It’s hard to be objective when you have been closely involved in something.  But the comments from so many people about the Global Day of Prayer meeting in Beverley Minster were almost universally superlative.

The buzz in the afternoon was very welcoming as prayer zones were visited and people participated in all manner of creative prayer.  Cream Teas, described by an organiser from another GDOP city as ‘a fab idea’, were very popular.  Then, with the Minster filled, the celebration…

Music: engaging, competent, moving which brought some powerful experiences of worship and some people in tears sensing God’s presence.  Interviews: three people told their stories of faith unfolding how God had changed their lives.  For some it had been gentle and gradual and, for others, sudden and ‘Damascan’.  Drama: it had you at the edge of your seat re-living the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.  Preaching: it took us, via the dry bones of Ezekiel 37, to long for the new work of God’s Spirit changing our ‘rattling’ into an army full of life and power.

And prayer: genuine and heartfelt, asking for more of the work of God in this region.

It was a good meeting.  It had a touch of glory about it.

And when we had all finished packing up and had gone home, thousands more prayer meetings were getting under way in South and North America.

I got it wrong about the number of events in the UK.  It was over 100 places where people were gathered to pray: 2000 people on the walls in York; others on top of Blackford Hill in Edinburgh; every borough in Greater London.  And so it goes on…

And from one of the 220 nations a detail I heard that highlights the scale of the event.  Ian Cole from the Prayer Centre in Birmingham attended the Hong Kong gathering: 25000 people had met in a stadium there.

Thanks for being part of this here and for your interest.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 from 7am, Portland Hotel, Paragon Street, Hull
The breakfast is an opportunity for Christians from every type of workplace to meet in the centre of Hull, and to pray for God’s work here. It will also give us a chance to pray for each other in our often very challenging workplaces.
Christians play a key role at all levels in the city’s businesses, public sector organisations and institutions; especially at this time of economic challenges for the city, we have a unique opportunity to be bringers of Hope. The King’s Breakfast is an attempt to give vision and establish some connections and support. As part of the event, we will be looking for your ideas on how we should take this forward including, perhaps, small groups meeting regularly in between these periodic breakfasts.
We’ve called it the King’s breakfast in recognition that this is “Kings-town upon Hull.” It is for Christians who work in the Hull City region and who want to pray:
“Your Kingdom come; Your will be done in Hull, as it is in Heaven.”
Come and join us at the Portland Hotel on May 20th, from 7.00-8.15 am (or earlier if you need to get away); we have 2 speakers from different spheres of activity in the city, who will inform our praying. We have managed to reduce prices from the first event down to £8 per head.
If you want more information or would like to purchase a ticket, then go online to our web site www.kingsbreakfast.com (online payment coming soon), email us at admin@kingsbreakfast.com, or write to Barbara Ryan at 40 Valentine Close, Hull, HU4 7DN. Cheques should be made out to “Hope08 (Hull)”. And please invite your friends from church or in the workplace. If you can’t come this time, but would like to be kept in touch, let us know.

Global Day of Prayer is a global gathering with up to 200 million people around the world in at least 212 countries all praying for the same thing on the same day – and the location is on our doorstep! This prayer movement is unprecedented and we would love you to be part of it. We think you won’t be disappointed.

From 4.30 p.m. there will be a series of prayer zones: celtic, creative, labyrinth, quiet, kids, etc. These will conclude around 6.00 p.m. Cream Teas (yes!) will be available during this time.

Then at 6.30 p.m. there will be a Pentecost Celebration. The music will include a blend of familiar, contemporary and global styles and will be led by the worship band b4u as well as the organist from Beverley Minster. We will pray the same prayer that the rest of the world will be praying, hear a message (preacher Rev Wesley Loan), and be encouraged by interviews demonstrating God at work in this area. And we will pray for God’s kingdom to come. David Hill will MC the evening.

We would like you to do three things please

- Come

- Make this known in your church (if your church doesn’t have its own meeting at that time)

- Pray that this event will have enduring significance for this region.

Practically, it would be greatly appreciated if you are able to offer help in setting up the prayer zones and / or bring some scones(!) – leave a message with Andy Lindley if you can do this.

We have  and handouts in quantity so let us know if you need a number for your church and we’ll get them to you. Costs for all this? An offering will be taken!

Grace and peace.