Testimonies & Reports
A Day of “Warmth and Peace”
Around 35 parishioners of Sacred Heart Church, St. Ives, Cambs. gathered with team members from the Charismatic Diocesan Service of Communion (CDSC) on 23rd November for a Day of Recollection on the theme of
“Encountering God through His Angels”.
The Day of Recollection commenced with Mass, celebrated by Father Anthony Shryane, followed by Adoration, Reconciliation and prayer ministry before the first of two talks from Derek Williams, Catholic Lay Evangelist.
Derek focused his teachings on two aspects, the help of the angels in both our interior life and in our evangelisation work, and the necessity for a deeper encounter with God in contemplation. He taught from the scriptures and St John of the Cross. Towards the end of the day we had a practical experience of the teaching when he encouraged us all to go deeper in prayer in the peace and quietude of contemplation, where the sins and wounds of our souls will be revealed and cleansed by God, enabling us not only to receive God’s love but to also return love to God.
Attendees shared that during the period of quiet contemplation in the afternoon, they felt ‘a wonderful feeling of peace’, ‘lightness’, ‘warmth & peace’ & ‘heat’.
CDSC members Maggie Edwards & Phil Walters brought the day to a close with uplifting Praise and Worship. The team gathered and prayed for the people of Sacred Heart Parish. Parishioner, Elizabeth Barker, thanked Derek and the team for accepting the invitation to organise a Day of Recollection for the parish, and invited Derek to return to continue his teaching on Contemplative Prayer.
For more information on our events please visit renewaleastanglia.org
or email CDSC Co-ordinator Pam Smith at [email protected].
Report by Pam Smith
Around 35 parishioners of Sacred Heart Church, St. Ives, Cambs. gathered with team members from the Charismatic Diocesan Service of Communion (CDSC) on 23rd November for a Day of Recollection on the theme of
“Encountering God through His Angels”.
The Day of Recollection commenced with Mass, celebrated by Father Anthony Shryane, followed by Adoration, Reconciliation and prayer ministry before the first of two talks from Derek Williams, Catholic Lay Evangelist.
Derek focused his teachings on two aspects, the help of the angels in both our interior life and in our evangelisation work, and the necessity for a deeper encounter with God in contemplation. He taught from the scriptures and St John of the Cross. Towards the end of the day we had a practical experience of the teaching when he encouraged us all to go deeper in prayer in the peace and quietude of contemplation, where the sins and wounds of our souls will be revealed and cleansed by God, enabling us not only to receive God’s love but to also return love to God.
Attendees shared that during the period of quiet contemplation in the afternoon, they felt ‘a wonderful feeling of peace’, ‘lightness’, ‘warmth & peace’ & ‘heat’.
CDSC members Maggie Edwards & Phil Walters brought the day to a close with uplifting Praise and Worship. The team gathered and prayed for the people of Sacred Heart Parish. Parishioner, Elizabeth Barker, thanked Derek and the team for accepting the invitation to organise a Day of Recollection for the parish, and invited Derek to return to continue his teaching on Contemplative Prayer.
For more information on our events please visit renewaleastanglia.org
or email CDSC Co-ordinator Pam Smith at [email protected].
Report by Pam Smith
Parishioners being prayed for by CDSC Team
Derek Williams giving a teaching
Maggie and Phil leading Praise and Worship to finish the day
Testimony from our Day of Prayer and Renewal
at Clare Priory on 20th August 2022
"We got home, happy and tired after the magnificent day of joy we had.
It is a bit of a winding road journey, an hour and a half each way, Kev was pretty tired from driving, easier in the summer than winter. As we settled we realised that it was the most organised and therefore stress free days we had ever had at Clare and that was down to your organisational gifts and ability to anticipate and co-ordinate many people, you showed just how it is possible to glorify God in the details.
What was particularly important was the group discussion, it filled a gap that has always been there at renewal days and provided a personal response time which makes each person feel they have a contribution to make rather than just being one of a crowd.
The band were awesome , talented and ministering . We really appreciated their commitment. Kev loved not having to do the music too . Your team impact on Fr Gladson was noticeable too, he was much mellower, joyful and relatable this time around, still strong in his teaching but softer too and the Holy Spirit in power brings us such a joy.
We had most of our Team with us and they were all thrilled with the day.
Donal was very happy on the way home, having survived his first renewal day and he went for prayer too. Dee was glowing and joyful and so grateful to be able to access this, there being so little in her area of the country .
We all concluded that we had been to heaven , one of the most blessed days we had been to.
Thank you to all the team for their contributions; tea coffee, prayer support, welcome, registration, ministry, organisation and co-ordination.
We hope you guys have a chance to recover and relax over the next days and continue in the ministry you are so faithfully giving to us all"
Love Rachel and Kevin Pugh
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From the evenings of 2nd & 16th Mar 2021 (taken from zoom chat)
"Thank you, Matt wonderful worship"
"... the evening has been amazing..."
"Thank you for such an inspiring talk Fr. Luke"
"many thanks Fr Luke, wonderful time so many truths shared"
"Thank you Fr Luke and thank you team...great talk and great evening"
"Thank you to everyone for organising this evening. Healing! Thank you and God bless"
"A lovely inspiring evening"
"Thank you SO much for such a wonderful evening. Such a blessing.. For everyone who has made this evening possible a huge huge thank you"
"Thank you so much for this inspiring evening and for my prayers . Thank you God bless"
"thought the evening last night was FANTASTIC...please can you feed that back to the team. Such a blessing"
----------------
Pauline Lovelock from Day of Renewal 9th March 2019
I went for prayer ministry for discernment for vocational ministry. I received an email from a priest yesterday saying I would be entering the wilderness and it would be an exciting time!
The first time the team prayed for me was 2 years ago, I laughed. The second time I was prayed for I laughed for an hour and couldn't stop. "You are to spread the joy" I was told. Today, when I was prayed for, my hands tingled and again I laughed
Even in a time of wilderness there is joy & laughter when I should be crying. I understand Margery Kempe had the gift of tears, but this is the opposite gift - the gift of laughter. And I thank you with all my heart.
--------------
From the Day of Renewal 9th March 2019
I went for prayer ministry for the strength, grace & wisdom to lead me in the evangelical ministry, prayer ministry & children's ministry in our church
As I was being prayed over the sun shone on my face. The brightness and warmth of its rays felt as though God was saying "I am with you, fear not". One of the prayer ministers suggested I put on the armour of God each day, so I will search for this passage in the Bible and make it part of my morning prayer
After prayer I felt more at peace, more relaxed, more happy, more determined to put trust in God
-------------
From Justyna from the Day of Renewal 9th March 2019
I was carrying a heavy burden of rejection from work, being humiliated. I was weak, tired, sick, oppressed and rejected.
During prayer ministry I was set free from my worries, burdens, tears, rejection and sadness. Light came to me, from head down, cleaning me up - my body became very light, almost I didn't feel I had a body
Afterwards I was peaceful, relaxed. I felt like God's little child. Thank You Jesus, Praise You Jesus
--------------
at Clare Priory on 20th August 2022
"We got home, happy and tired after the magnificent day of joy we had.
It is a bit of a winding road journey, an hour and a half each way, Kev was pretty tired from driving, easier in the summer than winter. As we settled we realised that it was the most organised and therefore stress free days we had ever had at Clare and that was down to your organisational gifts and ability to anticipate and co-ordinate many people, you showed just how it is possible to glorify God in the details.
What was particularly important was the group discussion, it filled a gap that has always been there at renewal days and provided a personal response time which makes each person feel they have a contribution to make rather than just being one of a crowd.
The band were awesome , talented and ministering . We really appreciated their commitment. Kev loved not having to do the music too . Your team impact on Fr Gladson was noticeable too, he was much mellower, joyful and relatable this time around, still strong in his teaching but softer too and the Holy Spirit in power brings us such a joy.
We had most of our Team with us and they were all thrilled with the day.
Donal was very happy on the way home, having survived his first renewal day and he went for prayer too. Dee was glowing and joyful and so grateful to be able to access this, there being so little in her area of the country .
We all concluded that we had been to heaven , one of the most blessed days we had been to.
Thank you to all the team for their contributions; tea coffee, prayer support, welcome, registration, ministry, organisation and co-ordination.
We hope you guys have a chance to recover and relax over the next days and continue in the ministry you are so faithfully giving to us all"
Love Rachel and Kevin Pugh
------------------
From the evenings of 2nd & 16th Mar 2021 (taken from zoom chat)
"Thank you, Matt wonderful worship"
"... the evening has been amazing..."
"Thank you for such an inspiring talk Fr. Luke"
"many thanks Fr Luke, wonderful time so many truths shared"
"Thank you Fr Luke and thank you team...great talk and great evening"
"Thank you to everyone for organising this evening. Healing! Thank you and God bless"
"A lovely inspiring evening"
"Thank you SO much for such a wonderful evening. Such a blessing.. For everyone who has made this evening possible a huge huge thank you"
"Thank you so much for this inspiring evening and for my prayers . Thank you God bless"
"thought the evening last night was FANTASTIC...please can you feed that back to the team. Such a blessing"
----------------
Pauline Lovelock from Day of Renewal 9th March 2019
I went for prayer ministry for discernment for vocational ministry. I received an email from a priest yesterday saying I would be entering the wilderness and it would be an exciting time!
The first time the team prayed for me was 2 years ago, I laughed. The second time I was prayed for I laughed for an hour and couldn't stop. "You are to spread the joy" I was told. Today, when I was prayed for, my hands tingled and again I laughed
Even in a time of wilderness there is joy & laughter when I should be crying. I understand Margery Kempe had the gift of tears, but this is the opposite gift - the gift of laughter. And I thank you with all my heart.
--------------
From the Day of Renewal 9th March 2019
I went for prayer ministry for the strength, grace & wisdom to lead me in the evangelical ministry, prayer ministry & children's ministry in our church
As I was being prayed over the sun shone on my face. The brightness and warmth of its rays felt as though God was saying "I am with you, fear not". One of the prayer ministers suggested I put on the armour of God each day, so I will search for this passage in the Bible and make it part of my morning prayer
After prayer I felt more at peace, more relaxed, more happy, more determined to put trust in God
-------------
From Justyna from the Day of Renewal 9th March 2019
I was carrying a heavy burden of rejection from work, being humiliated. I was weak, tired, sick, oppressed and rejected.
During prayer ministry I was set free from my worries, burdens, tears, rejection and sadness. Light came to me, from head down, cleaning me up - my body became very light, almost I didn't feel I had a body
Afterwards I was peaceful, relaxed. I felt like God's little child. Thank You Jesus, Praise You Jesus
--------------