January Blog
Dear Friends
Happy New Year, I hope your Christmas and New Year were a time of refreshing and blessing. I was struck by how many different people we got to connect with over Advent and Christmas, also excited that we have 11 people signed up for the Alpha course. and we would love to see some more people join. Do you have questions about the Christian faith? Or a friend or family member? If so, come and check it out, info here.
https://smartchurchliskeard.churchsuite.com/events/uqtpekw
As we start this new year, do you have any New Year’s resolutions? Or maybe you have started a bible plan? A fitness focus or something else.
January is a strange month for many, the sadness of the decorations going down, bad weather, less money, tired and ill. However, January is also a time to look ahead and see what God might be asking of us.
That is why on Sunday 11th and Sunday 25th Jan we shall be having a look at our vision for 2026, and on 25th a gift Sunday as we give our time and finances for the year ahead. As I have been praying and reflecting on this, and following on from our fantastic benefice day in October, we are going to be focusing on this:
“Creating a culture and people of prayer”
As I reflect on my first 18 months here, there is so much to celebrate and so excited that God called us to be part of this Church family, benefice and diocese and excited about what God is doing. I believe 2026 is going to be a year of growth and depth. Where will this come from? Going back to basics. Back to prayer. If we look back on any Church History where we have seen the biggest moments of growth, they have come from places of prayer. A great response to the quiet revival and our hopes to see this become a noisy revival is for this to come from a place of prayer.
In January, we are going to have a week of prayer and in that week pray for our world, community and Church, starting Monday 19th-Sunday 25th, having resources to pray at home and one gathering on Friday evening, Friday 23rd at 7.30 pm with Churches Together to pray for our world. Finishing with Gift Sunday. In that week, we will also have a 24-hour prayer, this time at home.
Also, if we really want to create this culture, we are going to really encourage you about life groups. This is a place to grow together, and I know that since being in one, it has helped by bible reading, my prayer life and my discipleship, so we shall be sharing more about this. Also, later in the year, we shall run the bible course in life groups and one outside of life groups, why? Because this is a great opportunity to stop and reflect on God’s story.
At the new year, I was asked a great question: What is your word for 2026? I went away and came up with three phrases:
- Pray more
- Think more
- Do less.
Then, as I was praying for our staff away day, I was reminded of a course I was on last year and the phrase and invitation to slow down. I believe this is what we will see if we really create a culture and people of prayer is that we will do less and slow down because this is what Jesus modelled. Even with his three years of ministry and focus on sharing the good news and preparing the disciples for the birth of the Church. He knew what was needed. He needed rest, he needed to spend time in prayer, and he needed to spend time with people in discipleship.
So, as we begin 2026 and we invest in our vision for the year, I have three challenges for us all.
- What does creating a culture and people of prayer look like in your life?
- What is your word for 2026?
- What do you need to put in place to help grow as a disciple? Maybe you need to find a life group, join a course or maybe serve in a ministry to help grow. Let us know in the office, and we can link into one to try!
As we begin this new year, and not only share the vision but apply the vision, I am struck by Jesus’ words in Matthew 21:22
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
This is a great place to start in shaping, forming and growing us as followers we start in prayer and come slowly just as Jesus did.
May 2026 be a year of depth, growth, prayer and blessing.
God Bless
Mark