What’s special about Thursday?
This Thursday is Ascension Day. It is the day Christians remember the time when we believe Jesus went back up to Heaven. It comes about halfway between Easter, when we believe he died and rose again, and Pentecost when we believe God sent the Holy Spirit to help the first Christians.
What’s happening on this Thursday?
It is an international day of prayer. It is the start of ten days of prayer ending on Pentecost Sunday, the 20th of May. Events are taking place all over the country and in many others. It’s called Thy Kingdom Come, after a line from The Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus taught his disciples.
For more, go to the website. Here’s an extract.
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. What started out as an invitation from the Archbishops’ of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.
The hope is that:
- people will commit to pray with God’s world-wide family – as a church, individually or as a family;
- churches will hold prayer events, such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks, across the UK and in other parts of the world;
- people will be empowered through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
What am I doing on Thursday?
I am joining a prayer-walk in West Warrington. I will be walking only some of the way and taking part in some of the prayer times in some of the churches the participants will be visiting. It is not a march or a procession. People will be walking and praying. It’s a bit like a pilgrimage, only we are not going off somewhere. We are praying in our own area for our our own area and for people around us.
What is the plan for Thursday?
The day begins at 9 am at St Jame’s Church, Great Sankey. People will walk to St Philip’s, Westbrook, and they will move on at 11 o’clock to St Joseph’s, Penketh. There will be a rest for lunch and prayer at St Joseph’s from 12.30 to 2.00. Bring your own lunch, but someone is providing tea and coffee. At 2.00 they will set out to walk to St Mary’s, Great Sankey, where they will hold a short service at 3.30. There will also be a service at St Philip’s at 7.30 pm.
What are you doing on Thursday?
If you are a Christian living in or near West Warrington, please come to at least one of the phases. Anyone who doesn’t fancy a long walk is welcome to just come to one of the stationary elements. If you are anywhere else in the World, go to the website and find an event near you. Pray Thy Kingdom Come.
Are Thursday’s events only for Christians?
If you are not a Christian, feel free to come and see what’s happening. Pray in whatever way you feel you can or ask us to pray for you. Bring your doubts. And your lunch.
If nothing else, at least you now know what this lot are doing, wandering the streets of West Warrington!
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