Every Vote Counts
27 Apr 2016
Praying for the UK, Europe and the EU Referendum
14th May – 2nd July 2016
Every vote counts in this EU Referendum. At the moment many are confused about the issues, what to believe, what to think and ultimately how to vote. We believe the starting point is prayer and fasting, to better understand God's will and purpose for our nation and for Europe.
The political and economic issues are important and so is God's call on these islands and His spiritual purpose for Europe. We believe we are in fast changing times and that God is stirring us to pray for spiritual awakening. As the EU Referendum approaches we are praying that each of our votes count – that God will lead us and guide us so that His will is done among the nations.
Let us seek the Lord and His word afresh, asking the Holy Spirit to replace fear with His peace. Let us come and worship, lifting up the name of Jesus and humbly ask for His mercy and blessing on all the peoples and nations of Europe. Nations of the EU marked with *.
As we ask for His wisdom to engage with the issues He places on our hearts, let's expect Him to lead and guide us.
Use this prayer guide in your homes, small groups, prayer meetings and church services.
The World Prayer Centre will not be making a recommendation on how to vote but we do want to mobilise prayer. A vote is a choice and people will vote in different ways, but we pray for God's sovereignty over the decision and His wisdom as we make that choice.
Download 'Every Vote Counts' prayer guide.
Download 'Praying for the UK, Europe and the EU referendum using the Lord's prayer'
Updated list of resources to help you pray.
We are happy to advertise each prayer meeting for the referendum but given the nature of the debate there are a range of events with different focus. In advertising specific prayer meetings that are for an out or remain position we are not endorsing these positions. Our approach remains clear – we encourage people to make their own voting decision wisely and prayerfully and encourage them to pray with us during the period up to the referendum and beyond. Equally we believe in unity in the body of Christ – especially when we have different opinions but share a desire for God's kingdom to come and his will to be done in this nation and in Europe. Check out our event calendar for EU referendum events.
Call for great wave of prayer across the UK
25 Apr 2016
Churches around Hampshire answer Archbishops' call for 'great wave of prayer' across the country
Churches throughout the Diocese of Winchester have responded to a call from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for "a great wave of prayer across our land, throughout the Church of England and many other Churches". Inspired by the simple, powerful words of the Lord's Prayer, the Thy Kingdom Come marathon of prayer will begin on the 6th of May and culminate at Pentecost on Sunday the 15th of May.
The Diocese of Winchester is leading the way in this national movement, with Hampshire churches pioneering a variety of creative new approaches to prayer. Many are setting up prayer stations which will be manned 24/7 for continuous prayer in the week leading up to Pentecost; others will be going out onto local high streets and into coffee shops offering to pray with people in the community; still more will be performing a Novena Prayer – a nine day long act of worship.
Commenting on the prayer initiative, the Right Reverent David Williams, Bishop of Basingstoke, said: "It's exhilarating to see the way people from parishes across the diocese have taken up this call to prayer with such enthusiasm. Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit and the start of the Church's mission to the world. We will be recapturing something of what happened on that first Pentecost Sunday as Christians across the diocese pray for the confidence to share the good news in the 21st century."
Lyndhurst Deanery creates Clock of Prayer
The call for prayer has given churches throughout the diocese the chance to demonstrate their creativity. In Lyndhurst Deanery, for example, parishioners have taken the idea of continuous prayer and are running with it. On a map, the 13 churches which make up the Deanery resemble a clock with Lyndhurst at 12 o'clock, Lymington at 6pm, Brockenhurst in the centre and other churches spread around the edge representing each of the different hours. In the days leading up to Pentecost, prayer will sweep around the deanery like the hand of a clock, passing from one church to the next. One mobile phone will be passed around the churches and people will be encouraged to send messages to the phone with prayer requests.
Romsey residents invited to 'Say One For Me'
Meanwhile, in Romsey, a prayer meeting will be held in Caffè Nero at 9-10am every day in the lead up to Pentecost. People will be offered a free coffee to enjoy while discussing prayer, and by meeting in a local café rather than a church it will be more accessible to all. During each morning, members of the local congregation will also be out on Romsey's High Street offering to pray for people within the community. They will be asking passers-by for their prayer suggestions and handing out 'Say One For Me' cards which local people can fill out and hand in to offer their prayers. The cards will also be distributed in schools, offices, shops and nursing homes. Later, the 'Say One For Me' cards will be collected at Romsey Abbey and every prayer on every card will be offered. For each prayer given in the Abbey over the period a ribbon will be tied on a frame, creating the new altar front for Pentecost Sunday.
Prayer walks in Alton Deanery
In Alton, churches have answered the Archbishops' call for a great wave of prayer by organising prayer walks every day in the period between Ascension and Pentecost. Members of the congregation will be joined on the walks by others not so familiar with the Church as they walk through less visited areas praying for every community. Speaking of the planned prayer walks the Rev Andrew Micklefield said: "We will walk around different parts of the town each day and pray that we will see it through God's eyes, to see where needs are. Very importantly, we will also have a session afterwards to give feedback to see what we can respond to. We want to see the town differently."
24/7 Prayer
Many parishes in the Diocese will be setting up 24/7 prayer stations, where people can sign up to take part in continuous prayer. These prayer rooms will be erected in a variety of places including churches, schools, homes, and community centres, with people taking turns to maintain the uninterrupted prayer around the clock. Jess Ford of 24/7 Prayer International said: "I'm delighted that people have responded so positively to the idea of non-stop prayer. It's inspiring to think that during the week before Pentecost people will be constantly praying, encountering God day and night. It's our hope that this great prayer movement taking hold of the Diocese of Winchester will inspire others, within the Diocese and beyond, to explore prayer and discover its life-changing power."
The wave of prayer will culminate on Sunday 15th May as more than 3,000 young people will join together for an evening of prayer and worship at Winchester Cathedral to celebrate Pentecost. The service is one of six Beacon Events taking place across the country. The Bishop of Basingstoke will lead the evening, with sung worship guided by internationally renowned singer-songwriter Matt Redman. Intended for young Christians, the event will draw on their enthusiasm and energy, with an inspiring message from Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby delivered live via video link.
To find out more about Thy Kingdom Come and to get involved with what's happening near where you live, please visit the Diocese of Winchester website: http://www.winchester.anglican.org/about-us/thy-kingdom-come/
Source: Thy Kingdom Come
‘God’s Not Dead 2’ film première this weekend
22 Apr 2016
This weekend is the launch of the US hit movie God’s Not Dead 2, the sequel to the 2014 international box office hit God’s Not Dead. The storyline follows a school history teacher coming under fire for quoting Jesus in her classroom. When the school board votes to suspend her and threatens to revoke her teaching certificate, she hires a young lawyer to defend her in court. The film both entertains and teaches the audience how to respond to those who dispute Jesus' place in history and His relevance in our lives today. Churches will attend this weekend’s première in London, Aberdeen, Manchester, Belfast, Tranent, Ellesmere Port, and Guernsey. The film will go on more general release next weekend if the première is well-received.
UK to take thousands more child refugees
22 Apr 2016
The UK is to take in up to 3,000 more refugees - most of them vulnerable children - from the war-torn Syria region. Several hundred are expected to be resettled by April 2017, and the rest by 2020. The Government called the move the ‘largest resettlement programme for children in the world’. It is in addition to Prime Minister David Cameron's earlier pledge to take 20,000 refugees by 2020. The scheme will target unaccompanied children as well as those considered at risk of abuse and exploitation: these will include children threatened with child labour and child marriage. There are more than 4.5 million refugees across the region - half of them children in need of food, education and a home. The UN has warned that a whole generation of Syrian children is at risk.
Greece: sun's rays spark Olympic Games flame
22 Apr 2016
Yesterday, in southern Greece, the flame for the Olympic Games in Brazil was lit, using the sun's rays, by an actor performing the role of a high priestess. The torch will be taken by various runners on an international relay that will culminate at the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on 5 August. This ritual was established eighty years ago for the Berlin games, based on a ceremony in ancient Olympia where games were held for more than 1,000 years. Actor Katerina Lehou, who lit the torch, offered a mock prayer to Apollo, the old Greek god of light and music, at the ceremony. The flame burns continuously until the closing ceremony. Records reveal that the pagan Olympic Games and rituals still used today began in 776 BC in Olympia in Greece and are totally rooted in pagan religious symbolism and declarations. Christians are encouraged to pray for the Holy Spirit’s protection and blessings for the Olympic torch route to Rio in the coming months.
The migration crisis and economic problems are threatening both the survival of the European Union and the stability of Eurasia’s entrenched dictatorships, according to an annual report on democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Eurasia. It says the EU’s response to the migration crisis has left the door wide open to those who reject democracy. Renewed nationalism and the erosion of freedom of movement and other fundamental principles are threatening the emergence of democracy. The goal of a Europe ‘whole and free’ has to be updated. The biggest challenge is the spread of xenophobic rhetoric denouncing migrants. Claiming that Europe faces a Muslim invasion has become standard fare for a range of politicians and political parties in Europe, and it undermines a fundamental principle of equality before the law. There is a danger that this kind of hate-filled speech will lead to violence against minorities and refugees.
The Queen turns ninety
22 Apr 2016
Yesterday the Queen became the country's first nonagenarian sovereign. She celebrated with a walkabout with the Duke of Edinburgh to meet members of the public and at midday gun salutes were held across the UK. Later in the day she lit the first in a chain of a thousand beacons across the UK and worldwide. We can thank God for the life of Queen Elizabeth II and celebrate the love that she has for her people and for the grace and commitment with which she carries out her duties. We can thank God for her open declaration of her Christian faith and we can ask God to bless her health, giving her strength and vigour. We can also ask God to bless Prince Philip and all her family, their marriages and their relationships, with health, strength, peace and joy.
Watch and pray for the EU referendum
22 Apr 2016
The vote, and the actions the nation takes after the vote, need soaking in prayer. We are entering a time of political and economic uncertainty. The World Prayer Centre believes this vote is an individual decision and encourages people to pray and listen to God, seeking His will and purpose for this nation and the countries of Europe, believing that God’s heart is that none should perish and all should come to a knowledge of Him. The referendum is happening at a time of great spiritual challenge and opportunity, so we can look beyond the political and economic issues and pray for God’s Kingdom purpose, His mercy and deliverance. The WPC are calling for a season of prayer and fasting from 14 May to 2 July (40 days of prayer up to voting day and for 10 days after). For further information and prayer resources, click the ‘more’ link.