All Done!

It's hard to believe, but the three days of prayer in Downpatrick Town Centre are over, and the shop/office unit has been handed back into the care of its leaseholder (we're very grateful to them for giving us free use of their space).

Here are some photos to show you how the room was set up and used.

Confession space (people were invited to write their sins in the sand as a way of confessing them to God, then wipe them away to symbolise receiving God's forgiveness - like mists cleared by the wind: Isaiah 44:22)

Space to give thanks (we wrote about things for which we were thankful onto sticky notes, then attached them to building blocks and built up a 'memorial of stones' - like Joshua did when they crossed the River Jordan: Joshua 4:20)

Prayer for healing (a space to pray for yourself or others in need of healing)

  

Wailing Wall (believing that Jesus hears our hearts' deepest cries, we invited participants to write down their prayers for themselves, their families, our community, the nation and the world. These prayers were then inserted into the gaps in our 'wailing wall')


There were also areas for responding creatively to God's grace and love as displayed in Creation and through Jesus, and for simply sitting in peace and quiet to hear of his love and to read the Bible or other books to know God better.


We realise this year we didn't advertise the existence of the prayer room particularly well - it was a case of seeing whether or not we could do it! Should we try it again? Why not leave a comment on this post and tell us your thoughts (or your experiences of the St. Patrick's Festival Prayer Room in 2010).

Now Open!

Yes, the St. Patrick's Festival Prayer Room is now open at the former Down Democrat offices, for three days only. Open to the public 8am-6pm Monday 15-Wednesday 17 March, and by appointment throughout the evening and night.

Call in, pray, meet God and be strengthened for life and mission.

Countdown...

The countdown begins! This St. Patrick's Festival, the churches in Downpatrick will host a space for prayer and reflection in a shop unit on Market Street for shoppers and festival-goers alike. It will be open Monday-Wednesday of Festival week, 8am-6pm - just call in! (Overnight prayer by appointment) ... It's going to be stimulating, creative, meaningful, and you might just encounter God.

24-7prayer has happened in the Downpatrick area a couple of times recently - the Methodist Church was open during St. Patrick's Day 2009, and the church at Saul was open non-stop for a week in October 2009. Several of our churches are open for prayer every day of the year.

Use the links at the top of these pages to find out more.