Prayer stations at Connect@Cornerstone

At our Connect@Cornerstone service this morning, we used interactive prayer stations to help us to respond to God in prayer and worship. Each station was inspired by a different element taken from the account in Acts 8 of Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch. We found it helpful to pray in a new way, using our whole bodies, and our senses.

Connect@Cornerstone is on the first Sunday of every month at Cornerstone Community Church – you’re welcome to join us!

The Gospel addresses our deepest needs

“The Ethiopian eunuch had come to Jerusalem to worship’” Acts 8.27

In the ancient world, although eunuchs could be given much responsibility, they were often seen as being inferior and different. The Ethiopian in Acts must have been seeking acceptance as he travelled to Jerusalem to worship. Pray that the Gospel would speak into people’s concerns and anxieties today.

We gathered lost sheep into a sheep pen to remind us that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Listening to the Holy Spirit

“Then the Spirit said to Philip, 
‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ ” Acts 8.29

Philip was led by the Holy Spirit in his encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch. We pray that we will listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we seek to share the good news with others.

We lit a candle and used our breath to help us listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Growing in the Bible

“The Ethiopian Eunuch, seated in his chariot, was reading the prophet Isaiah” Acts 8.28

The Ethiopian Eunuch was searching the scriptures to find deep answers to life. We pray that those who don’t know the Bible would be drawn to read it and discover a message of life and grace.

We took a seed in our hands and asked God to plant his word in our hearts.

Sharing our faith with others

“Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus” Acts 8.35

Philip shared the good news of Jesus with the Ethiopian eunuch. All Christians are called to share this good news in one way or another. Pray that, like Philip, we might be given opportunities to tell others about following Jesus.

We pegged a fish onto a net to remind us to be ‘fishers of people’.

Being welcomed through baptism

“The eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! 
What is to prevent me from being baptised?’ ” Acts 8.36

Baptism welcomes people into the family of the church. The Ethiopian was baptised as soon as he heard the good news! Pray for those who haven’t been baptised, that they would be welcomed into the church, and for all those who have been baptised, that we might live out our identity in Christ.

We dipped our fingers in the water and made the sign of the cross to remind us of our baptism.