we going? Boiler Room? Shared house? Simple regular prayer room around Colchester? Missions? This whole thing really is in the early days and could go in so many directions.

You can read more about the day on
http://toggietales.typepad.com/toggie_tales/
http://uk.24-7prayer.com

Thank you so much 24-7 prayer for a brilliant day
Love to all,
Keep travelling along the world with us!
Michael

Waiting for Pentecost prayer

Prayer for Colchester Ascension Day (25 May) to Pentecost Sunday (4 June) 2006
I have been given the idea to organise prayer over the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday. I would like to see a gathering of Jesus followers praying for God's kingdom to come on each day of that 11 day period.

I think this time is significant because it remembers the time that Jesus asked his followers to wait for the Holy Spirit to come (Acts 1). When Jesus' Father then sent the Holy Spirit, it enabled the followers to bring God's kingdom to their neighbourhood, city, region, country and the world (Acts 2 onwards).

To enable this waiting in prayer to happen, I am asking people to offer a venue for an hour of prayer on one of the days between 25 May and 4 June 2006. This venue could be a church building, a workplace, a public place or even outside. I am aiming to have a different venue available each day. I will then invite people from across the Church in Colchester to come and pray.

To be involved you will need to;

• contact me to offer a venue and available times (use the comments link below).
• arrange for the venue to be open and supervised for that hour slot.
• think and pray about themes you would like the group to pray for at that venue.
• encourage local believers to pray with us during that slot.

• or just come and join in with the prayer at venues once they are booked in.
  

Overall themes that I think we should be praying into is the Holy Spirit, and harvest. This is because Pentecost is the Jewish harvest festival.
I will keep you informed by confirming with you directly when you have booked a slot for your venue. Also, I will update the Colchester Boiler Room Community blog.

Remember, the next Boiler Room Community meal is on 28 May, 1pm to 3pm. To come along contact Richard through the comments link below.

Please pray for Richard, Katy and Mike as meet with other 24-7 prayer people in Birmingham at the national network day. Also pray for Julian as he journeys to Belgrade to take part in the Europe-wide network day: the BIG conversation.

Pray as though it all depends on God. Live as though it all depends on you.

with love Richard

24 April - Good food and fellowship at the University

It was a good spread at the bring and share lunch on Sunday 23 April. Thanks to the University of Essex Chaplaincy for having us to join in with their Sunday lunchtime gathering. I enjoyed meeting new people, talking about David Tennants Scottish accent in Dr Who(!), hearing about the mission work of the Chaplaincy team and Friends International....

We also learnt about Nehemiah from Michael White (of Friends International). Check out this Old Testament book for inspiration on hearing from God and acting confidently on His plans for our lives....

And we had a chance to pray for Mike Holden. He's leading the 24-7 mission to Pula, Croatia this summer. Want to be involved? Post a comment at the bottom of this post....

And we heard that Julian's off to the 24-7 Big Conversation in Belgrade. He'll be bringing back news of other Boiler Room Communities across Europe, and asks if there's any questions/observations that we should ask as part of that Big Conversation.

We had a chance to talk together as Boiler Room Community on Sunday. I observed that this is a time for gathering the Community, and establishing our shared values and practices. In particular it's a time for working out how we practice a rhythm of prayer, serving the poor, mission, creativity, hospitality and study.

Currently we practice a rhythm of prayer by praying together on Monday mornings, and at prayer rooms. We have heard of opportunities for action through working with Sanctuary (a new home for homeless with substance addiction problems). Also opportunities for practicing mission and hospitality through Friends International. Also an opportunity to support mission by standing with Mike in prayer as he leads a mission to Croatia this summer. Please keep ideas coming in....

Jamie is gathering people to walk, breakfast and pray at High Woods Country Park at 5am on Monday 1 May. Call Jamie on 07710 397824 to book your place (it's a Ranger-led birdsong walk).

We plan to meet again for a bring and share Sunday lunch on Sunday 28 May 1pm to 3pm. If you would like to host this Boiler Room gathering please let us know by posting a comment below.

Also, we still wait on the possibility of a weekend of 24 hour prayer at Castle Methodist on 10 & 11 June. And the opportunity to communicate with church congregations in the Colchester area.

My final thought...for this posting anyway! I have just been looking at the 10 day prayer meeting between Jesus' Ascension and Pentecost...and asking if I should be practicing a particular rhythm of prayer through this time.

with love, Richard

Monday Morning Prayer

We're still praying on Monday mornings! (not on bank holidays that's lie in time)

6am to 8am at the offices of Glover and Howe, above the Warehouse restaurant, 12 Chapel St North. To enter use the entrance to the Warehouse restaurant, next door to the Headgate Theatre. We pray in a back office at the top of the stairs.

Then we have breakfast afterwards at an exceptional local cafe!

Study report - Early Celtic Christianity

Good morning Boiler Room Bloggers...time for me to post some more thoughts.
This time a book report, as part of my developing rhythm of study.

I've been reading Early Celtic Christianity by Brendan Leharne (Constable, 1994). It jumped out at me from the shelves of Colchester library.

This book charts the rise of Irish cultural influence on Europe in the first seven centuries AD. This influence is achieved by the actions of the early Celtic missionaries - the book focuses on the lives of Brendan, Columba and Columbanus.

The book is written from a social history perspective. The author respects and admires the missionaries, but doesn't look at them from the perspective of building God's kingdom. He just sees them as cogs in the wheels of history. He is also a big fan of the Irish culture.

I was hoping for more detail about the prayers and rhythm of life of these Celtic missionaries, but this is lacking. Partly due to the lack of reliable historical sources from the time.

However, there's some inspiring description of the transformational impact that Columbanus had in France;

"Into an atmosphere of shift and deception walked bands of Irish with a clear and unequivocal sense of purpose. that purpose had nothing whatsoever to do with vendettas or luxury or making money or winning territory; little with emaciating themselves into scrawny and impotent worshippers of a far-removed god. Worship came first but good worship presupposed good health. They revived long term farming methods on the land they took over. With the product they fed themselves, gave free provisions to the needy and sold the rest to expand their activities. They were healthy in mind as well as body and gave no precedence to material things. They showed how to order things for the best in circumstances which were far from good. And in their dealings with people they showed little fear or favour to rich or poor; though some, other things being equal, to the latter, their need being greater."

I love it when I see people living out their love of Jesus in an effective, world changing rhythm. I want to find that rhythm as part of the Boiler Room Community.

I look forward to seeing people Sunday.

love Richard

Sunny sensations on Wednesday 12 April

Hello, Boiler Room Bloggers. I am loving the sunshine this morning. Thank God for beautiful days.

This week I went climbing for the day in the Peak District, with an outdoor pursuits club I help with. It was sunny, and we had a great day. Many of the young people were amazed that sometimes the sunshines in the Peaks!

Also, yesterday, I journeyed on the Labyrinth at St Leonards church at the Hythe. This is a prayer journey with many creative prayer activities laid out in the old church....Nice one to the folk of St Stephens church for organising and supervising it. Sounds like they got quite a few unchurched people in from the local community. If you want to visit it's open Wednesday lunch time and evening, and then on Easter Sunday afternoon....

Change of venue for Sunday lunch on April 23. Don't forget we're meeting for lunch on Sunday 23 April, 1pm to 3pm at the University Chaplaincy (Room3.320)...joining in with their holiday time Sunday lunches. Please bring some food to share...It'll be great to catch up and you can bring partners and family too. I want to talk more about how the Community can grow together and act a rhythm of prayer, action, mission, creativity, hospitality and study.

There's car parking right by the Chaplaincy. To get there turn into the main entrance of the University of Essex, off the B1028 Colchester Road to Wivenhoe. Drive straight ahead (passed the Sports Centre turning and a No Entry sign!) for 1 mile, down the hill and round the right hand bend. Take the turning on the right, which leads underneath the university buildings. After 100 metres there is a signpost showing Chaplaincy to the left. Follow this sign. Park in the open air area, and use use the glass doors in the corner to ascend to the Chaplaincy.

We're planning to meet for lunch on Sunday 28 May too, venue to be decided...

For study, I am reading a book on Early Celtic Christianity, but it seems to be more about fairy stories than about what the early Celtic missionaries actually did...I am persevering!

with love for you and Jesus,

Richard

24-7 prayer logo

Jesus centred prayer and mission

Jesus Centred
We believe that Jesus loves people in Colchester area and He wants us to know and experience his love. In reality we can't because we have chosen to ignore God and live our own lives our way. We believe that Jesus died for us so we can have life to the max, knowing the love of Jesus. This Lord Jesus never turns anyone away, always accepts people and shows them life to the max. As followers of Jesus we see the Boiler Room as a way of following Jesus' example of prayer, love and mission.

Gathering
We believe people are God's best creation. A building can provide shelter, warmth, sofas and cups of tea. People are far more exciting! They are adaptable, unpredictable, they have talents, gifts, needs and emotions.
The Colchester Boiler Room Community aims to draw people from different social groups and and Christ centred fellowships to pray, eat, and share Jesus with those who need him.

Rhythm
We all know the human body needs a heart with a regular pattern of pumping blood around the various parts to sustain life. If we want to see real change in our town we need to gather regularly to pray, encourage one another and The Boiler Room Community.
We take inspiration from Jesus' words about prayer, we can ask God and He will give, seek and we will find, knock and the door will be opened. God listens to and answers prayer. Like a child nags a parent for a drink, we need to keep on asking, seeking and knocking until something happens.

Transformation
Jesus told us to pray for God's kingdom to come. The Colchester Boiler Room is established to pray for God's kindom to come.
Many of us are unhappy about some things in the world, hunger, sickness, failing schools, war and the rest of it. We belive God wants to change those things for joy, healing, success, peace and much more. When we pray and seek God's face and say sorry for our own wicked ways, He will heal our land because He said he would.

How does this follow jesus example?
Jesus values all these things greatly. He loves to gather people who want to know God's love. There are countless examples - Feeding 5,000, calling 12 disciples, invited children to come close. When Jesus walked on earth, he was in regular communication with His Father in Heaven, keeping a rhythm of prayer and mission. When Jesus comes to town, people's ;lives are transformed.

A Boiler Room has potential to accelerate strategic prayer for this area, and to link the current prayer and action that is already happening in Colchester. A boiler room must operate in a sustained, united and multi-faceted way. So, the great thing is that no individual or church could do it on their own....

Please pray for:
·People to become part of the boiler room community
·A regular time and venue to establish a 'rhythm' of prayer
·For opportunities to share vision and dreams with other people
·Resources and a permanent venue at the right time