“It is not possible for us to say, I will pray, or, I will not pray, as if it were a question of pleasing ourselves; to be a Christian and to pray mean the same thing … It is, a necessity, as breathing is necessary to life.”
Karl Barth
Prayer is the most important thing we can do. It is the greatest privilege given to humankind. In fact, many theologians would say that the gift of prayer is what makes us truly and fully human – that is quite something!
Many people pray. And yet, not everyone is confident about prayer. Not all of us feel we know how to pray and often, we are left with more questions than answers. That is because prayer is based on a friendship with God, it is a conversation and a walking and talking with God about anything and everything, so all of life is included, our joys and sorrows, our hopes and deep longings, our greatest highs and the very lows. Prayer is definitely not a wish or a magic trick – it can be powerful, even in a supernatural way – but at its heart, it’s about the heart: a heart of love for God, and a heart beloved by God. That is partly why Karl Barth says in the quote above, ‘it is, a necessity, as breathing is necessary to life.’
At Seven Towers we long to help people pray. We also long to become the answer to our prayers, by letting our hopes and prayers shape our lives and actions. If you want to find out more about prayer, we’ve learnt a lot from the 24-7 Prayer Movement, and recommend their resources, especially Pete Greig’s book, How to Pray. Our Home Groups have enjoyed the online courses run by 24-7 Prayer too.
Helping us put all this into practice, we …
- host a day of non-stop prayer every month. You can sign up to pray for one hour, and each month is themed and supplied with resources to help you pray. August’s Prayer Day takes place from 6 pm on Friday 20th to 6 pm on Saturday 21st. The theme is Open eyes, ears, hearts & minds as advertising for new incumbent begins. Sign up here. Prayer resources available soon.
- gather at Norton Church at 7pm every second Friday of the month to pray together.
- have a monthly Prayer Diary.
- have weekly prayer topics on our pew sheet.
- assure people that we will pray for them if they have any particular needs or concerns.
- have made the side chapel at The Leigh Church as a prayer room. You can use it at anytime during the day, every day of the week.
- get involved in periodic prayer activities like the ‘Prayer Journal’ when, from Ascension Day to Pentecost, we pray for individuals we know.
- have a Prayer Tree where you can write your prayers on tags and tie them to the tree. Our Prayer Tree that was set up at Norton Church as part of the Benefice Advent Tree Festival is going on the road around the benefice while we are in this time of vacancy without a priest-in-charge. It is now set up in Down Hatherley Church for August. Do call in to see it if you are nearby or are there for prayer and worship. Prayer requests can be written on tags and tied to the tree branches. Everyone is invited to think and pray about hopes and dreams for our benefice as we seek out God’s plan for us.
Prayer Team Report to Joint Council March 2026
You can read the latest Prayer Team Report to Joint Council here.
The Global Week of Prayer: 6th-13th September 2026
The Global Week of Prayer is run by Pete Greig’s 24/7 Prayer Movement. Here’s the link to information on their website: GWP. The map showing where “prayer rooms” have been set up around the world so far is very interesting. Seven Towers Benefice has registered a prayer room and we are signing up to pray for 24 hours each day of the week. Other churches are joining us and you are welcome to sign up too. Here’s the link: GWP sign up If you need help signing up, here are some simple instructions. We pray wherever we are, often at home or out walking.
Some thoughts on prayer…
Bishop Rachel recently shared some thoughts about prayer:
“When we talk about prayer, there are no experts and there are many questions, but we choose to come into God’s presence and pour out our hearts, and to listen and to wonder at the God of love and forgiveness revealed in Jesus Christ, who walks with us in pain, celebration and the ordinary. As we give thanks and open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit in us and through us, the cries of our heart grow ever stronger as we voice our longings for the world and for ourselves.”
Lynda Chan oversees our Prayer Team and coordinates many of our prayer activities. If you have a prayer request, please email: Email here