Christian Coffee House - Prayer/Chat thread. No rubbish church coffee allowed.

[Madhairday]

With the latest prayer thread coming to an end, we thought we would create a new thread for prayer and general chat too - we had chat threads running for years alongside prayer threads, and we thought it would be great to combine them. I try and collate some of the prayer requests from the last thread in the next few days. In the meantime, dive in! Lurkers/newbies - you are welcome to post. Feel free to start any chat subject about Christianity, church, worship etc, and do share any prayer needs.
Would love to hear from those who were on previous threads and haven't been around for a while, too. Come and let us know how you are.

In the unlikely event that anyone is up, could you please hold DS in prayer. And me.

DS has serious mental health issues, is physically poorly and has precarious living arrangements. He can't be at home because of the devastating impact that would have on younger siblings.

He falls through care gaps. I love him so much. I'm lying here, wondering how to apply the Easter message of hope to all this. Another sleepless night.

Thank you and praying that you all have a peaceful and blessed Easter day.

Praying here Molly.

Praying molly. For you, for peace and sleep and for your ds, that God is with him and keeps him safe. I know how worrying it is. My sister is also suffering from mental health problems and alcohol addiction and at the moment care services aren’t in place to help her, and she is getting worse and the lockdown is really making an already very difficult situation even harder.
I am praying for you and your son.

Thank you, both, so much. And Donhill, I'll pray for your sister. I'm sorry to hear about the care services and sympathise.

They've let our DS and us, as carers/parents, down, too - badly.

Thank you again for responding. I felt so alone and had been up all night. Your early messages are much appreciated.

Thank you for your prayers Molly. Trying to care for someone and worrying about someone with mental health difficulties is so so hard. I’m sorry you have been let down.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!

Praise Him that there is no illness of any kind, no death, no imperfect and failing care systems, no gaps, in His Kingdom. He is all in all.

We pray that His will may be done, on Earth as in Heaven, that care may be given and lives healed.

Happy Easter!

Amen, Strawberry!

Happy resurrection Sunday. Jesus is risen! Jesus is alive! And the power of the grave has no claim on us ❤️

Lifting you up in prayer, Molly.

Praying for Molly's Son and Donhill's sister - hope you both feel God draw close to you and a real positive change happens for those you love who are in distress.

Happy Easter everyone

Happy Easter all! Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed!
I could get used to having the Archbishop of Canterbury in our living room and having coffee and knitting with the sermon.

A prayer for your DS Molly.

Happy Easter everyone. I hope you all had a lovely celebration. Even if you could not be with your families as you would have liked.

Didn't feel quite right not going to church but managed to enjoy the Easter vigil mass online (after the first half hour of faff with candles, which I couldn't concerntrate for or feel a part of). Hitherto unforseen benefits of virtual worship that I found a really good online missal which gave me all the words and allowed me to follow the priest part as well as my responses. It made a long mass much more enjoyable.

Am trying to embrace eastertide and not feel stuck in the perpetual lent of coronavirus lockdown.

I really enjoyed the lectio365 app holy week reflections. I find Pete Greig and the 24/7 crew inspiring.

Sorry Donhill, praying for your sister too, and for you as its not easy when those we love cant help themselves.

Thank you Zen. Yes it’s very difficult.

How is everyone getting on? I was wondering how your sister is, @Donhill, and your son, @Molly175.

This week has felt a little flat after Easter, we did so much online as a church and there was so much joy in the darkness, there still is but there was bound to be a bit of a come down. I've really been enjoying the Spring Harvest Home stuff this week - anyone been watching? It's all over on their YouTube channel - teaching, worship, seminars, really good stuff. And their theme is Unleashed which is so pertinent for now, a church unleashed from the building - they had no idea why God gave them that idea for a theme but it's now evident. I'd really recommend it, it's very upbuilding.

@ZenNudist really glad you're enjoying the Lectio365 app. I really love it, I don't do it every day but it does help when I do. How are you getting on with it all?

Keep in touch everyone and let us know what you'd like prayer for in this difficult time.

I've been using Pray as you Go podcast for quite a while now. I find it really useful.

Hi MHD really enjoyed the holy week devotions on lectio365. It helped it was Pete Greig (who always seems to find just the right words for prayer). I'm still doing it. Sometimes it's not possible to add an extra 10mins on top of other prayers and devotionals. DH starts to look irritated if I'm praying for ages!! Praying seems to take up lots of my free time right now.

I find that it's great just as a structure for prayer and a way of listening to bible readings. I'm getting a bible reading fix anyway from a short daily online mass. I tried daily examen for a while but I didn't have the discipline to keep it up, despite it being a good way to feel really "connected" to God.

The only problem with all this online /app praying is its not a great substitute for just having a genuine conversation with God.

Will take a look at Spring Harvest. Thanks.

I'd agree re Spring Harvest at Home. Loved Rachel Gardner's first day talk on Monday, about how, when the very young church was "scattered", they were very probably scared and confused just like we are now. They didn't necessarily leave Jerusalem thinking "Praise you God, you've created a situation where we must leave our homes and livelihoods, so that we can witness to you all over the known world!" But that's what they found themselves doing anyway.

Also, can I ask for prayer about an online prayer meeting I was in today that got "bombed" in the worst kind of way? Pray for the group, the perpetrator, but most of all the victim. Can't say any more, but God knows.

Please, please check you're following all advice about keeping video meetings safe if you're organising one.

Just popping in to say hi, having been peeking longingly in through the window for a while. As I’m spending too much time on Mumsnet I am going to try to check in here a bit. Great to hear what you’re all up to.

I normally use Lectio365 too, but am really struggling having the kids home 24/7. I used to pray when the toddler was at playgroup but now there’s always someone around, and when I do get a break I spend it faffing. I’ll check in again soon, please hold me accountable (I can’t face anyone irl at the moment as they all very kindly ask about something else going on which I can’t face talking about). Going to pray now....

Hello peajotter, you're very welcome here! Tell us a bit about you (worship preferences? Coffee or tea? What after service snack? Flavour of church?

Oh Strawberry that's awful about the zoom bombing, I've heard of that happening, I'm sorry it was traumatic for the leader :( not good!

I must watch Rachel Gardner's talk too. I've known her for many years, she's an amazing woman.

ZenNudist I'm a big fan of Pete Greig. Have you read any of his books? I love them all but especially God on Mute and Dirty Glory. Excellent stuff. His book red moon rising is brilliant as well, the story of the 24/7 prayer movement, it's inspiring stuff.

Where do I find the Spring Harvest stuff please? I have fond memories as a young teenager.

Google or search on YouTube for spring harvest 2020.

(Thanks madhair, however when I said the victim I didn't mean the leader of the meeting.)

Thank you for asking about my dsis MHD. She is still suffering. It is very difficult. The lockdown is not helping particularly as she is at home with her dc. So I would very much appreciate prayers for her, but also her dh and dc.

And it makes me aware of all the suffering that must be going on behind closed doors at the moment - carers without their usual respite, people with mental or physical health issues whose usual support system has disappeared and so many children who must be suffering in unhappy families too. I pray for them all, that God is with them.

Yes there are so many with existing mental health problems, already living with domestic abuse, addictions. And then there'll be those developing such problems because of lockdown.

But also have heard (and witnessed, possibly) the time quietly at home, with no external demands, being healing for some young people and for some adults too.

Is there a Bible verse which is the same sentiment as "swings and roundabouts"??!

Just popping my head in to say hi.

Re: swings and roundabouts, I think some of us with MH issues probably have an existing ‘toolbox’ of strategies that can help for the awful days. That’s not to say it’s easy or even easier than those without but I think it has been helpful on some days. I’d imagine developing MH issues because of this when you haven’t had them before and there’s less support around than usual isn’t great.

You are probably right about the quieter time being healing for some people as well.