A Cambridge God Adventure* 68) An empty shell

(*please skip if you have not been following this story).  Now, open yes. But that's how one leader described the new centre - an empty shell.  Great visions were far off still. Perhaps too far off?

Again the church set itself to prayer and agreed a Day of Prayer for Monday June 13th. Running from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm it focused on two parts, the details of which were agreed by the regular prayer meeting on June 7th.  It remained vital to pray about what we should pray.
- First, on major church needs that the Holy Spirit would freshly motivate us in many aspects of church life.  These were listed to include the leadership, youth work and continuing mission commitment.  Who we were as a community of God's people really mattered.
- Second, there were specific prayers for the Stone Yard Centre.  For guidance about personnel - the Director, Administrator, catering staff, volunteers.  For the first arrangements that activities would form a solid foundation for God's future work. For continued joyful giving and the leadership of the centre's management committee.  Lastly, prayers dared to ask for an official opening in Autumn 1988 when it would be full of mission!

I quoted Andrew Murray on the day's preparation sheet: 'A prayer meeting without recognized answer to prayer ought to be an anomaly. The mark that there has been true united prayer is the fruit, the answer, the receiving of the thing we have asked: 'I tell you...it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven' (Matt. 18:19).

On Sunday June 12th 1988 we were able to use the restaurant area for the first time - serving coffee to the morning congregation after worship.  For five years we had been unable to do this and a buzz of greeting and conversation filled the premises.  Partitions had come down so that for the first time in two years we could access the passage to the lower hall.  The kitchen and toilets sparkled in their newness.  From then on it was open on Saturdays serving refreshments to a growing number of users.  A group of happy volunteers helped to make the shell ring with friendship.

Yet it was still an empty shell throughout most of the week.