Arise:March 2024
Your guide to a month of citywide prayer and mission
STEP
SEEK
SCOUT
SHARE
"Pursue the well-being of the city... Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.” - Jeremiah 29:7
With thanks to our Launch Evening Sponsors: The Station Gym www.thestationgym.co.uk Church Army www.churcharmy.org
CONTENTS 4 What is Arise? 6 Arise Step-by-step 9 Prayer-walking: your quick-start guide 13 Using the Arise:March Prayer App 18 Prayer-walking FAQ 20 Arise FAQ 22 Events
3
What is Arise:March? Since 2021, over a thousand believers from across Sheffield have been arising together each March to prayer-walk every street in our city, using the Arise:March app. Walk with Jesus in a new way this March as together we: COVER our local areas in prayer, using the special Arise:March app. The streets will glow brighter with every blessing. DISCOVER the prayer needs of the people in our local areas, sharing them with other Arisers through the app. RECOVER the Good News of Easter for Sheffield, sharing your faith and giving Easter cards and Easter eggs to our neighbours. 4
Four steps to take with Jesus this month
STEP
SEEK
SCOUT
SHARE
Turn a walk into a prayerwalk.
Offer prayer for others.
Prayer-walk in a different area of Sheffield.
Share the Good News of Easter.
5
ARISE Step-by-Step
Arise Step-by-Step
Here’s how to join in 1-31 March 2024 1. Click ‘Join’ on the Arise website: (www.AriseSheffield.org) You’ll receive invitations to events, prayerwalking tools, and - on 1 March - your exclusive link to the Arise:March app. 2. Cover your area in prayer: Turn your walks into prayer-walks during March. Mark your calendars now to set aside time this week, or use your regular daily activities such as commutes or school runs. 3. Meet other believers: Join an organised group prayer-walk to pray for specific areas of the city - keep an eye on your inbox for news about organised walks taking place near you.
7
Arise Step-by-Step
4. Discover prayer needs in your local area: Look for opportunities to offer prayer to the people you encounter on your prayer-walks, whether they are passers-by, or staff in local businesses. Share them with other Arisers through the Arise:March app so we can lift up these needs together in prayer. Unable to prayer-walk? Email hello@arisesheffield.org to request an ‘Arise where you are’ virtual prayer-walking guide. We’d also love to see you on the Prayer Zooms - more details on page 25. Unsure about using an app? Head to page 15 for a guide to help you get started. Every step we take in prayer brings us closer to the future God has for Sheffield. Walk with Jesus in a new way this March as together we cover our city in prayer. 8
PRAYERWALKING A quick-start guide
Prayer-walking - a quick-start guide
There are so many ways to pray, and so many ways to prayer-walk. If you haven’t prayer-walked before, you’re in for a treat: it’s a wonderful way to enjoy time with God while bringing before Him the needs of your area. When should I prayer-walk? That’s completely up to you! You might find that you most enjoy time walking with God when you’re also walking your dog or with your kids, when you’re commuting or on the school run, in a group, or in time that you’ve set aside specifically. How should I prayer-walk? You can prayer-walk in whatever way feels natural to you. You might like to pray silently or aloud, listen to prayerful music or listen for promptings from the Holy Spirit.
10
Prayer-walking - a quick-start guide
How do I get started? Any way you like! Arisers who are new to prayer-walking have been surprised by how well the prayers flow once they’re out and walking in their local area. You might start by reading a passage of scripture, listening to a prayerful song, or asking the Holy Spirit to guide your steps on your walk. You could also take your Arise Pocket Prayer Prompt out with you to offer some structure to your first walk. Pray the blessing over the street that you’re walking, before using the hands prompt and the reflection questions. What should I pray about? Anything that God draws to your attention. You could let the Holy Spirit prompt you with scriptures or pictures which reveal something or assist you in praying for that area. 11
Prayer-walking top tips
Safety Be aware of your surroundings and the weather forecast, and plan appropriate prayer-walking times and clothing. Avoid prayer-walking after dark, unless you’re with a group. Stick to designated walking routes: if you’d like to pray for a road on the app that doesn’t have a pavement, it’s best to prayer-drive that street. Sharing Remember to map your prayer-walks on the Arise:March Prayer App to encourage the rest of the Arise community. Your prayer-walks can also be a part of your digital evangelism: let your network know that you’re prayer-walking. Tag #AriseSheffield and your church, and use local hashtags, such as #ecclesall, to share your post with others in your area. 12
Using the Arise:March Prayer App
Prefer to watch a tutorial? www.AriseSheffield.org/app
Using the Arise:March Prayer App
While you don’t need an app to prayer-walk, it really encourages other believers across Sheffield to see the prayer-walks that are lighting up our city. Through the Arise:March prayer app you can also share with other Arisers the prayer needs that you’ve discovered, and pray for needs that others have shared. If you can, please use the Arise:March app, or find a prayer partner in your church who can help you. It’s really easy to use and you don’t need to download anything: all you need is a phone, tablet or computer with an internet connection. 1 - Open up your internet browser Whichever programme you normally use to browse the internet (Edge, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc). 14
Using the Arise:March Prayer App
2 - Visit https://Sheffield.Prayerwalk.app 3 - Register If you have used the prayer-walking app in other years, your previous username and password will still work. Go to step 4! If this is the first year that you are using the prayer-walking app, you will need to create an account. It’s easiest to sign up using your Facebook or Google account, if you have one of those. Click the ‘F’ or’ G’ icons if you’d like to choose this option. Then you can move on to step 4. If you don’t want to use a Facebook or Google account to sign in, click ‘Register’ and complete the form. You’ll then receive a confirmation email to the email address you entered. If you don’t receive a confirmation email after a few minutes, try checking your Junk or Spam folders. 15
Using the Arise:March Prayer App
Once you click the link in the confirmation email, your account will be set up and ready for you to log in to the app. 4 - Log in Once you’ve logged in, a short tour will introduce you to the features of the app and how to make the most of it. You can see the prayer-walks that are covering Sheffield, as well as viewing prayer needs, and our progress as a city. You can also find more support for using the app by pressing ‘More’ and scrolling down to ‘How to’. More help Visit www.AriseSheffield.org/app to watch a video showing the Arise:March prayer app in action, and explore all the ways it can help you as you pray for Sheffield this month. If you’re still unsure about using the app, email hello@arisesheffield.org and we’ll do our best to help. 16
About Prayer-walking: FAQ Do I have to use the Arise:March app? No, but using the Arise:March app is a great way to encourage other believers in Sheffield. There’s something so powerful in knowing that there are thousands of other believers all praying together. Using the app, not only can you watch the streets glow brighter with each prayerwalk, but you can also share the prayer needs you discover, and pray for the needs of others in your area. Go to page 14 to find out how to access the app. Can I prayer-walk a road more than once? Yes! You can prayer-walk a route that you’ve already prayed, and you can also prayer-walk a route that someone else has prayed. Each time you mark your prayerwalk on the Arise:March app, those streets will glow a little brighter. 18
Is the Arise:March app available all year long? No. While prayer-walking is a really wonderful thing to do at any time of year, the Arise:March app is only open during March. You might say it’s a little similar to Lent, which is a season of more intense prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, although all of those things are also good to do all year round. What can I do after Arise:March? Arise:March is only the beginning of the Arise year! We start by bringing our whole city to the Lord in prayer, and Arise:March powers the rest of the year of citywide prayer and mission in Sheffield. The Arise Stories blog and Arise! magazine are great sources of encouragement as we move through the year, and then in October we will join together for Arise:Hallow. During Arise:Hallow, we display our faith, through Wear Your Faith Fortnight, and Streets of Light. Keep an eye out in Arise emails over the next few months for your invitations to Arise throughout the year. 19
About Arise FAQ Is Arise a Church? No. Arise works with over 100 churches of all denominations across Sheffield to bring believers together for citywide prayer and mission. We actively encourage believers in the Arise Community to be members of a local church.
Does Arise make a profit? No. Arise is a non-profit prayer and mission movement for Sheffield powered by local Christian charity Together for Sheffield. Together for Sheffield seeks to empower believers across the city to be salt and light for Sheffield, and through Arise supports Christians to be empowered, encouraged, and equipped to live their faith more boldly. 20
How is Arise funded? At present, Arise is funded entirely by local believers who long to see every person in Sheffield come to know and experience Jesus’ love. Without your support we wouldn't exist - thank you. We need your help to support the growth of citywide prayer and mission and secure the future of Arise:March, please become an Arise Supporter today by visiting www.AriseSheffield.org/yes.
21
Your Arise March Calendar
Arise Prayer Zooms Join Arise Prayer Co-ordinator Rachel Hall and other Arisers to pray over Zoom for the needs of Sheffield. If you haven’t prayed with a group over Zoom before, you’re in for a treat: this is a dynamic and encouraging time to connect with other Arisers, share updates about your prayerwalking, and pray specifically for different parts of the city with the people who live there. Don’t miss out! Tuesday 5 March - 8pm Thursday 14 March - 8pm Scan the QR code above to access the Zoom, or use the following information: Zoom link: https://bit.ly/Arise24Zoom Meeting ID: 897 3084 4585 Passcode: Arise24 23
Arise Family Prayer Launch Saturday 9 March - slots at 10am and 11am Philadelphia Conference Centre, S6 3BL Join Joanne Gilchrist from God for Kids for an interactive hour-long prayer workshop aimed at children aged 4-10 and their families. Two timeslots available: 10am and 11am. Tickets are free. Book here: bit.ly/Arise-family-launch-24
24
City Centre Mission Day Saturday 23 March Various locations Gathering Christians from across the city together, we are rising up to bless Sheffielders during our City Centre Mission Day! With live music and serving alongside the Bethel team, this will be a day to encourage and grow your faith. Sharing the hope of Jesus this Easter, you are invited to come with an open mind and a ready heart to who Jesus asks you to connect with. Keep an eye on your inbox for more details.
25
Arise:March Celebration Wednesday 27 March - 7.30pm Wilson Carlisle Centre & Livestreamed An evening of prayer and praise to mark the end of Arise:March 2024. Let’s meet together to pray for Sheffield, share stories from our month of prayer-walking, and praise God for all the ways He’s been working in our city this March. Secure your seat now at https://bit.ly/Arise-celebration-24 Or scan the QR code.
26
Holy Week - time to give out your Arise Easter cards and Real Easter Eggs! From Sunday 25 March Ask your church’s Arise Champion or your church leader for these. If you can’t get hold of any, email hello@AriseSheffield.org and we’ll try to help. Group Prayer-walks to the open air Good Friday service in the city centre Friday 29 March Various Locations Groups will be prayer-walking from locations around Sheffield, to meet at the city centre cross for a short open-air service at midday. Starting locations will include Weston Park, Darnall, Millhouses and Parkwood Springs For more details, keep an eye on your Arise emails, or visit www.AriseSheffield.org/seasons/Good-Friday 27
Access the App https://sheffield.prayerwalk.app Become an Arise Supporter www.AriseSheffield.org/yes Arise Sheffield is powered by