For Christians, God - the creative source of all that there is - is understood most clearly as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three aspects of the one indivisible, unchanging and eternal being we call God. That there is a God who creates and redeems us in the power of his love is shown throughout the world's history but above all in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This God continually strengthens us for life's journey through his Holy Spirit. In relationship with God in the power of the Holy Spirit and in union with Christ, we can draw closer to God and grow in love of him. In baptism we become part of the body of Christ in the church and within the life of the church we are nurtured and travel together on our pilgrimage of life.

This relationship with God is built up through prayer, both personal and in common with other Christians, and through the sacraments of the church, particularly through receiving Holy Communion.

Prayer is nothing more nor less than communion with God, making contact in whatever way seems easiest to you. You need do no more than make space to listen to God by trying to find some stillness and quiet in which you can talk to God and listen. Although the idea of 'God' can seem remote to some people, in the person of Jesus we see (as one of the Churches prayers has it) 'the invisible God made visible and so we are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see'. None of us is worthy of God's love but his grace knows no limits. Just turn to him. Below are some prayers that you might find helpful. 

Blessed are you, Lord God Almighty.

You are the giver of life and power;

all energy, all strength comes from you.

We come to you for renewal and refreshment.

We come to rest in your presence

that we may find strength and hope in you.

We pray for all who preach the word

and administer the sacraments,

that they may find great strength from your presence.

May the Church be a place of stillness and refreshment.

May your people show

that you give joy and peace to their lives.

Lord God, wait before you.

Renew our strength.

We pray for all who are responsible

for the limited resources of our world,

that we may use them with respect and care.

We ask your blessing

on all who provide our homes with power and light:

those who work in the oil, gas and electric industries.

We remember all who are in emerging nations

and are looking to new sources of power.

Lord God, we wait before you.

Renew our strength.

We pray for all who expend their enegies

in caring for us and loving us.

We ask you to bless our homes and our loved ones.

We pray for those who have taught us

and all who have provided for our needs.

Lord God, we wait before you.

Renew our strength. 

Father, all-powerful,

we remember the needs of the weary,

the powerless, the ill.

We ask your blessing on all who feel

that they cannot cope with life

or who are drained of their resources.

We pray especially for those who are terminally ill.

Lord God, we wait before you.

Renew our strength.

Father, you are the giver of life and life eternal.

We remember in your presence

the holy ones who have served you.

We pray for our loved ones departed,

that all may be renewed by your power.

.

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ,

Amen.

ICON OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD OF CLEMENCY 

^{© Yvonne Bell,  2004}or

The icon of the Madonna and Child is the most recent addition to the church. It was given in memory of Adrian Dwayne Worrell, a former altar boy, who was murdered in 2002. Dwayne's family is of Barbadian origin, and so it seemed appropriate to have a Black Madonna icon.

It was painted by Yvonne Bell, a Christian sacred artist and vestment maker, using the traditional methods of icon painting of egg tempera and gold leaf on solid wood. Yvonne was able to find a panel of  Iroko wood, an African hardwood to use. Traditionally icons of Mary and Jesus reflect her as 'Queen of Heaven' by using royal symbols and Yvonne has used African symbols of royalty in this tradition. The fabric prints are African and Mary's robe is in the material used for a royal family in Nigeria. The pink beaded bracelet is as worn by princesses in East Africa.

An icon is like a window onto the divine: by gazing on the picture it is possible to pray through the icon to the spiritual reality beyond. In the case of this icon, by focussing on the picture, we can enter into a new understanding of the incarnation of Jesus, his humanity represented by his relationship with his mother and a deeper understanding of Mary and the way in which she enabled the incarnation to take place. Jesus looks at his mother and she, embracing him, looks out at us and draws us too into the picture in prayer.