Feedback: The Larne Global Day of Prayer event was held in Larne Leisure Centre, and over 80 people were in attendance. Worship was led by well known inspirational singers, Jubilate.
The theme for the afternoon was Watch and Pray. It truly was a UNITED church event with representatives from over 7 different denominations represented! Praise God!
Rev Andrew Kingston, the minister of Larne Methodist Church, and Superintendent of the circuit, led us in a call to worship from Ezekiel 3 v17 reminding us of our responsibility to be spiritual watchmen and women. Following the opening prayer, the congregation heartily sang ''Be Thou My Vision'', and then the minister of St Cedma's Church of Ireland, Archdeacon Stephen Forde, shared a reading from Matthew's Gospel Ch 26v36-41 which challenges us to stay the course in prayer, unlike the early disciples!
A time of intercessory prayer for various local and world situations followed this, and was led by Ann, a lay member of St Anthony's Roman Catholic Church. There was also involvement from the youth of First Larne Presbyterian Church who performed a thought provoking drama on giving our ''wounded hearts'' to the Lord Jesus.
Jubilate led us in a number of worship songs one of which was ''If you believe and I believe, and we together pray, The Holy Spirit must come down and set God's people free!''
A challenging address was then given by the local Elim Church Minister Pastor Gordon Graham who urged us to stand in the gap, based on Ezekiel 22V30 V31 when God looked for an Intercessor but there was no-one. Gordon said that we are called to stand in the spiritual gap for our hurting world and its hurting people. He asked us to be a Spiritual Bridge between Heaven and Earth and between darkness and light! Were we willing to ''Pray the Price''?
Further Praise followed and Fr Rory Sheehan from St Anthony's then conducted prayers for our land and the lighting of candles, then a large candle was lit, representing Jesus Christ, the light of the world, followed by the lighting of 7 other candles by all the churches that were present. Rory reminded us to be beacons of hope for our community bringing healing and light.
The afternoon ended with Jubilate leading the congregation in the hymn ''Christ be our light''
A time of fellowship was then enjoyed over refreshments, and the local organisers breathed a sigh of relief that everything had gone off smoothly with a lovely sense of God's presence among us! To God be the glory for such a blessed afternoon!
Feedback Report by Gordon Graham, Larne Tuesday Group.
