Critchell, Norman & Denise - UK
Critchell Main pagePrayer Letter February 2006. (click
here for Acrobat pdf version)
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"
- Hebrews 13 vs. 8
Dear Praying Friends,
We are so grateful for this wonderful truth in the midst of a fast changing world situation—just this past weekend such violence has occurred on demonstrations following the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, while Iran’s nuclear programme has again been stepped up, bringing more threats of possible military strikes by America. We thank God for His stability in the midst of for us, a volatile ‘workplace.’ Thank you for standing with us and please pray that we will be all that God needs us to be in every situation.
Norman begins:
The 10th Anniversary Booklet has gone into its 2nd edition, with some copies being used by Earl Howe in his parliamentary context. We continue to receive comments about its usefulness in understanding some of the issues of working and outreach in a plural context. (The production costs were £365—if you would like to contribute towards this please send your gift to the Slough address)
The preparations are going ahead for the Cross and Crescent Course on March 10th and 11th for the Aylesbury and Wendover Deaneries and we are hoping for a good number of participants. We are in contact with other areas who are wanting either a Cross and Crescent Course or some other teaching that will help them as they wrestle with the issues and seek to gain understanding. Please pray for the final preparations of the March course and for Norman, Denise, Wilson and Gilbert, our new part-time Colleague as we share the teaching and input.
We are teaching our course on evangelism-‘How on earth can we share our faith?’-for a Church in Bicester on Thursday March 9th, 16th, 30th and April 6th, as their lent course. We are also speaking at an outreach breakfast in Holmer Green on Saturday May 6th, preaching at Terriers on Sunday May 21st with a view to forming a mission-link with the Project and speaking at the AGM of the Beaconsfield Team Ministry on Sunday April 30th, also with a view to linking up with all the Churches of this Team. Please pray for all the preparations and effectiveness of the course in Bicester and that these other opportunities would become firm mission-links.
We are very encouraged by these new opportunities and possible links and also that the Churches in Theale and Engelfield are beginning to receive our prayer letters and to pray for Salem’s work and ministry. We are also encouraged by a number of Churches and PCC’s who are discussing linking up with us. We are also thankful to ‘A’ and ‘C’ who are beginning to give to Salem through a monthly standing order and to ‘D’ and ‘J’ who have put us on their list for an annual gift. God is really blessing and providing for Salem through His people and our thanks go to Him and to all those Individuals, Churches, Deaneries and Trusts who pray and/or give to the Project either on a one-off or regular basis. Our budgeted amount for the ministry of the Salem Project in 2006 is £36,000 and in faith we thank Him again for His
provision. (in 2005 we had a shortfall of income over expenditure of just £1010—thank you Lord)
January 24th saw Norman at Lambeth Palace for the launch of the Christian/Muslim Forum, originally begun by Archbishop George and continued by Archbishop Rowan. This will make a big difference nationally I believe and help followers of the two faiths relate better together as the Forum will look at major issues affecting people of faith. Tony Blair spoke at the launch and among other things said that he believed the Forum would have a voice into government. Please pray for the Forum, for Julian Bond its first full-time staff member and for God’s blessing on its work.
Thank you for praying for Nimmi over these past months since she became a Christian just before Easter last year. Her son Manoj, who has been very resistant to the Gospel said to me last week—‘it’s like having a new Mum, she’s like a different person. Please continue to pray for her, her husband Rameesh, her sons Manoj, Ricky and Roy, her daughter Anita and daughter in law Smithy.
Denise continues:
I have just returned from the monthly Church Prayer Meeting with a renewed sense of God at work here in the church and in the community. He is touching lives by His Spirit and bringing healing and transformation. One young Mum was convicted during a service at Christmas that she should be in a service of worship every week. Her children, like many children of this area play sports on Sunday, so to honour God’s call she attends the 8am BCP Communion service if she isn’t going to be able to make the 10am service. Another lady who came more fully into the Kingdom through the Alpha Course last year wrote on her Christmas card, ‘I thank you both for the spiritual input you have instilled in my life, what a difference it makes. Just wonderful.’
Please pray for these ‘newer shoots’ to really dig deep down into Christ and to grow in grace and knowledge of Him.
During Lent we will be using the study course entitled ‘the Way of the Cross’ and already a good number of people have signed up to attend both courses—one on Monday evenings and the other on Tuesday afternoons. I was very encouraged last year at how much participants grew through the courses we ran and through spending time with one another. Please pray that this would happen again this year and for Virginia Goode as she leads Tuesday’s course and myself as I lead Monday evenings at the Vicarage.
I have just heard from James our Treasurer that due to Family pressures and a possible move out of the Village, he won’t be continuing past this year’s annual church meeting on Palm Sunday. We have also lost a couple of key people from the PCC, again due to problems which have led them to ‘lay down’ their church responsibilities. However, a couple of people relatively new to St. John’s have offered their practical gifts for the church to use. Also, Marion has been authorised by the Bishop to share the ministry of home communions with Denise, so they will alternate-a lovely picture of clergy and laity working together in ministry. Please pray for God’s continued healing and overruling and for us to find the right Treasurer, someone who has a real walk with the Lord. Also for Marion and myself as we work together.
There is a growing sense with some that we are the Body of Christ and this is bringing a greater closeness and support of one another. This isn’t true of all as some have a fairly ‘individualistic’ picture of what the Church is supposed to be. There are a number of ‘social’ things happening—progressive supper, pancake party, etc—which I hope will help people get to know each other more. Please pray for more and more members of St. John’s to understand what being a part of the Body is meant to be and to enter in to all that means.
Please pray for the future.
Thank you for all you give to Norman and the work of the Salem Project and Denise in her ministry in Lacey Green, Loosley Row and Speen. As you bless us may He bless you abundantly.
As ever
Norman and Denise Critchell.