Market Stall becomes space for Peace, Prayer and Relaxation

Throughout the Advent period Mission in the Economy had a quiet space and prayer stall in St Helen’s Market which was open to anyone and everyone as a place of peace, prayer and reflection. We usually had at least three volunteers and at the last count we had in excess of 44 volunteers representing 15 churches not only from the town centre and St Helens area but also from as far afield as Huyton and Woolton! We had a really positive response and felt that we made a difference in people's lives. We were regularly having at least 15 conversations with people per day and usually numbers were in the region of 30-40 visitors.

It was a privilege to be involved and to work alongside such willing volunteers. It did not come easy to many of us to approach people on the market and we all seemed to grow in confidence. Volunteers described being blessed by the experience, 'we thought we had come to serve others but we went away feeling blessed'.

A short service was held in the Lady Chapel at St Helens Parish Church to pray for our town and to honour the prayers that were written and placed on the prayer tree during Advent.