By Rev. Canon Val Kenyon
The Bishop’s Prayer Conference in May 2021 of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer (Huron) was led by Rev. Dr. Grayhame Bowcott and focused on growing our church by fostering new relationships in our communities.
The church’s purpose has always been to share the news of Jesus with others. In the last fifty years or more, the Anglican church does not seem to have done well at creating new relationships. We are struggling to maintain the ones we have. Grayhame suggested that merely praying for people to come to add their resources to ours was not likely to be successful, but that changing our focus to praying with an invitation for others to join us as we serve our communities and spread the news of Jesus might have more positive results. Participants left the conference enthused, but many were unsure about the practicalities of what to do next.
The Fall Gathering on October 2 (again on Zoom) will have Rev. Dr. Bowcott returning to answer the practical questions raised in June by having participants take part in workshops. Following keynote addresses, each workshop will be led by AFP executive members and will focus on different prayer practices.
These practices can all include both prayers for our personal concerns as well as those for our wider community, leading us to being open to forming new relationships. Workshops will include Personal and Group Prayer, Listening to God, Intercessory Prayers, Grounding and Family Prayers, Prayer with Movement, and Pastoral Care and Prayer. All will use AFP(Canada) resources that will be made available for participants to take back to their parishes.
The cost is $10/person or $30/congregation. To register please contact Rev. Kim Myer at kimmyer@diohuron.org or by calling/texting 519-980-4545.
Rev. Canon Dr. Val Kenyon is Anglican Fellowship of Prayer (Huron) diocesan representative.