Welcoming the united congregation back to the Cathedral after three years – the event has been held at other venues in recent years - the
Dean of Norwich, the Very Rev Graham Smith said: “This is your Cathedral . . . it belongs to us all.”
In a keynote address, guest speaker
Stuart Bell, senior leader of
New Life Church, Lincoln, spoke of the “beautiful diversity among the people of God – and the importance of unity which is a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.”
Stuart is also leader of the
Ground Level network of 100 churches in the UK.
The ministerial team behind the united Cathedral event were
“Unite East Anglia”, part of the
Transforming Norwich network. Worship was led by musicians and singers from
Fountain of Life Church at
Ashill.
Emphasising the spiritual oneness among God’s people,
Pastor Paddy Venner (of
Eternity, Norwich) said: “There is really only one church in this city, with many different ‘expressions’ and locations.”
As a South African, Paddy also recalled attending the first-ever global prayer event with 55,000 people at a sports stadium in Capetown, South Africa, in 2001 – an initiative that grew into the global prayer movement across 220 nations - “praying globally, gathering locally, with one voice.”
To encourage Norfolk Christians,
Pastor Trevor Pimlott of
Norwich Family Life Church recalled a comment by the US-based Christian leader
Jeff Lucas from the state of
Colorado, who spoke in Norwich recently. Jeff was highly encouraged to hear about the forthcoming “
Celebrate Norwich and Norfolk” event from June 7-9, but one pastor asked Jeff what lessons the church in the US might have for us in the UK? Jeff replied: “What we need is to do bring American believers to Norwich to see what God is doing right here!”
Other local leaders taking part in the Cathedral prayer event were
Jill Gower, who leaders the ‘
Call to Prayer’ initiative;
Rev Stephen Mawditt from Ashill; and Pastor
Phil Thorne of
City Church, who helps lead the “
Prayer for Revival” events involving 50 churches, meeting in five regional centres.
The next Norwich Prayer for Revival evening is on Monday June 3 at NFLC at 7.30.
Next year’s Global Day of Prayer will be on Sunday, June 8, 2014.
Pictured above: the gathering at the Cathedral, and keynote speaker Stuart Bell.