UCB Broadcast May 2007
Hello and welcome to the Parliamentary prayer update, my name is Gareth Wallace and I work in Westminster for the Evangelical Alliance Public Affairs Department.
This week is the annual week of prayer for Parliament and Whitehall.
Each year the week brings together Christians to pray for God’s blessing on politics and government in the UK.
The prayer week is organised by three key groups. Christians in Parliament, which is the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Christian community in the Palace of Westminster, Christians in Government, which is the network of Christian fellowships in government departments and ministries, and 24-7 Prayer, the international prayer network.
The week is focused on praying for those who have responsibilities relating to governing the UK such as MPs, Peers, Ministers, Civil Servants, and all the many thousands of Parliamentary Staff from cleaners, to clerks, to cooks. Without them our Parliament and Government would cease to function.
This week represents an opportunity for individuals, churches, denominations, organisations, prayer networks, charities, and home groups to engage in concerted prayer for those who work at the heart of Government, often in very stressful and thankless roles.
The week began on Sunday 20th with Christians who work in Parliament sharing at their home churches about how to get engaged in praying for Westminster.
Monday saw the first of the prayer walks around Parliament as well as a prayer service in Methodist Central hall for Christians from Whitehall and Westminster. On Tuesday the prayer walks were complemented by lunchtime Bible study lead by theologian Crispin Fletcher-Louis. The Day concluded with an amazing prayer service in Parliament’s own Chapel lead by a Choir from Jesus House Church and Jeremy Jennings from Holy Trinity Brompton.
Yesterday saw a series of prayer meetings taking place across Whitehall departments including the Cabinet Office, the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Treasury.
Today on Thursday the 24th May at lunchtime there is a special screening of ‘The Walk', The Bible Society’s film about Wilberforce.
Please pray that many MPs will be able to make the time to come and watch the film.
If you are in London you can still join in one of the prayer meetings or scheduled events in Westminster during this week of prayer. Please see the Christians in Parliament website or email parliamentandwhitehall@24-7prayer.com
Tomorrow morning (Friday 25th) a prayer walk begins at 10am starting in Victoria Gardens which is beside the river, next to the House of Lords.
On Saturday the 26th of May at 12.00pm a Prayer Walk begins from Victoria Gardens concluding at 1pm with a Picnic at St James's Park, please do pray for sunshine!
Finally on Sunday the 27th of May as the week of Prayer for Parliament concludes, you can join with thousands of Christians at West Ham football club’s enormous stadium at Upton Park in East London to celebrate the Global Day of prayer.
Please pray that this huge prayer rally with over 40,000 Christians praying for our nation will have a huge impact on our society and on the church.
Don’t worry if you are not able to attend the Parliamentary events or the Global Day of Prayer event at West Ham, the most exciting thing about God’s gift of prayer is that it is global and instant!
Perhaps you could use the topic of prayer for Parliament and our nation as the theme for a prayer meeting at your home church?
Please pray for those who lead our country such as MPs, Peers, Ministers, civil servants and parliamentary staff.
Pray that they might make wise decisions and think fully about the consequences of those decisions.
Pray also for Christians working in Parliament and Whitehall.Pray that their presence in Westminster would be felt and that God would continue to use them to influence those in power.
Pray that God would raise up a generation of young people seeking to make a difference through Parliament, political Journalism and the Civil Service.
Last week I shared at the monthly Westminster Parliamentary Prayer service. I read from the book of Proverbs Chapter 8. This passage of scripture particularly comes alive for me when thinking of praying for Parliament, particularly verses 12 to 17
12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.
15 By me Kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;
16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Prayer and Action
For further insights on these and other issues the Evangelical Alliance Public Affairs department produces a monthly parliamentary magazine, PQ, and a monthly ‘Prayer and Campaigns’ action and prayer sheet along with topical political briefing material. If you have any questions please e-mail the public affairs team at pub-aff@eauk.org
