Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 8

One of the purposes of prayer that we learnt about back in our first week of meetups was that it is an act of COMMUNICATION. Part of healthy communication in any relationship is giving space for each of you to speak while the other listens. In this week’s poem Steve Page reminds us of the importance that listening has in our relationship with God.

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Remember to Listen

Have you ever had the feeling 
while praying
that you've inadvertently 
been talking 
while God is speaking?

Don't worry -
He wrote it down for you.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

#RedeemerRecommends - Persisting in Prayer

Last Sunday we reached the end of our preaching series on Transforming Prayer, and this week sees us finishing our prayer journals in our meetups! Never fear! We will have 3 more weeks of meeting and praying together in groups, followed by a church wide Week of Prayer from the 7th to the 13th of April.

But after that, it is our hope that the whole of the Redeemer community doesn’t simply stop praying, but is instead inspired by this season of Transforming Prayer, and the effect it has had on our lives! So inspired in fact that we continue to pursue transformation in our own situations and the situations of those around us through the power of prayer! As Christians our desire is that our relationship with God is constantly growing closer and more intimate, and one of the best ways to ensure this is by pressing into prayer throughout our lives.

So this week’s #RedeemerRecommends is hoping to supply you with a few books which you might find helpful as you continue to develop in your prayer life and your relationship with God.

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Book #1 - Too Busy Not To Pray (Bill Hybels)

This is a book which encourages individuals at any stage of their walk with God to press into prayer. Hybels sets out practical ways to ensure we slow down and prioritise times of prayer. The book helps to expand our view of just what God can do in our lives and in the lives of those around us when we do so.

Book #2 - Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer (C.S. Lewis)

This book, a collection of letters to a close friend of Lewis’ named Malcolm, speaks of many different aspects of prayer and how they affect our lives. Reading it takes us on a journey to understanding just how crucially important prayer is and how it increases the depth of our relationship with God.

Book #3 - The Power of a Praying Woman (Stormie Omartian)

Focusing on personal prayer, this is a great book for women of all ages looking to establish a discipline of prayer and hoping to see breakthrough in their own lives through persistence in prayer. Encouraging readers to ‘cover every area of life with prayer’, each chapter ends with a prayer to follow or to use as a model for your own personal prayer time.

Book #4 - God on Mute (Pete Greig)

A book specifically aimed at those who are struggling with seemingly ‘unanswered’ prayer, Pete Greig, the founder of the 24/7 global prayer movement, writes of his personal struggle. It’s an incredibly eye opening and honest account of his journey as his wife Samie fought a battle with a brain tumour. The book focuses on the questions which come up in situations when our prayers seem to be met with total silence, and aims to cultivate a sense of hope and faith in God’s love, a love which goes beyond our understanding.

Answered Prayer - Deeper Relationship

In the second of our blogs focusing on Answered Prayer, Nathanael Jegunma shares with us how the community and the prayers of his Transforming Prayer meetup have led to fresh encounters and more intimate relationship with his Heavenly Father!

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I am new to Redeemer and joined a small group within the first 2 weeks. God has truly revealed how powerful he is when you have faith in him and act in according to his word.

The Transforming Prayer series has reinvigorated my connection with God and I have felt my relationship and understanding of him grow. I have begun to regularly share the word of God with my colleagues at work, improved my family relationships and learned to communicate more effectively with God.

There is power in us gathering and praying together and we have seen God answer prayers in our group. I would encourage anyone who attends Redeemer to enjoy the fellowship and family that small groups provide and get involved.

— Nathanael Jegunma

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42

Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 7

Throughout this season of Transforming Prayer, we have been constantly growing in our ability to pray with confidence, and learning how to pray in different ways and in different situations.

Steve’s poem this week reflects a journey of learning, being transformed, and growing into great pray-ers.

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Flyer

Not everyone flies.
You land hard a lot.
Then just as you think 
it's time for a new direction,
just as you think 
it's not worth another stumble, 
a fresh fall onto your knees,
you launch and take flight.

An updraft catches your wings 
and you're airborne.
And when you eventually land 
you see that you've got 
somewhere new,
a whole new perspective.
That's when you know you're a flyer.

Not every line flies.
You land hard a lot.
Then just as you think 
it's time for a new direction,
just as you think 
it's not worth another stumble, 
a fresh fall,
your thoughts take flight.

An updraft catches your wings
and you're airborne. 
And when you eventually land 
you see that you've got 
somewhere new,
a whole new perspective.
That's when you know you're a poet.

Not every prayer flies.
You land hard a lot.
Then just as you think 
it's time for a new direction,
just as you think 
it's not worth another stumble, 
a fresh fall onto your knees,
your prayer takes flight.

Your spirit resonates with His
and you see His face.
And when you get to your 'Amen',
you see that you've got 
somewhere new,
a whole new perspective.
That's when you know you're a pray-er.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

#RedeemerRecommends - Vintage Worship

This week on #RedeemerRecommends we are focusing on a new worship album, released this month by Vintage Worship, the worship team from Vintage Church in Los Angeles.

The album was recorded in August 2018, as the church came together for two nights of worship, in the wake of two devastating events locally which had profound effects on the church community; The California wildfires, and the Thousand Oaks shooting.

The songs on the latest album ‘Heaven All Around Us’ reflect on God’s kindness and his grace, while encouraging us to hold onto his love and declare truth about him over ourselves as a form of restoration, even in times of tragedy and heartbreak.

Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 6

This week in our meetups we have been focusing on praying for a breakthrough on our lives and the lives of others around us.

Steve’s latest poem tells a story of that kind of breakthrough we are praying for, a story of bruises, scars, and healing.

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Mister New

I see you there
keep looking at me
but I'm not sure 
what it is you see

I'm no-one's 'boy'
I'm not 'hey you'
my name's Mister
it's 'Mister New'

I've got old scars
raw scars too
but I'm not sure 
it's clear to you

wounds can only 
go so deep
there's only so long 
that they can bleed

you might see wounded
see black and blue
but save your pity
that's all about you

I've grow taller 
through broken skin
my roots sink deeper 
than you've ever been

when you're up close
you'll see it's true
my fresh healed skin's
a real break through

I've got a name
so I'd thank you
when you address me
say 'Mister New'

Breakthrough - Men's Prayer Brunch

The 9th of February marked the first Men’s brunch meetup. A new ministry from Redeemer with a vision to bring men together to discuss one simple but important question; what breakthrough are we waiting for God to do in our lives? He is a God who can do anything, and often we simply need to hold onto faith and trust that He will provide what we need at the right time.

The first meetup saw twenty-two men from Redeemer church devour an insatiable amount of eggs, sausages, bacon and coffee whilst catching up for those with those we haven’t seen in a while. But the event also provided a friendly atmosphere for new people to make new friends. It was great to see the coffee pouring and the conversations flowing with outbreaks of laughter from one end of the table to the other.

After the mighty-meaty brunch, we all gathered around in the spacious living room to listen to our very own Francois share his testimony – a vulnerable and honest account of how he grappled with an addiction to pornography, and the way it affected his marriage. It was so encouraging to hear that despite the bondage to sin that only seemed to tighten with the passage of time, Francois learnt to lean on God and His abundant grace. God has set him free from this; providing the much needed breakthrough that Francois required, as he was able to bring himself, his marriage and his family unilaterally out of difficulty under God’s light.

The session concluded as we broke into small groups to discuss addictions that we wrestle with but focus on a real and tangible way out – by lifting our voices in prayer, and beginning to lean on God; trusting Him for the breakthrough that he ultimately provided for Francois.

Chris Sutton was then given some time to discuss the ministry he is putting together called ‘caring for ex-offenders’ before the day ended in a final prayer.

The men’s ministry will be running these brunches every two to three months and we would love to see you at the next one on 13th April. Come along and please do bring any men you know who would benefit from the fruits of this ministry (inside or outside of Redeemer).

Details of the next meetup will be given nearer the time. – Please speak to Barny, Francois or Sunny for more info.

Review by Sunny Gill

Answered Prayer - Close through the Changes

As part of our Transforming Prayer series we are starting a new blog focusing on answered prayer. If you’ve got a testimony of how God has answered a prayer for you recently, be it big or small, get in touch at prayer@redeemerlondon.org

The first story of answered prayer reminds us of a truth we’ve touched on in our meet-ups recently, that God is a Close Father.

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Close through the Changes

I'm experiencing a lot of change after a year of challenges:  a family bereavement, a house sale and a divorce.

I've asked my meetup to pray for wisdom and a peaceful resolution, I also asked for prayer around my first meeting with a bereavement counsellor last week, arranged through an Employee Assistance Programme.  It's free but you get little choice as to who is allocated to you.  And in an answer to that prayer, the EAP matched me with the most perfect counsellor. 

Not just that but God has blessed me with more interactions with Christians at work that ever before - driving home the truth that I'm not alone and that he is standing with me.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 5

We have passed the half way mark of our Transforming Prayer meetups, and it’s been incredible to hear stories of growing communities of passionate individuals coming together to pray!

We are called not just to pray as individuals, but to join together and pray, as a team, just as the early church did in Acts 2:42.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Steve Page’s latest poem, inspired by the recent six nations rugby tournament, paints an inspiring picture of what a praying community looks like.

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A TEAM SPORT

[In the voice of your favourite over-excited rugby commentator.]

We're inside the final quarter. We've seen a bone-cruncher of a contest today and there's no sign of a let up, the prayers gather for the next engagement, positioning themselves with practiced confidence, skillfully supporting each other, ready for the push.  You can see every knee and each hand bears the marks from this long muddied pray, red and brown staining every inch of their entwined limbs; - arms and hands holding fast.

Front row.
Second row.
Back row.
Digging in for the big push.

The opposition has played an intelligent game, taking advantage of any lapse in concentration, any sign of tiredness, looking for any weakness to exploit.  The prayers know they can't afford any slips now, they need to keep up the pressure, maintain their advance deep in the opposition's half.  Every yard of gained ground needs to be defended.

The prayers' Coach looks on - look at his smile! You can see the pride he has for his team, he's schooled them on every tactic of the opposition and now that training, that practice has paid dividends. This is a team of prayers that so clearly know each other well, supporting each other every step of the way. You can see their co-ordinated pray, their sustained effort and the sheer pleasure they feel when they are praying together.

The prayers drive on.  The sound of their groans and deep breaths merge into one. There's a rhythm to it, a cadence as together they push and PUSH. 

The opposition's footing is slipping, the prayers' momentum gains pace and, YES! the resistance collapses.  Oh, that must have hurt!

But there's no time for complacency, the prayers re-form their line looking for the next opening, the next opportunity to push forward.

This is a joy to see.  The Coach shouts his encouragement - this was never going to be an easy struggle; you can't dismiss the opposition - they are a seasoned though sometimes disorganised team and they can take you by surprise.  But as we've seen here today, the Coach knows that if his team of prayers keep to the plan and pray to their strengths, the opposition are surely in for a hiding. The prayers will triumph and they will take the winners' crown. 
- Back to you in the studio.

#RedeemerRecommends on Valentine's - salt.london

If you’ve walked past a shop front or been on social media at all today, you will be aware that it is Valentine’s Day! A day which I’m sure brings about mixed feelings for many of you reading this.

There are many Christian blogs out there focusing on the subject of love, but this week’s #RedeemerRecommends has picked out one in particular which we think is worth a read!

salt.london is a blog which is run by a few friends from another Advance church in Waterloo, led by Andrew Haslam. It describes itself as a blog which seeks to “engage with thoughtful Londoners on matters of faith, philosophy, and life.”

The blog focuses on a range of topics, but you can find some links to their specific Valentine’s themed posts below. We hope you will find them thought provoking and encouraging, whether you’re single or married!

Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 4

This Sunday, Pete Cornford helped us to grasp the goodness of the God that we are talking to when we pray, and in our meetups this week we have been discussing ‘The Pattern of Prayer’, learning from Jesus’ model of prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13.

Steve’s poem this week speaks again of God’s goodness, and the importance of pursing prayer as Jesus’ intended it; reminding us what we can expect to hear from God in return.

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Things you won’t hear from God.

Things you won't hear from God:

I'm sorry we are experiencing a higher number of calls than usual. 

You may wish to call back later.

All of our operators are dealing with other customers.

We will be with you as soon as someone becomes available.

Your call is important to us, please wait or alternatively go to our website.

Listen carefully to the flowing options.

I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. Did you say, "Help"?

Our office is now closed. Thank you for calling. 

Things you will hear from God:

"Welcome. I've been expecting you. What's on your heart?"

Remembering Answered Prayer

This weekend marked our third Sunday morning of Transforming Prayer, and I don’t know about you, I am absolutely loving it! I’ve begun meeting on a Tuesday morning and building community with those in my meet-up, we’ve had some great times of prayer and honest conversation together, sharing our dreams with one another for what we hope God will do in and through us during this time of Transforming Prayer!

Last week we were talking about answered prayer, and how we seem to have new requests to bring to God each morning! Because there are so many new things to ask for, we can often forget that God is answering our prayers daily, often in amazing ways! Together we have made the decision to keep a record of all the ways God is answering our prayers during our time meeting together, and to regularly look back at this list to renew and stir our faith!

But why limit that list to just our own group?! Recently God has been answering prayers, big and small, all across the Redeemer family, and we think that’s something which needs to be celebrated as we continue the Transforming Prayer series! So here’s your chance, if you’ve had a prayer answered, whether it be in the last couple of weeks since we started the series, or whether you have a powerful testimony of answered prayer from earlier in your life, we want to hear from you! 

The power of testimony is huge! It stirs up faith in others, and encourages them to persevere in their prayers, it focuses people’s eyes back on God rather than themselves, and it motivates people to worship the God who answers their prayers. 

If you’ve got an example of answered prayer that you would love to share with us, you can let us know by sending your testimony to prayer@redeemerlondon.org. It can be a big testimony or a small testimony, no-one is discounted, all answered prayer is worth celebrating! All we would ask that you try and keep it around 350 words maximum (as a point of reference this blog is 364 words long).

We look forward to hearing your stories…

Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 3

This week in our Transforming Prayer meet-ups we are talking about how we pray with confidence! This comes from a greater understanding of our Father in heaven and our relationship with him. In this week’s poem, Steve Page thinks about how our posture during prayer reflects our confidence that our prayers will be heard and answered by a CARING, CONSISTENT, CLOSE, COMPETENT Father.

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Strong knees and open eyes

Straight back and open ears

Strong voice and open hands

Straight through to the throne of grace

Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 2

This week is our first week of Transforming Prayer! As we look together at the purpose of prayer, Steve’s poem this week reminds us that prayer is always about relationship…

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Prayer

How many times a day do you pray?

As many as needed.
Some days only once.
But it might take all day.

Better Together

London can be a lonely place at times. I’ve been on full tubes, in busy squares, in vibrant stadiums and at packed out gigs and known that feeling of not really connecting with anyone despite being around everyone.

 We’ve got a saying at Redeemer that “life is a team sport - best done together” and I’ve genuinely found at church that meeting new people, making friends and sharing life Monday to Saturday has added that all-important connection and depth to London.

 We call the stuff we do Monday-Saturday ‘Meetups’ at Redeemer. This term we’ve created spaces, times and options to hang out and grow together on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They’re in evenings, early morning, in the middle of the day, over brunch and geographically spread out all over the borough, and everyone’s welcome.

Would you like to find a meetup of ten or so people for the next ten weeks? We’re aiming to grow in our prayer life in particular this Spring term, using some great resources to prioritise prayer, encourage each other in prayer, and pray for each other. Ten people could be praying for you, supporting you and making life more of a team sport for you over the next few weeks – sounds worthwhile doesn’t it?

For everyone who’s joined a meetup this term, have a superb time. One top tip - don’t hold back. We’ve found that the more real you are, the more likely it is you’ll grow yourself and bond with those there beyond just the ten weeks. Enjoy!

#RedeemerRecommends - 24/7 Prayer

As we continue to look forward to Transforming Prayer, which kicks off this Sunday, this week’s #RedeemerRecommends focuses on the blog of a prayer organisation which is seeing transformation in prayer lives and transformed communities as a result of prayer all across the world.

The 24-7 prayer movement began in 1999 with a single prayer room on the south coast of England, and their prayer room model has since expanded across the globe. 24-7 International now reaches over half the countries on earth. Their story is told in the books Red Moon Rising & Dirty Glory.

To discover more about the movement you can also visit the website by following the link below, where you will also find helpful blogs on prayer, along with inspiring testimonies of the transformational power of prayer!

Let’s be inspired by what God is doing in the global church and believe that he can do incredible things in and through US as we enter into this season of Transforming Prayer! I hope to see you on Sunday as we begin this new, exciting, life changing journey of prayer as a church. Everyone is welcome to join us!

Transforming Prayer Poetry - Week 1

As part of our Transforming Prayer series here at Redeemer we will be posting weekly poems based around the topic of prayer.

The incredibly gifted Steve Page has written a series of poems for us to use, you can check out more of his work by seeking out his posts on this blog or by following this link at the bottom of this page.

We hope you enjoy the posts, and are prepared for the start of our Transforming Prayer meetups and preaching series this Sunday!

Over to Steve…

Prayer #1

You walk
You sit
You kneel

You ask
You wait
You weep

I listen
I speak
I weep

I hear
I stand
I act

Stand

It's a New Year and I'm listening to news reports of the on going stand-off between Donald Trump and Congress and again between Teresa May and fellow MPs. Right or wrong, whatever their motivations, people are making a stand. Sometimes we stand up to be counted and we make change happen. Sometimes we stand strong, but find ourselves forcibly moved aside or just ignored.

When we're thinking of making a stand we need to make a judgement call whether we are willing to make the effort, are we ready to accept the possible consequences of our stance? Are you ready to lose your (job, friendship, advantage, stake - insert here) for the sake of speaking out for what's right? To stand for what's true? To support the excluded? To act for something beyond your self-interest? Is this important enough for you?
It's easy to understand why some (most?) take the path of least resistance and least conflict. Least risk. Least pain. Least soul-searching.

But some things are not negotiable. Some things are worth fighting for.

Friends.

Family.

Justice.

Community.

Faith.

For example, Acts 4 sets out the account of Peter and John having to decide whether to obey the authorities and to stop speaking about Jesus or to continue to speak openly about what they knew to be true. It was a no-brainer:

"Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

This was no easy thing - there were significant consequences for taking their stance.

So ask yourself: what's important enough for you to take a stand in 2019? How will you respond when it's put to the test?

Standing strong is easier with like-minded people to support you. Find out more at Redeemer on any given Sunday morning at Ealing Town Hall.

We'll stand with you. We'll pray with you and seek God's will in your situation.

We worship a God of change.

Carols, Community and Celebration!

This Sunday we had the privilege of hosting our annual Carols by Candlelight event at Ealing Town Hall! Always a time of celebration, this year was no different, with people coming together to sing carols, enjoy a free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, and get into the Christmas spirit!

What a fantastic event it was this year! Over 300 people gathered in the Town Hall, we sang more carols together than we ever have before, yet there was still time to listen to outstanding performance songs and poetry and learn from Pete Cornford about what it really means to be home at Christmas time. He reminded us that home is not always about a physical place but that we truly find what it means to feel at home in our relationships with those that we love. We as Christians believe that we are welcomed home when we seek relationship with God, that he waits for us with open arms. Jesus talked about this as part of his teaching, and you can read about it in Luke 15:11-32.

If you were one of those that joined with us this Sunday we hope you felt welcomed and at home amongst us, and if you haven’t already, see if you can spot yourself in the family photo we took at the end of the evening!

If you want to find out what it looks like to be a member of the Redeemer family, you are so welcome to join us at our family service this Sunday (the 23rd of December) at 10am in the Town Hall for festive songs, a nativity and even a few games!

Finally, there is also still an opportunity to contribute to the collection which was taken on Sunday evening to support the work of St Mungo’s, an organisation which aims to help those without a physical home to go to this Christmas.

Peace broke out....

Peace broke out
with a rash of shepherds
Peace broke in
while most were asleep
Peace broke out
with a choir of angels
Peace broke in 
with the bleat of sheep

Peace broke out
in a backyard stable
Peace broke in
and beggared belief
Peace broke out
in the stink of a manger
Peace broke in
with a cry of release

Peace broke out
to a child breast feeding
Peace broke in
to a mothers relief
Peace broke out
in the hearts of believers 
Peace broke in 
to the middle east

Peace breaks out
to those who believe him
Peace breaks in 
to the hearts of the meek
Peace breaks out
here in Ealing
Jesus breaks in
as the Prince of true Peace