EASTERN BAPTIST
ASSOCIATION
ESSEX PRAYER DIARY
APRIL – JUNE 2015
Regional Ministry Team – Rev. Nick Lear
This quarter begins with the bittersweet experience of Easter. Sweet praises of
‘hosanna!’ become bitter shouts of ‘crucify!’ The sweet, cosy, familiar Passover meal
becomes a bitter meal of betrayal and denial. The sweet humble gracious Jesus is
cruelly crucified by bitter hatred and jealousy. And yet, and yet, when the women
bring sweet spices to mask the bitter smell of death the bitter tears of mourning
become sweet tears of joy. Bitter self-loathing and doubt become sweet shouts of ‘he’s
alive!’
Bitter and sweet go well together in a culinary sense because the one offsets and
accentuates the other. I think this is also true of life, especially life in a church. We
may experience the joy and thrill of seeing someone come to faith and being baptised
while at the same time someone else is experiencing bereavement. I think this is part
of what Jesus meant by ‘life in all its fullness’ and Paul by ‘weep with those who
weep; rejoice with those who rejoice’ – we embrace all aspects of life, just as Jesus
did, and seek to be with people in the bitter and the sweet, acknowledging that Jesus is
already there by his Spirit and can be made manifest in our words, our hands, our
presence.
May you experience the Saviour’s presence in your churches in the bitter and the
sweet.
1
April 5th
Colchester Baptist Church
Associate Minister: Lynsey Heslegrave
Although there has been no Prayer Requests,
please could you use this date to remember the work of this Church.
April 5th
Colchester Hospital
Chaplain: David Flower
Healthcare Chaplains always appreciate the prayers and interest of our Christian Friends in the
Churches.
Colchester Hospital continues to face challenging times, and the Chaplains play their part in
supporting staff, patients and families through times of crisis and change.
We give thanks to God for an open door in Chaplaincy ministry, at all levels in the organisation. We
praise God for the strong group of volunteer chaplains who come regularly to visit and support
patients on the ward and bring their skills and experience to help our hospital community.
Please pray for us as we approach a time of change. Our Senior Chaplain has accepted a call to lead
the team at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Pray that this Trust will appoint a new Senior
Chaplain, and that God's work here will continue to know his blessing.
April 12th
Colchester, Orchard Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Graeme Ross
The months ahead are going to be interesting for us. Two key couples are moving on and this will
have an impact on the way that we do and that we are church. The natural response is to panic and
then despair but rather than plugging gaps and trying to frantically replace (how inappropriate does
that sound?) people, we will be spending time seeking God and considering what he is saying to us.
As we remember that church is about God and not us, we know we will be encouraged as we look to
and are led forwards by Him.
April 12th
Colchester, Parsons Heath Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Dr Steve Rudge
We give thanks for growing links with our local community and for blessing and support for the
Sunday services held in our local primary school once a month. Please pray for wisdom in making
these less formal occasions both a blessing to the fellowship and accessible to the wider community.
Please pray for wisdom for the leadership as we seek the Lord for future direction under challenging
circumstances. Pray also that the church fellowship will embrace the call to commit the ministry to
prayer.
2
April 19th
Corringham & Stanford Le Hope Baptist Church
Pastor: Bob Sullivan
The fellowship are thanking God in prayer for sending us Revd. Peter Alexander to be our
Moderator. He is helping us in the transition period until we can appoint a new minister.
Please continue to pray for the Deacons as they prepare the Profile and forms for Home Mission
Funding. Thank God for new members to our Over 55's Club. We have two Baptisms this year for
two of our young people one on Easter Sunday and one in August. We thank God for all of our
young people who are a joy to us all.
April 19th
Dagenham, Becontree Avenue Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Sue Millar
Praise the Lord for the answered prayers of recent months.
We now have a good group of children regularly attending our Friday Children's Club, and a group
of Coffee Morning regulars, pray for continued growth of these.
Young at Heart and Arts & Crafts groups seem to be picking up after a winter slump, pray for
encouragement for the leaders.
Please pray for our outreach in the coming months through special Services and events.
Pray that, as a very small church, we will not exhaust our few workers and that we will be blessed by
spiritual and numerical growth.
April 26th
Dagenham, Chaplin Road Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Brenda Toft
Dagenham Baptist Church (Chaplin Road) is alive and well!
A recent break-in created a mess but nothing was taken and the damage soon repaired.
Our congregation continues to expand across the age groups ranging currently from 6 months to 99
years, and reflects the make-up of the local population.
Please pray for our young people as they face immense pressures to achieve, and also face peer
pressure because of their priorities, and those who lead them. Also please pray for our pastor who
gives so generously of her time and energy..
May 3rd
Dagenham, Oxlow Lane Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Rob Durrant
Although there has been no Prayer Requests,
please could you use this date to remember the work of this Church.
3
May 3rd
Dagenham, Wood Lane Baptist Church
Minister: Revd David Horncastle
Please Give Thanks:
 That with the help of a loan from the BU, and the hard work of many, the renovation off our
Youth Hall is nearing completion.
 For our Young People as they begin their understanding of what it means to walk in Christ’s
footsteps.
 For all those that give up their time working in our various organisations.
Please Pray For:
 Wisdom as to how we can use our Youth Hall to make more contact with the local community.
 For new initiatives in our mission towards families.
 The Diaconate and all that they do in God’s name.
May 10th
Earls Colne Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Mark Burbridge
We have had an exciting year, since the arrival of a new vicar our pastor and the CofE have worked
very much together in the village where a number of joint ventures have taken place, including visits
to the EC primary school. ECB has a growing deaf ministry reaching out to the those who are hard
of hearing within the area, so we would be grateful for prayer for our joint mission to the village and
the deaf ministry.
May 10th
Eastwood Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Darren Pike
Children and Families Worker: Mrs Melanie Pike
We thank our Lord for all the work that is carried out by the various organisations within our church
and would value prayer for all the leaders and helpers. Some areas do need extra help, particularly
our annual outreach - Party in the Park on the 12th September, 2015. We give thanks to both our
CFW Mrs Melanie Pike and Revd Darren Pike for their enthusiasm and support of EBC and ask for
prayer for them and their children as well as the whole diaconate who give so much support in
leading EBC. Spiritually, this year we are looking very much on the prayer life of the church and we
are looking at new ways to bring this about, one of which is introducing Prayer Partners.
May 17th
Elm Park Baptist Church
Ministers: Revd Colin Phillips and David Crispin
We give thanks to The Lord for another year of progress as a Church, David Crispin has been
commended as a part time minister and preaches once a month and helps with other services and
with the BB midweek, it has also been good to have regular cafe style church service.
We continue to have a successful coffee morning and monthly church outings which we have been
able to share The Gospel with those who come.
4
Please pray for us as we again receive 4 young men who will be working with us and Becontree Ave
Baptist over the next 6 months that they may be used wisely in The Ministry of reaching our
community for Jesus.
May 17th
Frinton Free Church
Senior Minister: Ben Marlowe; Youth Minister: Mark Massey
Seniors Pastor: Sandy Burnett; Children's Pastor: Lesley Sinca
We believe that The Free exists to “make every moment count to see lives transformed by Jesus.”
Please pray that each member and ministry finds purpose and passion in this mission. Thanks.
May 24th
Grays, Socketts Heath Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Ashley Lovett
We praise God for the opportunities we've had to be good news in our neighbourhood, including a
Summer Fair, a joint Holiday Club, a Christmas Fair, our involvement with Thurrock Foodbank, and
Thurrock Lunch Club serving hot meals in school holidays in our hall.
We also give thanks for continuing growth, increased Sunday attendance, an expanded Junior Church
team, and the burgeoning Toddler group.
Our mission of hospitality continues and we are pleased to welcome the Brighter Horizons
bereavement support group, and Judo club.
Please pray for us as we seek God’s will for our future mission and ministry, and as we consider the
development of our premises to meet our expanding requirements and growing numbers.
May 24th
Grays Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Colin Baker
Praise points
 We give thanks to the Lord for our increasing numbers and for the diversity of our fellowship
 Praise the Lord for the the blessing of growing numbers of young people and children
 We are grateful for our newly refurbished worship sanctuary
Prayer points
 We continue to seek fresh ways to reach our local community with the good news
 Since we are seeing growth in both children’s and youth ministry we need to encourage more
workers
 Please pray for our New Wine Prayer Ministry Training Day on 13th June
 Please also pray for another training event on 27th June - Spiritual Readings - using visual and
Bible-based tools to give God’s direction to people.
May 31st
Great Leighs Free Church
Minister: Vacant
Although there has been no Prayer Requests,
please could you use this date to remember the work of this Church.
5
May 31st
Great Sampford Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Susan Johnston
We would ask for prayers as we seek the way forward with our buildings that we can no longer
afford to upkeep. Pray that we will discover God’s plan for us and our ministry into the village where
we serve God as a community of Christian believers.
May 31st
Great Notley (LEP)
Minister: Revd Beth Bendrey
Although there has been no Prayer Requests,
please could you use this date to remember the work of this Church.
June 7th
Hadleigh Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Paul Stow
We have much to give thanks to God over the past year with new people joining us and others who
have been with us a while considering membership.
We have various outreach activities planned during the year including Christianity Explored, a
Children’s bible holiday club during the Easter holidays and community days throughout the year.
We are involved in lunch clubs at two local schools and also in taking lessons and assembly.
We are in the early stages of looking at ways to improve the church premises to make them more
relevant to the community in which we are located.
June 14th
Halstead Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Sean Carter
We give thanks for the induction of our new minister in September 2014; for new initiatives and
fresh emphasis on mission.
Please pray (and join with us if you are near enough) for our planned Flower Festival/Arts and Crafts
Fayre on the theme of God’s Creation on 11th/12th July.
June 21st
Harlow, Church Langley (LEP)
Minister: Revd Alison Taylor (P/T) Revd Anne Kosla (CofE)
Thank the Lord for the diversity of nations & denominations that make up our church family; may
the Holy Spirit led us & Jesus be central in all we do.
Give thanks for all the contacts made during the last year.
We rejoice in the baptism of (2) Turkish ladies, may their witness be a challenge to others.
Please pray that contacts will become believers as we seek to reach out to all ages in our community
with the love of Jesus.
6
June 28th
Harlow, Fore Street Baptist Church
Minister: Revd Tony Mayes
Please pray for the preparations for our summer Kidz Klub (Aug 17 – 22), good weather, lots of
children and plenty of help. Also for our community day 11-12 July. Give thanks for the successful
series of men’s breakfasts and our “Hope Cafe” outreach and for our continued working together
with other local churches.
If any of your church details change, (i.e. Minister, contact e-mail etc) or you find them incorrect,
could you please let me know so that I can update my records.
Thank you
Editor:
Mrs Alison Horncastle
[email protected]
0208 592 4908
7