MetCPA

Supporting officers and staff to be the best that they can be

Chaplain

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Prayer Letter from Alice

Hello Everyone,

I continue to Pray for you all in these very difficult days.

Thank you for being there for us. Great admiration for you all.

We have good news: Simon the Leader of our CPA here in Surrey is now home and recovering after having major surgery and nearly three weeks in Hospital. “Thank you for answering our Prayers Lord”. Continued Prayers for Simon and family as his continued recovery takes place.

Monday of this coming week is the 20th April. It seems an age since this project started by Hope UK, whereby we stop and Pray on the 20th of each month at 20.20 hours for 20 minutes. This time I am making no suggestions for Prayer Topics, I know you will have plenty on your Prayer List.

I have just received the news that a Dad of one of the Christian Staff Members I regularly visit in HQ’s; lost his battle with covid-19, a week last Thursday. Our Prayers and love are with you E.

On Good Friday, our Church had a Zoom Prayer Meeting which included Communion. A Pastor from a Church in India was asked to join us. He is involved in the care the Churches are showing the very poor out there at this moment.

At one point he read from John 20 verse 19. It tells of the time when all the Disciples were in a locked room. They were scared, their Leader had just been crucified and they were fearful for their own lives.

                       Jesus came and stood among them and said

                                          “Peace be with you”.

How powerful is that. When the Indian Pastor read those words on Friday last; it was as though I had never heard them before, I cried.

The world around me at the moment is peaceful, no planes directly overhead from Heathrow, or a local airport, no cars on the road outside my home. Yet the world is not at peace at all.

Only the Lord can bring that Peace which passes all understanding.

As you move around this coming week, He is there bringing His Peace into every activity in which you are involved, home life and work life.

The Lord Bless you and keep you, the Lord make His Face to shine upon you and give you His Peace. Amen

Alice.

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Prayer Letter from Alice

Hello Everyone,

My first words today are to say “Thank You” for all you are and do. I often use that phrase at the end of an email when writing to an Officer or Member of Staff. I truly mean that so much. Having the privilege of walking alongside you, I have some insight into the amount you give of yourselves, in your daily lives to others.

Again, we have a death in Surrey. I am working with those organising plans for coming together to remember PC Ian Harding. Arrangements will be shared internally with you, when finalised.  I am so sad for his Family, his Friends and Colleagues. If with my Chaplain’s hat on; I can support you personally in any way, please contact me.

On entering Woking Police Station a few weeks ago, visiting as their Chaplain, I opened the door with my ID, as an Officer made his way to leave the building. I didn’t know him.

We smiled at each other. I then said, “Are you on your way home (which I thought was unlikely as it was 3.30pm) or on to another place?”. He replied,  “I am doing further visits then home at some time”. We continued to chat for a few moments. Eventually he said “Who are you?”.  I had my ID so he knew I was allowed in the building, but he had as it turned out, other reasons for asking me who I was. I gave him my name and explained I was the Chaplain at Woking Police Station. He immediately came back with, “I knew it, I knew it”. He went on to say; “You had to be someone who cares about us, to spend time with me. We do not have time to be concerned for each other due to the pressure of work we are under”. I fully understood where he was coming from. At that moment he said Goodbye and thanked me very sincerely for our chat.

I have continued to think about that conversation over the weeks. The following comes to mind:

He said, “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in My Name and because you believe, Others will know that I live”.    (Maranatha! Music)

Please know that I am not preaching at you, just encouraging you as His Children to share His Love with those around you as you see them in need.

I will be Praying for you as you minister to such Colleagues.

Blessings in His Name

Alice.  

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Prayer Letter from Alice

Just before Christmas; we held here in Surrey Police, a Family Christmas Event. I noticed a very happy little girl, thrilled to be with her Mum and Dad and so excited. It was Precious, the little girl who has had Leukaemia. She is so much better and looks to start school in September. She does have to attend hospital from time to time, but what a thrill to see her. Thank You Lord for answering our Prayers for this special little one.

I chose some time ago to start this New Year’s PL with a “Massive Thank You” to you all, for who you are and what you do. I so admire you and appreciate you.

Then New Year’s Eve arrived.
I decided to spend the change-over of the year in The Force Control Room as I am the Chaplain there. I went in armed with homemade cake goodies; to be warmly greeted by the Operations’ Controller, shaking my hand and asking me if I would like tea or coffee. Before I could answer him, he said “We have a truck in the river” followed very quickly by another person saying “We have three trapped people”. Having driven through Guildford to get to HQ and having been passed by a Police Car and Ambulance on Blues and Twos and travelling in opposite directions to each other around me, I assumed it was the river in Guildford that was being referred to.
No, it was the beginning of the horrendous collision near Heathrow. Slowly I was being drawn in to these unbelievable happenings. I wandered around the Room watching actions being taken and realising this was resulting in many Emergency People being called to the area.

Since then of course we have learned of the seriousness and who these people were who lost their lives at that moment and another still seriously ill in hospital.

My gratitude grows every day for each one of you, as you respond to many needs. I so truly admire you all. Thank You.

I eventually arrived home, wondering what was happening at the scene at Heathrow. I switched my lap top on and there was a message to encourage me in who I am in Christ Jesus. I knew at that moment it was meant for each one of you, I have written it before and I am sure I will write it again. Please be encouraged.

“You are here for such a time as this” Esther 4.14.

God knows you and loves you and knows He can trust you to take His Love and care to others.

God Bless you and keep you. May you know His Peace. AMEN.

In Him
Alice.

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Prayer Letter 20th July 2018

Hello everyone,

Thank you for the responses to last week’s Prayer Letter.

For Prayer

  • Police Officers/Staff dealing with death in their family. Handling the trauma and sadness.
  • We are at that time of year again when Christian Youth Camps are being held, such as Newday, 7,000 young people expected.
  • A few weeks ago, I asked for Prayer for an Officer with Cancer. Here is the latest update. “The PC has requested that he will remain in the prayer letter. It has been confirmed that the cancer has spread and that he will have to undergo specialist chemo therapy all the way through to October. He has to travel a long way for the treatment. He and his family are certainly undergoing a really rough time”.
  • General health of all Officers and Staff under great pressure.
  • Request for Prayer from an Officer who has very young foreign exchange children staying in his family home at the moment. That they will experience the love of a Christian family around them

Last Friday I went as a Chaplain to be with the Police who were stationed in Windsor, overseeing the security of the visit of President Trump.

I spoke to Officers from Devon and Cornwall, Wales, North Yorkshire, Hampshire, Cumbria and Surrey. I chatted with the dog handler who with PD Betsy checked Blenheim Palace and Windsor Castle.

When I arrived early afternoon, these men and women had been on duty since 3am. I was truly impressed and again saw the hard work carried out by our Police. Thank You!

On my return home I thought about these Officers, who for some were far from home and indeed had long journeys to face the following day. I was reminded of the following verse –

Psalm 139:7-12

Where can I flee from your presence?
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.

We are coming up to holiday times, hopefully many of you will be planning to be away with your families. Have a wonderful time and take with you the truth of the above Word from The Lord.

Please feel free to get in touch with me at any time by adding a comment below or by clicking here

May you know the Lord’s Hand upon you at this time of relaxation and travel.

In Him

Alice.