Like Janus, the Roman God of beginnings and endings, who gives his name to the first month of the year, this is a time of looking back and forward.
Below is the Ipswich prayer that has been regularly used by many Ipswich churches throughout 2024:
Lord God, we thank You and praise You for all that You have done in, for, and through this town over the years. We thank You for stirring our hearts to look to You again and again.
We pray Your blessing and leading for Your church in this town in 2024 and we thank You for what You are going to do.
We continue to pray Your Kingdom come in these days, in increasing measure.
We commit to contend in prayer for this generation – and the next – that Your Name, the precious Name of Jesus, would be lifted high and many, many more would come to know You as their Lord and Saviour.
Amen
As we come to the close of 2024, we can look back and see signs that God is working in Ipswich and the surrounding area. More school chaplains have been appointed, young people are seeking Jesus and churches are witnessing conversions, while some ministers have moved on, others are being put in their place.
Although some town premises are empty, there are opportunities for new projects and the football promotion has helped bring business in and people together. A 24/7 prayer room has been set up and there are community projects working with local authorities and services in the pipeline which will show the love of God. Ipswich was spared the violent protests some regions experienced in the summer. We will have a minster from next year.
Prayer works.
Please adapt the prayer and use it in the next few days as we see in 2025. Let’s thank God for His faithfulness and anticipate the treasures He has in store.