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Global Day of Prayer nears - what will Thurrock do?
Thurrock can access this year's Global Day of Prayer London on three fronts:
- Sunday 23 May - the worldwide Global Day of Prayer - local events in London's 33 boroughs and beyond on Pentecost Sunday
- 23-30 May - M25 Nutcracker - prayer rooms, prayer altars, prayer walks, prayer drives, prayer flights, prayer meetings, prayer events all focussed on cracking the nut of London
- Sunday 30 May - National Prayer Event at West Ham United Football Stadium (Upton Park)
How Thurrock can get involved in each of these:
Global Day of Prayer Sunday 23 May
 Last year we held three GDOP events in the borough - one in Stanford-le-Hope in the morning; one in Grays in the afternoon; and one in Aveley in the evening. At each event, a stake was put in the ground to symbolise the land being taken for Jesus. The picture on the right shows 'Slim' Tim Harrold doing just that!
This year, Transformation Thurrock would like to encourage churches to come together to celebrate the Day of Pentecost and join with all of London's 33 boroughs and beyond in prayer for our world, our nation, our capital, and our locality.
Not only that, but Thurrock will be joining with Christians right across the UK and millions upon millions around the entire globe as humankind lifts up its hands to Father in prayer.
We can either have another three or so events across Thurrock, or we can aim to have one big bash. But in order to make this happen, we need to have a coordinated response. So if you're interested in doing something, or have any ideas, please contact Transformation Thurrock!
M25 Nutcracker 23-30 May
The M25 Nutcracker week of prayer is beginning to take shape as people from around the edge of London start to sign up to get involved in cracking open the nut of our capital city through prayer. Four boroughs have so far decided to establish an 'altar of prayer', with others showing an interest. Even networks along some of the main roads that feed into the M25 are wanting to become involved.
 There are 30 junctions around the length of the M25, each one a gateway in and out of London - now, imagine 30 beacons of prayer (and more) encircling the city. Before last year's Nutcracker, someone had a vision of beacons of fire all around the M25, all blown by a wind that made the flames bend in over London, which was black. As the flames touched the darkness, it seemed to peal away like paint, exposing gold underneath.
And exciting development is the offer of a light aircraft to do a prayer flight around the M25 on Monday 24 May. Pilot Phil Anderson of Thurrock is 'up' for the mission, having done previous prayer flights around the whole of England in one day, and also a prayer flight along the entire length of the Thames from Southend to Kemble in Gloucestershire and back. The aircraft can only seat three passengers, so it's a bit cosy! But for an eagle's eye view of London, it's the best seat above town!
This year's Nutcracker is involving folk to participate in whatever way they can. Here's just a few ideas for engagement:
- hold a series of daily prayer gatherings
- do 'prayer actions' in particular locations
- go on prayer drives around the M25
- have a series of strategic prayer walks
- put together a prayer chapel or room dedicated to pray for London for every one of the 168 hours of the 24-7 period
- send out prayer alerts to your local network, focussing on specific themes or places each day
- have gatherings in service stations on or near the M25
- ask folk to join a prayer chain by phone or via the internet (can be 24hrs a day for 7 days)
- create open spaces and/or do 'treasure hunting' for praying for members of the public
- encourage a London emphasis in existing prayer meetings and church services
- use a combination of any of the above!
This is a great opportunity for churches to unite in prayer and for intercessors to come together from across the denominations. Closer to the Nutcracker week, a prayer guide will be made available on www.gdoplondon.com and will be sent out to all those participating. If someone decides to do a full-blown 24-7 prayer week (24-7 Prayer have endorsed the Nutcracker), then please look at the various resources on how to set up a prayer room available at www.24-7prayer.com, and register your venue on that website as well.
Last year, Thurrock's Nutcracker 24-7 prayer room was at Aveley Christian Centre. It was a slog! This was because of very poor support from across the borough, and we had to close most nights. The picture above shows some of the prayers stuck over one of the maps of London that were on display.
No one in Thurrock - one of the boroughs that straddles the M25 - has shown any interest in being part of this year's Nutcracker. If you're interested in doing something, please contact Transformation Thurrock. Come on Thurrock!
(NB Tim Harrold will not personally initiate a Nutcracker prayer room or events in Thurrock, as he's overseeing the entire project around the M25. It's up to you, Thurrock...)
National Prayer Event Sunday 30 May
 This is being organised by the GDOP London team, and very nearly did not come off. It's being billed as a forerunner to next year's proposed event at Wembley Stadium. GDOP London convener Dr Jonathan Oloyede had a vision of a prayer meeting in a stadium which God told him was Wembley, but it didn't loo like Wembley. That's because he had the vision before it was decided to pull the old Wembley down and build the new one. And it's the 'latter house' that Jonathan saw in his vision!
This year's event is taking place at Upton Park, which makes travel very easy and means that there will be no need to book coaches. It is likely to be a two-hour programme starting around 3pm.
The content of the event will be cross-cultural and cross-denominational. There will be different styles of prayer and worship, but you will be guaranteed a sense of being part of something huge. The picture show a group from Grays Methodist Church at The Den in Millwall in 2008 having a great time together.
Transformation Thurrock encourages you to go to this and experience the power of prayer in a stadium setting. Go in a group, go as a church. Go!
We will be publishing more details of the day as we get them.
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Tim Harrold, 29/03/2010 |
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