We had an amazing 24 hours praying! We gathered from 9 churches across Wythenshawe and we although we expected about 40 people nearly 80 people turned up! What was fantastic was how people came for an hour and didn't want to leave. People came for an hour then went off and invited friends, family and neighbours returning with them later. This way 8 people who are not Christians came to be in prayer with God by making the labyrinth journey with music & words or to knit or weave or paint a prayer.The picture is what was central in the main prayer space. It is a gathering of crosses from the churches in Wythenshawe. Alongside it is a scripture reading about unity in Christ, a list of all the churches in Wythenshawe and various reflections offered by people and groups of the cross they added. This was a focus for many people who came to sit, kneel, sing and pray aloud or in silence during the 24 hours. There was a cross made by someone's ex husband during a carpentry course he was taking as part of his rehabilitation after a breakdown. There was an willow cross held together with stips of white wool with a poem. There was a paper and leaves cross made by a local parks group a church is part of.
The prayer space used 3 areas in the building with music, labyrinth, prayer beads, books, cds, arts materials and 4 large graffitti prayer boards. The main space was quiet with guided prayer around the communion table led by different churches and individuals. Music was in the other rooms with a selection of cds and a player for people to choose themselves.
Through the night there were at least 6 adults praying between 1-7am! This was amazing and a really fruitful time with lots of space to move, sing aloud and share in pairs in prayer. When some people went away from the building and came back they said it was like waves of prayer were building up and that the space felt different to them. Interesting.
Practical things: 10 people from across the churches came to help set up over a 2 hour period for the event and 8 to help clear up which took about 1 hour. On leaving the prayer space everyone was given a prayer written by a nun who lived in Manchester called 'What is prayer?' to take away. Many people asked when the next one was!!
On Sunday morning for our Palm Sunday Celebration we were surrounded by all of the prayer stations and the inspired offerings to God. Those who had not come along to the prayer event had chance to walk around the building and see what had gone on. There was much enthusiasm and excitement generated this way and it was great that the format of the celebration was shaped by the prayer event on many levels. This week typing up the prayers, reflections, poems and photographing all the prayer boards and other creative work will mean we will share it this Holy Week on the theme we are following: Easter People in a Good Friday World.
If you are thinking of doing this and hesitant about it be encouraged - this was the first time and now we have grown closer together as church in Wythenshawe there will be no stopping us together with God!
