Prayer Group
At Bethany, prayer is not simply a ritual; it is the lifeblood of our faith. We view prayer as a profound means of maintaining a continuous and vibrant connection with God. Much like the disciples turned to Jesus in Luke 11, we too seek to learn from the divine teacher and guide, saying, “Lord, teach us to pray.” It is in these moments of seeking, learning, and growth that our faith is nurtured.
Our dedication to prayer is not limited to sporadic occurrences. Instead, we have established a regular rhythm of coming together to pray as a church community. These gatherings, noted on our calendar, serve as a focal point for our congregation. They are more than mere meetings; they are moments when individuals from various walks of life, with diverse experiences and backgrounds, unite with a singular intention: to communicate with the divine and to be open to His communication with us.
The prayer requests that come to us cover a wide spectrum. Some are shared during our Sunday meetings, reflecting the joys and concerns of our church family. Others reach us through the prayer chain, which exemplifies the strength of our interconnected community. We consider it a privilege to stand together in prayer, whether to celebrate the blessings of life or to provide solace and support during challenging times.
Within the sacred space of our prayer meetings, there is an atmosphere of openness and honesty. We encourage our members to be authentic before God, for we believe that His presence is palpable when we gather in His name, just as He assured us in Matthew 18:20. It is a place where you can be yourself, express your hopes, fears, and dreams, and find solace in the knowledge that you are not alone. In these moments, we are reminded that we are part of a larger spiritual family, bound together by our faith and our commitment to nurturing our relationship with the divine.
In essence, prayer at Bethany is not a mere routine; it is a transformative and unifying force that defines our spiritual journey. It is a bridge that connects us to the divine, and through it, we find guidance, strength, and a profound sense of community.
Ladies Bible Study
We have a wonderful opportunity every Tuesday morning to open the pages of the Bible and explore more of who God is, what He has done for us and the promises that lay ahead for each one of us. As a Bible believing church, we know the Bible is the source of God’s revelation to us and while we study, the Holy Spirit brings the words alive in our hearts and lives. We study verse by verse through whole books of the Bible – in the past 4 years we have looked at Philippians, Hebrews and Revelation. Currently we have begun the journey through Acts which runs alongside the sermon series ‘Staying the Course’ on Sunday mornings.
Along with our Bibles we provide a sheet of supporting scriptures. What is so amazing about scripture is that it always backs itself up – it testifies about itself and to be signposted to these extra scriptures is always helpful. We rely on the Holy Spirit to enlighten and teach us and by the end of the session it feels like we’ve had a great spiritual workout. The Bible is truly inspiring and has been given for our benefit. During the study the passage will almost always draw out different questions of how to apply these scriptures and it also encourages testimony of what the Lord has already done in people’s lives.
This is what three individual writers who were inspired by God to write portions of the Bible says about God’s word
‘Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path’
Psalm 119:105
‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’
2 Timothy 3:16-17
‘For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart’
Hebrews 4:12
