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Transformation Thurrock Prayer Breakfast goes off with a banger!
 Transformation Thurrock held their second prayer breakfast on Saturday 27 June at Thurrock Hotel.
53 people from a variety of Christian fellowships enjoyed a sumptuous full English breakfast. They had an opportunity to bless and encourage one another. The morning began with a time of worship led by John Gorham of Fresh Hope Community in Stanford. Pete Howe of Thurrock Christian Fellowship in Grays led in prayer before a time of communion, the people on each table serving one another.
Tim Harrold then went through a brief restatement of the TT core value, expanding upon this with a series of vision statements (see below). This was done simply as an act of continuity flowing on from last July's TT Breakfast when the website was unveiled as an outworking of the vision that emerged some months earlier. Breakfast followed, and an opportunity for fellowship and networking.
Rob Groves made a presentation covering developmental, potential and practical aspects of the TT website. He encouraged individuals to register on the website in order to receive regular e-bullets, and churches, ministries and agencies to sign up on the website's directory. Rob went through all the site's webpages, showing how they can be accessed, describing each one, and explaining how they can be of benefit to individuals and groups.
 Tim followed this with a review and preview of TT's prayer activities, covering the ongoing Thames Gateway Prayernet, the up and coming Thurrock & Havering Schools' Prayer Day (3 October), and the monthly Transformation Thurrock Prayer gatherings. The major emphasis, however, was the preparation for the inaugural Thurrock Day of Prayer (24 October) at Hassenbrook School, where it's hoped 300 of the borough's Christians will come together in united prayer and worship.
Rob concluded this section of the morning with an overview of the mission side of TT, mentioning Bar'N'Bus and ideas for the future, including social enterprise schemes, the proposed Hardie Park skatepark, and the possibility of some kind of community festival (like Sidcup's Lark In The Park). Of course, TT is there not only to facilitate but also to be a resource for other missional projects where unity is a central objective.
 The final period of the morning was taken up with prayer. Each table was given statements based on verse 6-12 from Isaiah 58 - God's chosen fast (see below). Being a challenge to the church, these were used as catalysts for praying for the transformation of Thurrock.
Right at the very end, everyone joined in prayer for Jo Norton, a major at Wandsworth Salvation Army where she ran a 24-7 Prayer Boiler Room and was the borough's area co-ordinator for Global Day of Prayer. She had been struck down with a brain hemorrhage two weeks before, and at the time of the TT breakfast was unconscious in hospital. Sadly, she dies later that day, leaving her husband, Major Alan Norton, and three children. Tim will be attending the funeral on 13 July. Thank you to all who prayed for Jo - please now pray for her family.
Thank you to all who came to the TT Prayer Breakfast or who sent their apologies. It is another signpost on the journey towards God's blessing upon our borough, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and making famous the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, as the place where filthy water has collected is transformed into the place where fresh water flows.
Core Value
TRANSFORMATION THURROCK
facilitating and resourcing united prayer and united mission
Vision Statements
TRANSFORMATION THURROCK
exists for the church and community of Thurrock
aims to encourage cross-denominational & interchurch co-operation
purposes to establish a positive Christ-centred mindset in working towards transformation of church & community
promotes redemptive, restorative & transformative agencies across the borough
broadcasts a vision to see Thurrock transformed through united prayer & united mission
assists in turning a place where filthy water has collected into the place where fresh water flows
facilitates & resources prayer events, missional activities & unity in the Body of Christ
provides a logo to signify the intentional unity of the Church of Thurrock
for the benefit of the body of believers
for the benefit of the communy’s perception of the body of believers
letterheads, newsletters, stickers, car stickers, banners, key fobs
www.TRANSFORMATIONTHURROCK.com
is an information hub & news centre for the local church & community
is a means to advertise united events or activities with a community flavour
is a conduit for relational interaction serving local Christians & the church
is a directory for Thurrock’s churches, fellowships & agencies
is a witness to the community & tool for outreach to seekers
is a link between local, national & international bodies’ websites
is a website facilitating & resourcing united prayer & united mission
is a shop-window for everyone who lives in the borough
Isaiah 58:6-12 (NIV)
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
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Tim Harrold, 21/07/2009 |
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