Resources

We hope that you will find some of these resources helpful as we all spend more time at home. 

PrayFocus on Prayer 

In Lent this year, we focussed on growing in our prayer life, both individually and corporately.  Below are Eils' suggestions to help us dig deeper in our prayer life.   


Prayer Resources

Pete GreggHow to Pray - Pete GreigEils has recommended 'How to Pray' by Pete Greig as a good read as we go into Lent and concentrate on getting our prayer life into good order.  All Pete's books are an easy read - try this one for the first time, or take time to reacquaint yourself.

Also take a look at some ideas on enhancing your times of prayer from 24-7 Prayer International headed up by Pete Greig.  You can start off by considering the straight checklist for your prayer activities.  Discover your prayer personality at 24-7 Prayer.

Some more books worth considering are:

  • Sacred Pathways - Discover your soul's path to God by Gary Thomas. There's more on Gary Thomas' website.
  • Personality and Prayer by Ruth Fowke.  Published in 2009 and available from various bookshops including Waterstones.
  • Books on Enneagram and Prayer can be found on many bookshop lists.  Discover how your particular personality type lends itself to a style of prayer.  
  • There's a lot to read on prayer on the Waverley Abbey Resources CWR website as well.

Events

Zoom links where relevant will follow in the usual St John's Sunday emails - sign-up for the Sunday emails, or to sign-up for events/courses below.

'Praying Aloud' Course

This will be on Zoom - new dates to come
In our recent questionnaire, a number of you indicated that you would like to grow in confidence when it comes to praying out loud in a small group. This is for you and for anyone else who would like to grow in this area! Christine Keen will be running the two session course, with practical pointers and the chance to 'have a go' in a very safe and encouraging environment. The course will be limited to six people, but we will consider offering a second course if it proves popular.  Please sign-up above

Ideas you could try out at home...

Why not try and expand your prayer life a little by exploring a new habit? You could choose one of the following and make it a practice throughout Lent or, if you like variety, you could have a go at something different each week! Here are a few examples…

·        Get a resource to help guide your prayers each day – we particularly recommend Lectio 365 from 24/7 Prayer (phone app) which offers around ten minutes of guided prayer and reflection on scripture each day. Daily Bread from Scripture Union is also popular if you prefer a booklet!

·        Pray through the Lord's prayer each day - set an alarm on your phone as a reminder!

·        Light a candle and spend a few minutes in silence, simply aiming to 'be still' in the presence of God without needing to say anything.

·        Journal your prayers, writing down what you want to say to God and what you sense he might be saying to you.

·        Go for a prayer walk. Get out in God's creation and allow nature to inspire you, or walk a few local streets and pray for God's blessing upon your neighbours.

·        Commit to praying for three friends or colleagues who are not Christians. Be brave and let them know – you could ask them if there is anything specific they would appreciate you praying for them.

 ·        Use the Ignatian prayer of Examen before you go to bed:

    • Spend a moment reviewing the day, paying attention to your emotions
    • Note anything that you are grateful for, or that brought you joy. Thank God for those things
    • Note anything that you brought a sense of sadness or regret. Offer those things to God in prayer
    • Ask God to help you be aware of his presence with you tomorrow



Midweek at St John's

We have produced our own 'Prayer and Worship at Home' booklet of resources to aid your worship at home.

If you would appreciate a brief 'thought for the day' midweek, then do join Eils live on our Facebook page every Wednesday at 8pm to Pause and Pray. 

Normally each Wednesday some of us are gathering to say Compline (Night Prayer) together over Zoom at 8.45pm.     Please email us if you would like further details of how to join. 

More helpful resources

Call Daily HopeDaily Hope - a free telephone line of hymns, reflections and prayers
The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind. Choose to hear a prayer, hymns or more.  New content is added each day.  Daily Hope is produced by the Church of England in partnership with CONNECTIONS at Holy Trinity Claygate, and Faith in Later Life

King's Storeroom

Need a Christian book?  Then go to The King's Storeroom in the Richard Mayo Centre (Kingston URC), Eden St., Kingston

You may remember ReFresh/CLC Books on Tolworth Broadway. Fairly recently it has became The King’s Storeroom, located in the Richard Mayo Centre in Eden Street, Kingston.

The bookshop is now open there two days a week, Mondays and Fridays, from 10-2pm, offering Christian books, resources, Bibles, cards & gifts.  Call: 020 8390 5400;  e-mail The King's Storeroom - local delivery is possible.

Check out their website here

New!

Hope in DepressionStarting Tuesday 23rd February, 7.15-9.15pm
Hosted on Zoom by Christ Church, Surbiton Hill

A free six-week course for people living with, or caring for those with depression and anxiety, run in a caring, confidential and encouraging environment.
For more information or details about how to book a place, please 
click here . 

For children and young families

Our friends Nick and Becky Drake from Gas Street Church in Birmingham are hosting short services packed with fun for children and young families at 4pm every Wednesday and Saturday. Go to their Worship for Everyone page to join them live or catch up later.

The Easter Story Scavenger Hunt is still available - just follow the link to download activity that you can do around your house or garden.

Bible reading resources

The Lectio 365 app is a great resource if you are looking for something that is short, easily accessible and reflective in its style, helping you to think about a short passage of scripture and to pray each day.

If you are looking for something a bit deeper, you can study the BibleInOneYear with Nicky Gumble, which includes daily readings and commentary, either via the app or a daily email.

Want to better understand the Bible as a whole? Check out the Bible Project website which contains a whole host of brilliant animated videos explaining the bigger overall narrative of scripture. 

Pete Gregg - ow to prayPete Gregg24/7 Prayer is an international, interdenominational movement of prayer, mission and justice; a non-stop prayer meeting that has continued for every minute of this century so far, in over half the countries on Earth. 24/7 Prayer resources; How to pray - Pete Gregg - book review; How to pray audio book.

The Spring Harvest Home recommended resource list  provides access to a range of books and a few dvds. 


Thy Kingdom ComeThy Kingdom Come - if you were unable to join the global wave of prayer calling all Christians to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know the love and peace of Jesus Christ - 21st to 31st May - then the Prayer Journal is still available.  Download the 2020 Prayer Journal where you will find for each of the days up to Pentecost there is a passage from the Bible, a short reflection, a prayer, and a suggestion for action. There is also space each day to make your own notes. 

If you are out and about again ....

The ASK Topical Lunches at All Saints Church, Market Place, KT1 1JP have started up again.  They are at lunchtime (13:00 to 13:45) on Wednesdays once a month and topical issues in Kingston are discussed.  Dates are September 17th; October 15th; and November 19th.  More details.

Mental health support

The Church of England have produced a mental health reflections booklet with material to provide hope, reassurance and comfort at this time.

Southwark Diocese monthly newspaper, The Bridge, has continued to be published - read the latest edition at https://southwark.anglican.org/news/the-bridge

Suggested radio & television programmes to make use of at home

Premier Christian Radio has a variety of programmes throughout the day. 
At 2.30pm each weekday they have a Worship Hour which includes worship songs, Bible readings and prayers. You can find Premier on DAB digital radio, on Medium Wave 1305, or Freeview channel 725.

BBC Radio 4 broadcasts Sunday Worship every Sunday at 8.10am. The Daily Service is on at 9.45am from Monday to Friday on DAB digital radio and Long Wave 198.

BBC One The Sunday morning Sunday Worship programme broadcast during lockdown has ended.  As at 10th July four sermons and two services are still available on iPlayer,  but Songs of Praise continues every Sunday at 1.15pm.

If you missed it in April, you can still enjoy much of the content Spring Harvest Home 2020 free, online while we are in lockdown. The 2020 theme is 'Unleashed - The Acts Church Today'.

Please check out these Resources from time-to-time as we will be continuing to add to them over the next few weeks.