Prayer
God hears every prayer - but not all prayers are answered in the way we might expect or desire. Sometimes we need to offer ‘arrow prayers’, asking for God’s immediate help in a particular situation. But thankfully we don't live all our lives in moments of extreme crisis.
What about day-to-day praying?
Prayer is talking and listening to God. We can pray any time, anywhere, about anything …
As we pray our relationship with God deepens. Jesus prayed often and when His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, He gave them the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen
We need to come closer to God, to experience His love for us and to try to make sense of where we are in the world. Prayer is the way we do this.
Sit in peace - It helps to be somewhere quiet, where you can have some time for yourself. You are welcome to come and enjoy the stillness and quietness in all of our churches, pray to God, and meet with him there.
Ask someone - you are welcome to get in touch with any of the team and ask them to pray with you and for you. They can put you in touch with our pastoral ministers for any ongoing prayer needs.
Be creative - use music, a stone, a feather, a flower, or a candle to help you focus.
Prayer activity is a discipline - it can be difficult at times, just like keeping fit, being on a diet, or keeping weeds down in the garden! Little and often is best, but don't give up! No prayer, however inadequate you may feel it to be, is ever wasted or of no value.
Special places for prayer in St. John's
Inside Church
Prayer Space - 'Alive with Prayer'
It is a very special place - an answer to prayer for prayer. You are invited to use it, on your own or with others. Our prayer space is there for personal reflection on issues such as forgiveness, injustice, thankfulness, big questions, identity and stillness. There are two comfortable armchairs along with themed interactive activities and a noticeboard which offers the opportunity for you to add to it.
Votive Candle Stand
The votive candle stand is a dedicated space with seating where someone may go to pray, either privately or with others. Lighting one of these candles represents the prayer that is being said for one’s self or someone else.
Prayer Table
A space has been created near the votive candle stand which anyone can use for prayer and reflection.
There are three special items on the the prayer table: the "Say One for Me' prayer box for prayer requests, prayer pebbles and contemporary Christian postcards to inspire and encourage thought and prayer.
The Lady Chapel
During daylight hours the church is always open for quiet prayer in the Lady Chapel (on the left of the altar). You can say your own prayers or just sit in silence, reflect and wait on God.
West Porch Entrance
Prayer Tree
The Prayer Tree directly inside church is for you to use for prayer, for yourself, a family member, friend or world issues. Answering a request for prayer does not out a burden on us. It's about letting us walk with you down a path you were never intending to walk alone.
Please write a name or a few words on a prayer tag and hang it on the tree, or you can just tie a ribbon to the tree if you wish.
Explore Prayer Cards
A set of prayer cards in a display case are available for you to pick up when you are in need of a boost or want help. You are most welcome to take some for your friends and family as well.
The prayer cards include the following titles:
Being Accepted, Looking for God, Worried about Someone, Finding Peace, Wanting Guidance, Wanting forgiveness, Feeling anxious or sad, Feeling alone, Being thankful, Struggling with change, Feeling Hurt, Grieving.
Prayer Resources
SERVICES BY PHONE
Daily Hope – dial 0800 804 8044 for prayer, reflection, music and worship services from the Church of England. A weekly service is available from 9am every Sunday.
APPS AND WEBSITES
Lectio 365 is a daily devotional resource that helps you pray the bible every day.
App: Free
This provides the text for Morning, Evening and Night Prayer, in traditional or contemporary language, complete with Psalms and readings
from the Church of England.
Time to Pray: Prayer During the Day from the Church of England provides a pattern of prayer and daily Bible reading that is simple yet profound. App: Free
Designed to be accessible wherever you are, this includes music, scripture and questions for reflection, based on the Daily Eucharist Lectionary. App: Free
Spiritual freedom, a deeper relationship with Jesus, and finding God in all things
are three basic precepts of Ignatian Spirituality. App: Free
Northumbria Community is a dispersed network of people, hugely diverse, from different backgrounds, streams and edges of the Christian faith.