Prayer Letter

Hello Everybody.

As I wrote this I did not know that His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh would pass away.  Our thoughts are with his loved ones.

We especially remember our Queen who is the longest reigning monarch in British history and works tirelessly in Service to our Country. 

The Queen has faced many challenges yet has looked in two directions for almost her entire life-upwards to God, and outwards towards her people. 

In 1986 the Queen said “His (Jesus) life thus began in humble surroundings, in fact in a stable, but he was to have a profound influence on the course of history, and on the lives of generations of his followers.  You don’t have to be rich or powerful in order to change things for the better and each of us in our own way can make a contribution.”

Our dear Alice recently received a thank you from the Queen on Maundy Thursday for her service as a Christian in the local community; notably with Surrey CPA for 26 years and her Church (includes Street Angels and community outreach).

The Queen sent Alice two purses containing the Maundy Money and a personal signed letter of thanks.  This tradition goes back to 600 AD.

Normally Alice would have visited Westminster Abbey to meet the Queen in a service that commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper as an act of Service before his Crucifixion.

This is an incredible award that recognises the ongoing Service by Alice to Surrey Police and the local community.

On behalf of all who read your Prayer Letters Alice, well done and thank you for your love, care and service to us all.

Nick

Hello Everybody.

With Alice (Surrey) and Sam (Sussex) having a well-earned rest and Simon celebrating his Big Birthday (think he said 40^th) it is my privilege to do the Prayer Letter for both Forces as we start Holy Week.

What’s the best thing about following Jesus….for me it’s about being forgiven and having peace despite any circumstances.

John 11:25 Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”

This Easter we remember that Christ suffered, died and was resurrected bringing forgiveness for all our shortcomings and a promise that there is more to come after this short time on Earth.

This week, amongst all our busyness, let’s not forget that Christ suffered for us, died for us and is alive and with us in whatever situation we are facing today and in the journey ahead.

With all our love and prayers to you and your loved ones for an Easter of Christ’s Hope.

Nick on behalf of Surrey and Sussex CPA.

Hello Everyone,

I am so pleased that this email is called a Prayer Letter and not a Newsletter. I feel this is so applicable at the moment, how much do we need to be in Prayer with all that has happened in this last week.

Often, I receive Prayer Requests from Officers and Staff asking that I Pray for them in my Personal Prayer Time.

Having talked to the Lord about a tough situation/meeting that I personally was not looking forward to, I decided to ask an Officer to Pray for me. He regularly asks me for Prayer. The outcome I can only describe was a miracle. I immediately wrote to this Officer and told him how everything had completely turned around and this Officer came back with this wonderful picture:

“Our Father had one of His Children tugging at his trouser leg for attention on your behalf. He loves it when I do that and often picks me up for a hug!”

This week, I received the following:

“The prayers of the saints don’t go unheard by our Lord,
the difference we make is incalculable”.

I am leaving the following verse with you today as an encouragement in these very difficult times – from ‘The Message’ James 5.16:

“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful”.

May you know Him in a special way as you sit at the Feet of Your Heavenly Father.

I send my Easter Greetings now, as next week we have a Guest Writer.

In Him,

Alice.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for replies from last week’s Prayer Letter.

I continue to trust you are well and again; a massive thank you for all you are and do.

We started this week with the International Day for Women and we end with it being Mothering Sunday.

Jesus could have arrived on earth at the age of 30 and carried out His Work here on earth, but no, God chose to ask Mary to be His Mum.

Women were the last to leave the Cross and a woman was the first-person Jesus appeared to; after He arose from the dead.

I understand that this last happening above, is one of the ways that people believe the story of Jesus to be true. In those days, you never gave a message to a woman; you always gave it to a man. Jesus however chose to ask a woman to tell His Disciples that He was alive.

“Mary gave birth to her Firstborn, a Son.
She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and placed Him in a manger,
Because there was no room in the inn” Luke 2. 7.

I Pray that each one of us will find time in our busy lives to find room for Our Lord and Saviour during this coming week.

Many Blessings in His Precious Name.

Alice.

Hello Everyone,

A moment before I started to write this Prayer Letter, I decided to look up what I had written a year ago to you. Part of that PL contained the following –

“We have possible problems resulting from the Virus that many parts of the world are experiencing. As Police; you are seeing plans being put in place”.

Little did we know then, that a year later we would still be in a Lockdown situation. Did we even know the term “Lockdown?”  However, we are being encouraged to believe we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank You Lord!

I want at this point to express my thanks to you – as big as it is possible to do so, for what you have endured since a year ago.

                                     Massive admiration to you all.

I mentioned last week that I say to the Lord when I leave my bed in the morning “Battle Stations”. I received the following message from an Officer – 

“Thanks Alice, Good to know that you are in your war room for us and that Jesus leads the battle cry!”

That was followed by another message referring to us as –

                            “Christians being Warriors for Him at this time”.

“The weapons that we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have Divine Power to demolish strongholds”. 2Cor: 10.4.

May you know this truth in your lives during these coming days.

Many Blessings

In His Victorious Name.

Alice.

Hello Everyone,

Yet another week in this indescribable world in which we live.

I have received emails from some of you trying to find time to “Be Still”. I hear desperation in your writings, and I am concerned for you.

When I wake in the morning, I find as I leave my bed that I no longer say out loud (which I have for many years) “It’s just You and me Lord”. Instead, it has in recent weeks become – “Battle Stations Lord”. I have not as such taken The Lord out of the equation, I guess I have taken the front position and I will lead the battle. In my heart of hearts, I know The Lord is in the battle with me and I constantly have to remind myself of that.

I don’t have a position to hold as you do. I am a Grandma, living on my own. Family I only see, through Zoom and Facetime. Very involved in caring for Surrey Police both from this Prayer Letter and also as a Chaplain to seven Departments. I don’t visit of course, but many emails have arrived in these Departments from me for nearly a year. Also, a busy Church life; albeit over Zoom.

It is when I am allowed to visit, that I have a great insight into the amount of work that you do; the intensity, the horrors of the job, the persistence to get through to a good, just outcome.

Also, you are part of a family, great demands on you, more so now than ever before.

As I said earlier, I have a great concern for you and vast admiration. I Pray for you daily.

The verse that is with me as we work through these next 118 days, is Hebrews 13.8:

       “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever”.

As He has been with us in the past, He will continue to be so. My Prayers are with you as you move through this time.

In Him and with His Love,

Alice.