Elaine Whitfield, Churchwarden at St Stephen's Church in Redditch has started a prayer group on Skype and is keen for other across the Diocese to join her.
She said:
"Suspension of services, people living alone in self-isolation and now closed churches along with everyone saying how much they’re missing church...over the past week all of these things kept nudging me towards doing something about it; a deep visceral feeling that I needed to do something.
After all, the buildings may represent church but it’s actually us, every one of us - every day we are the Church through worshipping and praying together; serving, loving, learning and growing together too.
Matthew 18:20 kept popping into my mind:
'For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.'
To my surprise I found myself suggesting to a couple of members of my church family that perhaps it would help if I set up a Skype prayer group, so that we could pray together and see each other too. Anyone who knows me will know that for me this is a big deal; although silent prayer is not a problem, I find praying aloud in company a struggle! But the idea just wouldn’t go away.
God obviously thinks it’s about time I got over myself! The power of prayer is mighty, comforting and we need to find a way to come together to worship and be church during these difficult times. Hopefully this Skype group will, in some small way, help us to do this."
If you would like to know more about Elaine's Skype prayer group and perhaps join her, please drop her an email on: ladyelainewhitfield@gmail.com
