"excel in this grace of giving" (2 Cor. 8:7)

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Creative prayer

Our physical bodies have pulse points where our heartbeat, the sign of life, is felt. So, too, in the body of Christ, the church, there should be prayer pulse points where alone and together we experience the life of Christ. As Paul reminds us, 'by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God' (Phil. 4:6).
The committed prayer of individuals, the planning group, the church council and the wider congregation is the spiritual heartbeat of the church as it prepares for Giving in Grace. In order to encourage as many people as possible to pray, look for creative ways of inviting people to share in the life of prayer. The paper 'Creative Prayer' suggests some ways to pray and the case study from Ormskirk Parish Church in Lancashire tells the story of how one church sought to immerse its stewardship ministry in prayer.