Critchell, Norman & Denise - UK
Critchell Main pagePrayer Letter February 2005. (click
here for Acrobat pdf version)
‘Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.’
Dear Praying Friends,
May we take this opportunity of thanking you for all your Christmas cards and greetings and wish you a very God-blessed 2005. Of course we thank you too for standing with us in prayer as we have sought to fulfil all that God has called us to. 2004 was in some ways a difficult year, but also a year in which we saw the above verses from Ephesians chapter 3 fulfilled in wonderful ways. We give God the glory and look forward to even greater things in 2005.
Denise writes:
One of the things I asked prayer for in the last prayer letter was that a community of Christ would be formed in Lacey Green. This is beginning to happen due in a great part to the recently completed Alpha Course. The participants were from very mixed backgrounds, one of whom had never set foot in church before she joined the course as her parents were total non-believers. ‘J’ has through the course become a Christian and now brings her children to services at St. John’s. Two others have also become Christians, eleven were filled with the Holy Spirit on the away-day and God has touched all of their lives in many and different ways. All of those who were already Christians have grown in their faith and three who were ‘seeking’ have moved closer to saving faith. The participants now meet in a home-group determined to know more and more of God and His ways—they also regularly attend services at St. John’s and are very much part of church life. Their joy and enthusiasm is permeating the rest of the church. Please give thanks and pray for the new Christians to grow and those who are still seeking, to fully open their lives to God.
During Lent last year one group met in the Vicarage for study, but this year there are a number of groups meeting. Jean G. a long term member of St. John’s has been working with me in setting up a variety of groups and activities for this Lent season, some of which will last just for this period, but others that will continue on permanently.
The Christmas services were quite amazing and brought many people into St. John’s, some of whom remarked that they could feel the presence of God. The Choir were wonderful, are going from strength to strength and most of them are becoming worshippers first and singers second. Rosemary, the Choir Director, meets with me to choose music for services and we enjoy these times together as we are becoming of one mind in what we choose. Although we haven’t a permanent Organist/Musician we do have a brilliant team who play for us—Fiona, Sue, Graham and Ian. Gavin who has played in services unfortunately has had to stand down due to his Father’s illness. Please pray for Gavin, his Dad and Family and for continued development and freedom in our worship.
I am now part of the Governing Body of St. John’s School, which is at present going through an Ofsted Inspection and as Vicar of a Church school I have to be inspected too. I am enjoying this role as well as continuing with assemblies each week at both St. John’s and Speen School. I am also excited about becoming part of a team of Ministers who have been invited in by a secondary school in Princes Risborough to be involved in assemblies and teaching R.E. Please pray for continued inspiration from God, especially assembly ideas. Also give thanks for the wonderful way in which Children, Teachers and parents relate to me and I to them.
Norman writes:
Salem is now over 10 years old and we have so much to thank God for with the influence of the Project spreading far and wide and many lives being touched by God through our work. We are holding a ‘Service of Thanksgiving’, to which all of you are welcome, on Sunday 22nd May at 4pm in St. Peter’s Church in Burnham. Simon Brown who preached at our commissioning service in 1995 will be our Preacher, Please pray for guidance as Graham Saunders my line-manager, Denise and myself meet to plan the service on March 1st.
I am very grateful to those who have given to our 10th anniversary appeal, which at present amounts to £4300, with a small amount of gift-aid to be added on. The amount of giving for this year that we have received or is pledged is running at a good level. However, we do know already that due to one large grant that has been given to the Project for the last 3 years ceasing this year, 2006 will be very difficult financially. In spite of this though we are ‘employing’ Carol for 2 or 3 hours a week to give admin support which at present is all done by me. We are completely trusting God in this and ask you to ‘seek Him’ with us. Also pray for Carol as she takes this role on.
In the past you have prayed for ‘R’ and ‘N’ a Hindu couple. ‘R’ who for 20 years had been a heavy drinker/alcoholic still isn’t drinking 6 years on from receiving prayer in the name of Jesus to give up alcohol. They have many other family problems which they want ‘Jesus to sort out’ as they put it-- (Rameesh tells anyone who asks him why he doesn’t drink anymore that it’s because Jesus has healed him). The last time I was with them they both acknowledged that they need to find peace in their lives first, so I have given them some videos to watch of Hindu’s who have found peace in Jesus. Please pray that they will find that peace which passes all understanding and for wisdom as I continue to meet with them.
Thank you for your prayers for the various speaking engagements, all of which were very blessed—I had a great weekend at St. Chad’s in Handforth in November, being made welcome and ‘spoilt rotten.’ Wilson Gill and I had been booked to teach the ‘Cross and Crescent Course’ for the Aylesbury Deanery on the 11th and 12th March, but due to problems their end it might not happen till later in the year. Please pray on those days as if it doesn’t happen God will store up your prayers anyway.
With love and thanks
Norman and Denise Critchell.