It’s August and a time to dip your toe into something new.  Here are a few ways, outside of the normal services, to explore your faith in Coniston and Torver:

Sunday, 7 August, 9 a.m., Biker’s Breakfast at St. Luke’s Torver.  A song, a reading, a word for the day, a prayer, then breakfast.  Time for spirituality, food and good conversation.  Goes on until 11:30.

Sunday, 7 August 5 p.m., Open Air family worship, St. Andrew’s Coniston, led by the Methodist Church.  a little magic, a little singing, and a word to take away.  Good fun too!

Wednesday, 10 August, 11-3 p.m.  Open Prayer Space St. Andrew’s Coniston.  Candles and music and prayer for all.  Enjoy the space and time to just be with God.

Wednesday, 10, 17, 24 & 31 August, 12 p.m.. Prayer & Praise, St. Andrew’s Coniston.  A 30 minute service of time out to refresh.  Meditation, music and worship.  A time to just listen to God.

Sunday, 28 August, 6 p.m., Sing & Share, St. Luke’s Torver.  An informal service followed by supper.  Sing for your supper!

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has called on all churches across the land to participate in a week of prayer, from 8 to 15 May.  You are invited to join the following events taking place in Coniston.

St. Andrew’s Church, Wednesday, 11 May 2016

Open Prayer Space, 11:00 to 12:00; 12:30 to 15:00

Time Out, Prayer & Praise, 12:00 to 12:30 

Why pray?  Christians believe that ‘prayer changes things’, and we are all very aware of the need for peace and hope in our world which is trying to cope with so many issues of local, national and international concern.  Even the scientific and  medical communities have recognised that when people are prayed for, even if not believers themselves, their recovery record is consistently better than those who were not open to prayer.

The Prayer Space is in the body of the warm church and is there for anyone to pop in at any time.  You may wish to sit quietly and reflect in peace, write a prayer on a tag and attach it to the prayer tree, light a candle for someone you care for or just ‘be’. There is usually someone there to talk to or pray with if you wish to, but that choice will be yours.

Time Out is for those who want to come together with others to focus on a theme in an active spirit of worship with music and prayer.  Time to listen to God.

Often when crisis strikes we can feel helpless or even hopeless, not knowing what to do to help…when that happens…we can always pray!

‘Fear not for I am with you,

Be not dismayed for I am your God,

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my victorious right hand’

Isaiah 41:10

So let’s do something positive, and ‘pop-in and pray!’

The January calendar offers some alternative ways to experience worship.  The first Sunday brought us Michael Adams who spoke about the light of Christ that eliminates all darkness.  It was his first time preaching at St. Andrews, having stepped in while Tim is on holiday in New Zealand.   His presence is full of the power of the Holy Spirit.  Our services were blessed by his ministry.

On Wednesday, 13 January, from 11 to 3 p.m., there is an Open Prayer Space at St. Andrew’s Church.  The church will be heated, candles will be lit, music will be playing and the regular structured Prayer and Praise service will take place at noon.  All are welcome to take time out, leave cares and concerns in the hands of the Almighty and step into the arms of Christ to hear what he has to say.

On Sunday 17 January, 11 a.m.,  we celebrate Christian unity with the Methodists at the Chapel for an Octave of Prayer.  St. Andrew’s Church will be open for visitors but the regular service will take place at the Methodist Chapel.

Sunday, 24 January, 6 p.m. Sing and Share takes place at St. Luke’s Church, Torver.  This is an informal service with an informal talk, worshipful songs of praise and prayer with refreshments of good food, healthful drink and sweet treats to follow.

The 5th Sunday of 31 January brings us all together at St. Luke’s Church in Torver again for Morning Prayer at 11 a.m.  Tim will be back from New Zealand for the 4th Sunday of Epiphany.

In between our regular services will be held on 10 January at both St. Luke’s and St. Andrews and 24 January at St. Andrew’s.  All welcome!