Hello, dearest Prayer Barge community 

Another year comes to a close and I wanted to write on behalf of the Trustees of Upper Reaches to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The little prayer group which meet on the Prayer Barge most Wednesday mornings reflected this week on the challenges of living in our troubled world at this time, but were beautifully reminded of the Hope we have for the redemption of all things, and in the meantime that the kingdom of God is here. Like the 'Manger King', it might not be what we expected the Kingdom of God to look like, but it's here!
 
The Prayer Barge continues to seek to bless the Temple Quay working community with prayer, through the availability of the barge as a venue and by exploring what discipleship looks like in the workplace. We continue to partner with Bristol Chaplaincy, who seek to bring the blessing of chaplaincy into places where churches might not otherwise be welcome - workplaces, courts, hospitals etc. We also hope you’ve received some of the Advent reflections following the Retreat on the Prayer Barge at the very beginning of Advent. 
 
The longing of The Prayer Barge is to make connections with Christians in Temple Quarter, and for Bristol Chaplaincy to make connections with those responsible for well being in Temple Quarter businesses. If you could help with those connections even in a small way, please do get in touch - it would be such an encouragement.
 
In the meantime the Prayer Barge will be open again in the New Year - Tuesdays for Oasis lunchtimes with Rich and Lois welcoming you on board, and Wednesdays for prayer and reflection with Victor, Ryan, Simon and Richard (the Trustees of Upper Reaches). We also hope to see Thursday lunchtimes open up for chaplaincy, so if you would like to be, or know of someone who would like to be, a Temple Quay workplace chaplain, do get in touch. The Prayer Barge continues to be used by Christian workplace prayer groups, leadership teams of local charities, youth groups and more, so don't hesitate to to get in touch if you'd like to make a booking. We also pray regularly for individuals connected with the Prayer Barge - we send a personal email out at least once a year asking for prayer requests. Many respond and we treat each person and each request as a precious gift from God .

Thank you for your continued support - we have been so encouraged by new sign-ups to the weekly email this year and also some new regular givers to the ongoing costs of running the Prayer Barge.
 
And so I'll leave you for now with some of the words of the contemporary carol, Manger King, by Phil Wickham
 ~ ~ ~
You could have stepped into creation
With fire for all to see
Brought every tribe and nation to their knees
Arriving with the host of heaven
In royal robe and crown
The rulers of the earth all bowing down
But You chose meekness over majesty
Wrapped Your power in humanity

Glory be to You alone
King who reigns from a manger throne
To Jesus the King on a manger throne
My life, my praise, everything I own
~ ~ ~
 
Do get in touch in 2025
Kindest regards
Victor and the trustees and prayer community on The Prayer Barge







_{Posted: January 2025}